ML15090A263
| ML15090A263 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Wolf Creek  |
| Issue date: | 04/07/2015 |
| From: | Dapas M NRC Region 4 |
| To: | Heflin A Wolf Creek |
| O'Keefe N | |
| References | |
| EA-13-152 | |
| Download: ML15090A263 (4) | |
Text
April 7, 2015 EA-13-152 Mr. Adam C. Heflin, President and Chief Executive Officer Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation P.O. Box 411 Burlington, KS 66839
SUBJECT:
CLOSURE OF WOLF CREEK GENERATING STATION - CHILLING EFFECT LETTER
Dear Mr. Heflin:
On August 19, 2013, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued a Chilling Effect Letter (CEL) (ML13233A208) regarding work environment issues at the Wolf Creek Generating Station (WCGS). This letter was issued in response to a finding of discrimination by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) following the termination of a contract employee, and an NRC determination that there was a chilled work environment in the Quality Assurance organization.
In a letter dated September 18, 2013 (ML15076A473), you provided the 30-day response requested in the CEL describing the immediate actions you had taken to address the Safety Conscious Work Environment (SCWE) concerns at WCGS. The NRC conducted a public meeting in the Region IV office on January 24, 2014, to discuss your progress and future plans for addressing the SCWE at WCGS. Additionally, in a letter dated January 24, 2014 (ML15076A470), you provided the 6-month response requested in the CEL describing the status of actions and any new actions created since the 30-day response letter. In a letter dated November 13, 2014 (ML15076A526), you notified the NRC that you were ready for an inspection to assess the actions taken to address the issues raised in the CEL.
The NRC performed onsite inspection and in-office review from January 26 through February 27, 2015, to evaluate your cause analyses, completed and planned corrective actions, metrics and measures you implemented to monitor your progress, and the results of independent safety culture surveys and assessments performed in 2013 and 2014. In addition, NRC inspectors interviewed 54 plant employees in focus group discussions to assess your current work environment issues.
The results of our inspections and our assessment of your progress in addressing the SCWE at WCGS are documented in NRC Inspection Report Number 05000482/2015008 (ML15086A560). We determined that Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation has taken appropriate actions to foster a workplace environment that encourages employees to raise UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION IV 1600 E. LAMAR BLVD.
ARLINGTON, TX 76011-4511
safety concerns and to feel free to do so without fear of retaliation, and that no chilling effect exists at WCGS.
Based on the results of NRC inspection activities, we have determined that you have made reasonable progress in addressing your work environment issues at WCGS. Specifically, in evaluating your scope of efforts and progress in addressing these issues, we concluded that you recognized the issues and implemented a range of appropriate corrective actions. The NRC has determined that your actions, which included implementation of new site-wide programs to continue improving the work environment at WCGS, have been effective in addressing the underlying issues that led to the issuance of the CEL. Therefore, the NRC has concluded that the SCWE theme, as discussed in Inspection Manual Chapter (IMC) 0305, Operating Reactor Assessment Program, and Enforcement Manual Section 6.5.4, Chilling Effect of Actual or Potential Discrimination, no longer exists at WCGS, and the CEL will no longer be considered for plant assessment purposes. Notwithstanding this conclusion, the NRC will continue to monitor your activities to address work environment issues at WCGS through the baseline inspection program to verify the effectiveness and sustainability of your efforts in this area.
In accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 2.390, Public Inspections, Exemptions, Requests for Withholding, a copy of this letter will be available electronically for public inspection in the NRCs Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records (PARS) component of the NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).
Sincerely,
/RA/
Marc L. Dapas Regional Administrator Docket Nos. 50-482 License Nos. NPF-42
ML15090A263 SUNSI Review By: NFO ADAMS Yes No Non-Sensitive Sensitive Publicly Available Non-Publicly Available Keyword:
OFFICE SPE:DRP/B BC:DRP/B ATL:ACES D:DRS D:DRP RA NAME DLProulx NFOkeefe NHTaylor AXVegel TWPruett MLDapas SIGNATURE
/RA/
/RA/
/RA/
/RA by JAClark Acting For/
/RA/
/RA/
DATE 03/23/15 03/18/15 03/25/15 03/30/15 04/06/15 04/07/15
Letter to Adam C. Heflin from Marc L. Dapas, dated April 7, 2015
SUBJECT:
CLOSURE OF WOLF CREEK GENERATING STATION - CHILLING EFFECT LETTER DISTRIBUTION:
Regional Administrator (Marc.Dapas@nrc.gov)
Deputy Regional Administrator (Kriss.Kennedy@nrc.gov)
DRP Director (Troy.Pruett@nrc.gov)
DRP Deputy Director (Ryan.Lantz@nrc.gov)
DRS Director (Anton.Vegel@nrc.gov)
DRS Deputy Director (Jeff.Clark@nrc.gov)
Acting Senior Resident Inspector (Chris.Henderson@nrc.gov)
Resident Inspector (Raja.Stroble@nrc.gov)
WC Administrative Assistant (Carey.Spoon@nrc.gov)
Branch Chief, DRP/B (Neil.OKeefe@nrc.gov)
Senior Project Engineer, DRP/B (David.Proulx@nrc.gov)
Project Engineer, DRP/B (Fabian.Thomas@nrc.gov)
Project Engineer, DRP/B (Steven.Janicki@nrc.gov)
Public Affairs Officer (Victor.Dricks@nrc.gov)
Public Affairs Officer (Lara.Uselding@nrc.gov)
Project Manager (Fred.Lyon@nrc.gov)
Branch Chief, DRS/TSB (Geoffrey.Miller@nrc.gov)
RITS Coordinator (Marisa.Herrera@nrc.gov)
ACES (R4Enforcement.Resource@nrc.gov)
Regional Counsel (Karla.Fuller@nrc.gov)
Technical Support Assistant (Loretta.Williams@nrc.gov)
Congressional Affairs Officer (Jenny.Weil@nrc.gov)
RIV Congressional Affairs Officer (Angel.Moreno@nrc.gov)
RIV/ETA: OEDO (Michael.Waters@nrc.gov)
NRC Allegation Advisor (Lisamarie.Jariel)
Acting ACES Team Leader (Nick.Taylor@nrc.gov)
Acting Senior Allegation Coordinator (Peter.Jayroe@nrc.gov)