ML17354B109
| ML17354B109 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Saint Lucie, Turkey Point  |
| Issue date: | 03/06/1998 |
| From: | Saporito T SAPORITO, T.J. |
| To: | Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17354B105 | List: |
| References | |
| 2.206, NUDOCS 9809280364 | |
| Download: ML17354B109 (17) | |
Text
National Litigation Consultants Vuclcar H'hlstlchlnwcr Spedalrrrr 6230 W. Indhnr own Rd., Stc.?-3M, Jupiter. FL 3346'oic~:
(56 I)622-1 667 Fn~inlk: (561) '?44~)c internet Email saporitog~mni&citc.corn fNarch- 06, 1998 Hon. Shirley Jackson, anni rmar.
U.S. Vuclcur R<<uulrrLory Commission NhiLo Flirrr. Rui iran'.ng hashing Lon, D.C. 20555 RE:
PETITION UNDFR 10 C.F.R. 2.r'06 RvA3UE"'1'OR PUEWCY Ar'TIDE.
~'oar Chairman Ja ksorrr 1n accord'.ance wi=::
9, S.
Nuclear Regu atory Corrie ssicn
("NRC") "egulat'onsl found at 'litle 10 of the Code of c'ederal cregulations, t"..c under i"ncd and Na'ional LlLiga>ion CcnsulLanLs
("H3 C"),
(hereinaf ter "Pe itioners")
"ubnit this request for vc' on by the NRC wi I-. respect to 't s licensee,:"'lorida l'ower ight Company {"iPL") operators cf the St.
Lucie nuclear sLaLlon Units 1 and 2 and the Tu=key Po'r.t nuclear stat'on Uni' 3 and
~>
as tully described below:
1.
that the MRC, pursuant to Sec ion 103, 163,1:),
161(o) arid 182 c'-'h Ato:nic E:rerr,y AcL ul 1951, ds drncrrdod, ar.d the Commissiorr's regJ~aLlor:s
'r. 10 C.F.R. 2.20~
and 10 C. >'. Z.
pari.
50, O<ut.'H ii.
licensee 2'PL L o w'hin
- 50'-days o='he cate of t he NR"'
ORDER; Lha L t he licensee shall suLmit to the YRC fcr review arrd
.approval a plan for cn indcpcndcnt writtcr. apprai "a
1 of thc St. Lucic 'Auclcar s'tc and corporate organizations dri(i dc ivy i es LhdL 40ulQ devE?Lop,L'ecor:NlerlddL oil" where necessary, for improvements 1n management
--.,contrcls and - overs'h" to provi de assuran"e that This provision is contained in Subpart B, Sec-ion 2.."06 of Lhc NHC' regulations.
9809280364 980914 PDR ADQCK 05000250 G
PDR jjo 4g
personnel w;ll cc>mply with requi rcd procedures.
Upon approve'f
=hc plan, it sl:all be implemcrrted and scheduled mi 1 est orre completion da es sha.1 not be extcrrded without good cause and Lhe concurrence of thu NRC.
The appraisal shall be crompicted. as called tnr irr the above
- plan, buL in any case, wi"hirr six months of the date oi =he NRC's QRDF:rc. Petitioners request that t.hc NRC's CRDRR compel that the licensee' plan shulj inc: ude but not* be lim:ted to thc element.'temized below; N
I'M 41r
'An 'irdependc..:>t organi zalion retained by the liner seo shall evaluate current orgarrizatiorral responsibilities, management
- controls, 5mprovemen>
and upgrade
- programs, staff'ng lcvejs and competerce, comnunic:atiors, the safety review process, and ope"ating prac:Lices boLh at Gt. Lucie and corporat office. Thc licensee's programs f:or personnel motivation sucn as
'incentive and d'scip] i nary programs shal l bc examirred in the apprai sal.
ITEM 42:
The apprai:al shall iriclude a revlew of Lhe.liccn ee's site and c:orporaLe management supervisory personnel as well as a rcprese.".tative number of site vorking love]
perscrrrre1 to determ're thui r undcrstandinq of both reguiat.ory ard admir.istrativc requirements in the areas o=
prcccdural implement:at.i on and c:orrrliirrr:e.
Additionally, a
det...rmination of
=he 1evel of commitment oi t ne personnel to such anal s should be made.
ZKXM 43:
The appraisal report shall include the vi'ews of Lhe independent organization on Lhe causes of Lhe past failures
.o meet requl atcry requiremen:s and an evaluation of the adequacy ol the currerrt improverrert and upgrade programs and managerront changes to achiev~
lasting sa=ety i;.provemen=s in compliance w-.'ta "oamission reauircmencs.
Past efforts to improve procedures shall be reviewed anc recommendations shall be made for procedural, crgarrizational, persorrnel, or other changes tc imp:ove th{'.."-:fety of plant operations ar.cj compliance with Commission requirements.
A
LITEM g4:
A descri p Li on of the appraisa I
proc) ram, the qualification of Lhe appraisa}
- team, a ciscussion nf how the. appraisal is to bc docunentcd, and a schedule with appropriate miles. ones.
'TEM 45.
Periodic meet.ings shall he provided betweer.
the outsido organization and the licensee Lo alert the
) icensee oi
'- potential:-sa.eLy
.issues" thaL may'eed 'imme'diRte corrccL on.
The fin~1 reporL, as well as interim firdings, shall be communic:ated to a senior level eview board consisLing of L):c.
FPL Chai rman and c:hief Executive..fficcr, tne.
Presidert and Chief Opera=ing 0'ie:e",
Lhc. Group Vice President Nuclear Enc.rqy Department, the plant'sager, and Petita.oners.
ITEM 47c
'l'he licensee shall direct the outside organization to submi= to Lhe NHC a copy oC the eport of the appraisal recommendations resulLing from Lhe appraisal, ard any and ail drafts thereof, at the same time =hey are. sent to the 'ic:ensec or any of il;s employees or contractors.
l!rior notice shall be given the NRC and PetiLioners "oX any meeting beLween
=he lic.ensee and t) e orqanization Lo discuss the resul=s.
ITEM f8:
The NBC and Petitioners hall ciesignate a mern)ic:r of its stalt to aLLend any such meetings as an observer.
Additional',
the licensee shall consic)er the recc;mmendations rc u) t.ing from the appraisal
~nd provide Lo the NRC w'thin 30-days of L)ie rece-'pL of t).e appraisal an analy."-'. s of each such recommendaLiun and the actior. to bc taken in response Lo recozrncndation.
The licensee shall also p uvide at thaL t'ime a schedul e
=or accomplis)ilng these a Llons. DusLification shal} be
provided
. or any reccmmendc<L:
r: of the apipraisal no..
adopt.e<i.
zKBc 49:
Pending'he completion cf Lhe.eview of the. ru:.ults of the above indeper.d r
. appraisal
- program, Lhe licensee shall implenent a conL'!;uous on-shi t over ~iqht proqram to monitor the safety of plant operaLio!:s, both
.:n anc ouL of'he cont "ol room.
The oversigh program sha'i be implemented.
immediately and p"ovid'or the fcllowin<:
details:
DETAIL 41:
At least on evaluator,
>>heL)>er licensee.
employe<:
oz contract o=,
on each shit L s!>all have held a
so!!: ox reactor operator icense or have experience in auditing or appraising coririercial nuclear p ant opera Lio!!s anu not have been ar; employee a=
the St, Luc'ucl<.'ur sta=ion wiLhin the last two years.
DZTAIL 42!
A guidance d "'ume..t w
bc 'issued >>hicn identi'les the purpose'f the
- program, the responsibiliLio: oi tne p<:r sonnel assignee to the
- program, re.p<>rt.i ~g requiravenLs, an<i the auth"rity given to Lhe ev~lua.ors to 'act whe:<:
ne.<: essa~y to pre';ent person!>el er~or and to assure quasi ty ne.r or~ance.
A copy of such
<ii>ties and rcsponsibi li.."'.es shall bc provided to the NRC. At
=.
minimum the evalua ors shall repnr cbserva Liona
<>I imn<.diate safety s'gnif'cance o the shift supervis<>>
and
.his "rect supcrvi:<<>r.
Daily.reports oZ all ac< ivities address'ng quest'onable opera=ing pro<:tice~
shall ~e made I.<> the Site Vice PrcsidcnL with same day copies provided n the <'resident cl PPL.
The 'esiden-..
cf FPL shall bu d'rectly responsible for the overs ght program.
A week'y summary report along with a
compilation cf daily reports shall be provided Lo the NRC.
DETAII 43-'
Ql owir'c.he l icon cc'
'ov ice.
<>i the re sul t s of.hc independent appraisal program Lt>e licensee may sock to terminate the ove si<jhL program..
Written 'ustili<:ut!on
o=
the Lermina ior; shel 1 be provided to the NRC explaining the basis Cor terminat inn after cons.'.derinc the siqr;ificance of any appraisai or oversicrht fir.dings
'n the area of plant ope ations.
2.
that the Commis: 'nn issue an C:RDFR designating a
Lime and place fcr a public hear'rg and grant Peti!.ioners l eave tc intervene 'at suc:1>
hearing on behal ~ cf the public g 3.
that Lo emphasize
-he importance of errsuring improved communications, strict proc:edural compliance ar.d
....,.. ma'nta r.ir]g..a.ronrhosLile..wcrk.. eryi~onrrcnt in whic;?r employees Ceel free t,o ra i se safety conc:crns to Lt:c licensee and a
work envi ronrncnt which encourages employees tc raise safeLy ccncerrrs ~gzJy to the
- NRC, Per.i'ioners request that rhe NRC issues FPJ.
a.lc>Lice of
'riola-..ic>rr and Vropc>sed Zrrposi rien of Civil P nalty in the cumu'at='ve amount of Five Hurrc(red Thousand Do) lass
(+5C0,000) for repetit've violations at.
Lhe St.
Lucio nuclear stat'n.
l>ursuarrL tn Serti c>rr
- 103, 161 (i),
1Gl (o) and
'. r>2 of the ALomic Energy Act of '54, as
- amended, and the Ccmru~
icn' rogulaticns.in 10 C.l'.R. 2.204 and 10 C.F.H.
ParL 50, the NRC has authority to take enforc:emer>t actior. agairst.
FPL and tn issue the.
a oremenLioned ONER.F..
PursuunL to 10 C. F. R. 2.'I',
the NRC has authc>rity and a
duTy Lo Lhe pubiir:
Lo grant Petitioners a
public hearing regarding the issues hereirr.
- Moreover, Petitioners
'ive wit?r'r>
.he NRC's "zone cf in crest" with respect to Lhe St, Tr c c
nuclear sLatior:
and can suffe" the adverse 1:ealth eCCects and property damage resulting
'from a
nuclear accident.
at tl ar.
station.
Therefore, PeL 'ioners have requis'e s.arrding to intervene irr said hearinq.
The licensee has failed:o esto?>lish or implement procedures at the Bt. Lucie r;u"Lear stat.ion to assure configuraLiorr cont oi over safety related systems ir: the pLant.. moreover,'he license has on
~urnerous times fai'ed to meet Techr.'cal Spec'Cications r equired for maintaining.
he plant.
Petitioners and t,".e public are.
very ccncerrcd'ith L1>e licensee' implementation ol its plant management cont"ols ar.d the ef'ectiveness of previous correc Live acti rrs in regard to continued dcparturPS fror:.
approved procedures.
The failure to adhere to approved procedure
and to m~inl.ain safety-related systems has been the subjc<<L
<ii repetitive NRC enf orcemcnL a<:ri <:ris.
Thc I'er see' attempLs Lo improve the quality. and usability of lt.s procedures has failed.
Additicnally, remedial actions by
'.i"er.see uanaqement to da' have "nct been ufficiently cEEe<:tive to "o"rect other probiems. at the St.
Lu<.le facility includir.g a genera}
I'e;;r of emplcyees Ln ra'se safety concerns Lo the licensee vr Lo the NRC because if ret a l I a I.ory conduc=
taken agai ns employees by the liccn"cc managcmcnt for such conduct.
Petitioners seek NRC en=orccmcnt a<:tinri.against FPL be<:a>>se
<>f the license 's past poor performance and because of the riiimerous pas t civil penalLi<:s alone, have.. bccn..9 nP ffecti ve.
assuring last:irig
- safet.y improvemerits and compliance Mi=h NRC rcquircments.
The licensee needs assis Lan<re in its efforL t ><:isa Station.
Audits arid irispections by the
- NRC, InsLiLuLe for N>>c.ear Power Operation, and a'I'L have exL'ensively do'umentcd 'e operat.i nna l di fficultie'hi<;h l'l'L t!as experi en<.ed over Lhe years ar.
St.
Luo:e.
The Iridependert Appraisal wi' provi de FPL a
means tn identify and focus primarily on the root causes of thc documented prnbl ems, on recent corrective actions whi ch k'PL has initia-..ea, arid or.
addit.irma I ccrrectivc acti ons which Lhe apprai sal recommends.
~t. Lucie has achieved considerable suc"ess
<rs an operating plant. ir;:.he past.
This success was illustrated by past ranking of the peal'vcai~n<;e o.'orld nuclear power plants which sh<iwed St.
L>>c e Unit as the highest rar.ked ".Z. plur!L. 'However; St. lucic over the last severa'ears has not achieved the
'Laadurd o
excellence desired by FPL and required in toczy' nuclear indu:I.ry environment..
St..
Lu le has ezpericnccd a
series nf evenI.s which indicate that Lhe plant has r.ot rret'PL's gouls and which have resulted in hRC <ir>Cur<:ement actions.
Thus, Petitioners scck ar! outside appraisal be conducted to revie~
SL.
Lucie' pcrto"man.".e to dete
!air!
the
. nnt "auses of deEiciencies and to recommend appropriate corrective actions.
Petitioners believe LhaL I;he Ht.
ucie plant is perated with with too great a'degree
- ii control by FPL corporate management instead oE ric.eded direct
. ontrol o
the plant by experienced site manaqcmcnt in direct "vr!Lrol of plant opcraLions.
As a
resul=,
Petilioriers bel'eve that.
Lhe St. 'ucie plant has failed to develop th
'nir.';.t'.ve, rcspor! sibi 1ity, and c<imm'ment to excellence that
.has
.been
~>><<...essfully.nurLired at.St. Luc'e in the past.
-Petitioners are cor,cerned haL pcriorriance defi<:iencies are attributablc to leadership deficiencies ref'ected in tlie fai'.ur to establish and communicate effective goals fos plant
imprcvemen:;
an absence of firm polic es establ:ished and onlorcoci by managemenL; irrsufficient managcmcnL uLtention and fol'ow-up; irr'arieq rate serso ol pc",rsonai'accountabi'ity in the work force a
failure of managcraont to adequately use irriormat.inn provided by the Quality hssurarrc:e and Quality Control crganizations; a.
failure of managemert to rrraintain a proper lcvc:l c:l'ttent.ion to persistent problems in the security departmer t; a
lack oi suf ficienL L<<hrricai suppor.=
a'nd inadequacies in ke}
support systems aL SL.
Lucie; inadequate and irrefficierit: system for controlling employee overtime work; a qeneral
.employee attitude of accepting and overcnm'g plant equipmer t arid support de ficierc's rather
=hari demanding excellerrce form suppo t depa rtments:
and a
failure of planL m"nagement to enhance
'em'ployee trainirij at the station.
In further support.
of Peti ticrers request to NRC acti on/
'Pctitioncrs have enclosed w th Lhis
<:orrespondence fi:e attachments documenting sim'lar concerns ns reported by the lo<<~l media including bu: not limctcd to the following:
On Dec mber 13,
- 1994, the NRC issued Lh" SL. Iucie Nuc:lear Plant a
h'gnarly favorab e
reviewr Jrl ludir>g Lop marks in its radar ation pr<<Lection program and external expcsure control prog"ams; On Ap il 20,
- 1995,
=he NRC c cared Lhe SL. Lucie slant of zrry lode "ul violat i ons after secur: Ly breaches on November 19, 1994 whore a security officer reportec a nagazine missinq from his g>>n.
A monLh lutcrr the armory was found unlocked and opened leaving access to gun, ammunition and body armor.
On March 16, 199b a five round magazine was fc:urrd in a briefcase ca"ried by a plant supervisor.
On August 2,
- 1995, pla..>l. workers venting a reactor coolant punp fai ed Lo droo the temperature to the required 200 degree level b
<<rc conduct '..ig repairs, leaving the reactor a-370 degzccs.
The plant, which typically runs aL abouL 5'0 degas.ecs is ciLcd in. October.
On.)ariuary 22,
- 1996, a cor.trol room oporaLor leaves his pos:.
to microwave his 1>>rrch and allows the unattended reactor to overheaL.
T'e cont=ol room operator asked another opera'r Lo wa ch his panel but, didn't warn him he was in the process of adding waler Lo the "nuclear reactor.
-.-'P). agrees to pay a +50,000 federal fine.
Thc worker.
s suspended.
On April 29,
'l936, the,NRC sends the plant a scalding review Xcr violations that persist even after corrective act r one have
been completed fcr previous, simi 1 ar violations.
The criticisms include a failure with the radiation monitor and problem with t.he plant's cmeraen<<y backup generator that could have loft it inop rablc.
Or> June 19-19,
- 1996, NRC inspector and l.cchricians remove 17 tools contaminated with adiat.ion fro~ the <<loan room, an area designated Lo be free of high levels cf radiation.
The t(>ols had radiation levels up to 120
" times acceptab I e lcvcls.
inspectors
- later find that tools designated to bc kept in rad'ation areas arc oft.cn mis ing and have not been painted purple a.". required to ider>Lify them as being cor>Laminated.
Cr. August 17,
- 1996, an inspection'f'>vcrLimc logs finds 53 vzo) at i ons oi regulations limitina the rrumbex of hour.
err ample>yee is allowed to wcirk. Thc ab!>ses tracked by reviewing gate
'ops for 26 employees include one employee wo"king 27 hours3.125e-4 days <br />0.0075 hours <br />4.464286e-5 weeks <br />1.02735e-5 months <br /> straight and another working 192 hours0.00222 days <br />0.0533 hours <br />3.174603e-4 weeks <br />7.3056e-5 months <br /> in a
two week span.
The NRC adds a thirc full-time inspector for the plnr!L.
Gn November 2r>,
- 1996, the plar>L's emergency response organizat'on is J.o"rd understaffed and using a plan that dor.sn' add ess radiation according to an KRC rcport.
Employees have also beer! ur,dcrtrained in preoaring for an emergency investigator say.
A morrLh lar.er the NHC criticized the plant fo using undcrLrained employccs to calibrate rrrdiaLion mon'torirg equipment.
Orr January 10, 199'/,
Lhe plant failed to limit acccs
. to protected anc, vi=al areas r>f Lhc plant to auL.'rorized wcrkers.
FP1.
agreed to pay a
$ 1OC,OOC ine for t.hat and related problems cit.ed
'n the NRC repo
=.
On February l4,
- 1997, the plant failed
..o notiiy pregnant vi-iLors of -the dancers posed by radiation.
On April 2S, l 997, the NRC issueri a iuvorable report that says Lhe plant
- is generally characterized by safety cr>nscious operations, 'ocd engineerirrg and rrai ntenarrcc practices.
Sl.il',
invc -tigaLors critici~e managers for the routine heavy usc of overtime for reactcr control opcrato"s.
Tn Lhat same rronth, plant o.'ticials find a
makeshiiL cra k
cocaine pipe in a
pr>rLable toilct brought in for temporary workers; and 70 workers are evacuated live days a,:er the VRC's report because of high lcvcls of radiation that Psr:apus dur'ng a
rouLine instrurmn "epl aremcrrL.
On June 12,
- 1997, about 120 workers pickeL t.he plant saying managers are failing Lo respond to workers'orrrp ainl.s.
Dr> July '4, 199"., the plar~ 's orr<aoir.q problem wi n tools in L?:.e ra<.'iat.'.r>r> containment area surfa<:e!: <<q" i.: wher> an VRC "eport says workers have failed to log the'se.
On rcbruary. 2, repe 'L've pro? lems co:.-ecL ive ac< iorrs violation remains a
penalr.'.es, the VRC cou!d esca1ate the 1i Ke1y, 19<IA,
=he tlRC issue' violation to FPL fcr with overt-:me abus
.s LhaL i:;dicatc p"evio>>s
?rave nr t:
her.n
-..otal 1y e ff e "tive.
@hi le the Level Four offense, rhe least sever of Lhc wa ns in its repor=
that co. tirued abuses act'ons, meaning a civ'1 penalty would
()n }'ebruary 1'"-,
1<I<IB, <<he NR.. met with I"~i plod.t. cf ~i<:luis after an inspector con "irma hat n
victor's emergency coolant system was operatir.g fo f<:ur yea-s under specifications that could have caused iL t.<> <>verheat ir, an em rgency.
'I I'imployee complaints have in"r a "cd 151 'r>clud'ng 7.6
. i leo in 19<'7 with 67 crmpl a i nl.s s>>is tant i at ed.
Th complaints range from allegaticris that planL officii!ls
<:r <ler ed erg> i <>yees dispose oi unlahe 1 ed drums t.hat could have cor. La 'ned waste produc.s to concerns that emergency preparat,i" n is inadoqua e.
'c c cmp Gyee saiety concerrs resulted
- n dozens of
<o<?<:
violation noLices by ti..e I~R" ar;d;-P'eceiv'ng fines of $262, ~00.
Enp oyc<:s are cnnrerred that the ccmplainLs indicaLc a
~roakdowrr in manu<<::m<:nt; that supervisors do not address employees'afrty concerns and wo kc"s a
e often fearful of re ribu.'on if tney come forward.
deicer;see errrployee, Ri<:k C>>rt; s, stated
- t. ia.
!"..anagexenL,does not deal w th issues bro"ght by the erployees c
"he St.
Lucio Nu::1ea" Plant
'n a very productive arid prudent r:-.nner; that if employees s:art to question the process tco 6urh,
.hey'e
=o'd that thcv'c lazy anC just. ying to get out of works Ir> Jar>uary, 199?
5'Pl ag"eed to pay a +:00,000 fine to the NR" lur lailing to I'.m't access to vita.
areas.
The vic'at'ons w?:lcn vere admitted by I'~I. d>>ririg an Kl'.(: hearing irc uded 97 rr>rrner employees retaining a"tave badges that would a'low thcmi irto res<<r'c=ed areas.
The same
...onth an empioyee report:ed to -..he NRC I.)!'>I. LIie;>3 ar!t allowed a pregnant visitor into the reactor zrcv wiL?>o>>t. noti fying her of the dangers posed for an unborn
<:hild.
I',mp'.cyee also told NEC that
'.hey were orde'ed I.o process drums containing an unidcnt'fied liquid wit?
a r> uish tint,.
The
- drums, vhich were r>oL labe'ed as iequired by regulatior:s, cou d
have inc udod waste products, oil rreparaLur!'r ar!Li-l=eeze.
A.>
NK =nvestigation found Lhc drums werc ines epicier>Lly labeled.
~
- ~
r:
~ 0 0
On August 14,
.'996, worker. founce "oo
! ocked sw'. -ches qiued
.hut in a backup cort.rol roo-...
Glue was a'so found in nine p~dlocks and two door locks in different areas of the plant fewer than three weeks before.
The NBC called the q uing tne worst acts Gf sabotage to a nuclear reactor ever.
In June, 1997 120 employees pi c <<eted the St.
Lu-io plant
<<ying FPT, managers fail to respond to workers'omplaint.s.
Rick "urtis, a licensee
- employe, said mcst emp>oyees iear rctribuLion rom p'ant managers if ti.cy file complainants and they sometimes hea" about employees severeiy dis iplined or fired if they draw attention to a problem.
B.Z. Dav:'LaLed that workers fear he.'nq
" label e'd as" 'trcubleaiakers
'v.M pdss(.d over for I:romotions i.f -..t!ey challenge authority; that no one wants to be seen as troublemaker in the eyes of management.
Pince 1-".91, F?
>. has laid o. f aimost a quarter of its wo"k fo'ce and now l"as 10,000 employees tatew'ce.
The last wave of
!ayoffs was ir. '.aruary
- 199o, when FP'ismissed 30 nanagers and
.:1 unior. employees xn. <<n eliort to reduce it. S-... Lucie staf=" by 5
percent.
Ron B"wcn, a
"-os. L S t.
u" e councilman stated tha=,
know they'e o"t there to make a profit, but at what expense'P He'rc ta ki ng about a nuclear powe plant.
They ve gone from fi r st Lo worst in a matter of years; tha'or'cess
..a ~e t ol d him cutbacks
- a. e h..irg made despite appa er t safety problems that miuh'esult.,
Howen said.
Fcr all
=hc above stated
- reasors, Pet'ioners seek NK action 'n this matter.
RES PECTFULLY S??RNTTTr.D, th'. s 5l.l; day cf Yiarchi 199S NATTOtvAL ~TTIGA ~ON CONSULTANTS cC ~S~
Thoma" J. Gapori=o,,Tr.
Executive ?)i.ecror
- 10 r
~
SL h
~
rc; i'.on. Bill Clinlon, Presiaent United States cf America Thc White House
'600 Pennsylvania Ave.,
Nw Ir'n shi nest.or.,
DC 20500 Tnspec-..cr General nuclear Regula-ory Coamission Hiashington, D.C. 20500 Hon.
Bob Grahan; nisei States Sena.or
.':ena' OZL'ice Puildinc Nashingt.on, D.C. 20500 l>il'ie P'rner Garde, Esq.
C3 fford, Lyons
& Garde 1620 T.. Rt"ee",
llN, Suit>>
6~5 Washington, D.C. 20036-5631 Cene'vl Media Distribu=ion
I I I
~
~
I I I
~
1lRELtRE 4 I 4
--KRr S-
~."-+if -<<~c l~
~ EICOS/ +gg/
1iv'=
~ii.'<<p~A.4-
~
~
~
0
~
~ ~ ~
r ~ ~
~
~
~
-.HJ~
r ~
k 1
year
~
~
-'>X -~c Cq
COMPLAll4TS
~oorrlHvao ur(oss At ofthree fiats have been kried shut 1995.
Pbnt oificiab said the high number oC comp4ints shows cmpbyca sre inter-tl(cd in bringing lsl'c(y cenccrns forward.
"I'm happy to fmd a proMcm any way I an find n. <<hc(hcr it comes froth the NRC or whether it coma from our oeo.
pie," said An S(SN. vice preiidcat of the pbnt "illlate proMcml sny <<ay I caa gd Rk1 caa get it filed.
Bet same apioyeel llythe compbbts kuha(c a brea tdawli in ms as genus(, Sii pcrrisors do not sddnsl employees'afety oanannt, snd w<<kca are oAcn fearful of rdhlwtbn If thc7 colfle farvanL they slid.Molt anpbyecs contaded for thb ra.
p<<t dcdined to cemmcnt or did nol ta.
Iurn phone alb.
"Msnsgancnt doa not deal <<ith bsuca bhwght by (ha anphyecs OC the SL Lucia Neck(It Pbnt Ki a vc(7 productive arid prwknt manner," said Rict Cur(4. local president aC the latcrnstioaal Bio(hcr Caof Bkdm W<<t~ "ifmqgapw stan Io quation the pro(ca too much, they'e told (hat they're lazy ard jun try bg Io get <<wt ofwa(t."
Dapite the manlgancnl peMcms eked Ia the tepons, NRC spotcsmsa Kcn Cbrt ual thc campbbtl don'I hdkstc a
'(brat to the cavironmcnt or p(epk Nvbg near Ihe o(snt.
'The HRC staff fccb the plant b SUS-ckn(ly safa to licane snd operate," said Cbrt, <<ho viarts at the O'RCS regional olfiae ia Atbn(s. "Noconccns have been vs(dated that wouM prompt tbe NRC to shet down the plant."
NRC onicilb say thc vbb(bns st tha Q. Lucis p4nt haven'I rcachcd the point
<<hac regubtoa
<<auld order
~ slwt down. A shutdown wouM ceme only IC Nlc(Aan riinudlitclift(7c<<Kern, Documents rdascd unda a Frcaken OC Infohnl(ion Ad rcquat made by Iha Hens indedc INp gee ofNRC paper-
<<<<t gcncra(cd from cmplayre com-p(dail arid riirpactor rcp<<IK'Tha cori(
plsintl <<cre reported to Ihc NRC by
'bnt anphyea, inva(igs(cd snd made public after Ihe plant wsl OO(ifiCd of the CindmgL The Hews requested the daesaneats in Hovcliibcr sod received their( iiiJanuary.
Tbc reports sre puMic records but rsrevy ohsincd bccselc of Ibe leagthy Fracas far oriding copies.
lPRC oAicids said aozns bncsligatians of last vest's complaints ars stiN eodcr
<<sy and OOUM bc added Io tha 26 ths(
have been corroborated.
Federal iavenigl(ors documented years ofprabkms st thc p4nt. Indudinp
~ Bzcarivt abuia ofowtknc. Invcs-tlga(ors found S3 vbbtionl in ~ mbnth sclcdcd for evaluation of watters'e-cord@ The vblstioos Indudcd one an.
ployae working 27 canscce(ive hours snd
~nother who worked lgl hours in I<<o
<<ccts.
~ Outdated snd undcntsA'cd accus(7 telpome plans. Pbnt oAicilb uid Ihar znlnUlls i(id p4ill have bccn Updated, sndnohxent repKtacontradid them.
~ Radioactive took taken from coa-trolkd sites Io storage spots designated for equipment fice ofcontamination. Tbc liat corroborated cempbint came in JUiic 1996, arid i(KKt coriip4lii(l <<t(e sildc lsrc lsi( lar..
NRC in(pre(on and technicians b June 1996 rcmovcd 17 look contami.
nsted with radiation Crom Ihc "dean room," so area dcsignatcd to bc fne of bish kvcb ofrsdis(ion.
lnlpcctorl karocd Ihst took deiig.
sated to be kept in rsdiatian eras oAcn are minbg snd have oot been painted yurpk, <<hsh is rcqeu<<I to identifythan al cruitsinilistcd Although soma of tbe tnbpbced laob had cadiation as high as 120 tkncs ac-ceptable levcb, NRC senior rsdislioa spccializt Fred Wright said Ikey probably had lisle CA'cct on anployecs, cvcn (C
they ~ted the(nap <<ith bare hands.
't ~ a very low kvd of sdivity that's SNO<<cd under those rcgubtionl." laid Wright, viho spent scvasl months inves-tigshng Ihe pbnt as psn of a three-per-son TIRC team ths( worts that fisN lime. "Iloldiag s ha<<incr with (hat Vind of radiation on it <<OUM not literal awc an heal(h piabknu for the wer.
tall, Ihe pleat vice praidcnh slid tha probkm with rsdiosdrvc Iools is in Ibe past."Wc haven'I hsd blues at St. Lode
<<ith that in yean," he slid. "Wc've hsd numerous in(pret(ass in tbc last two or thrc'e yean looting at thai, <<hick we'e done very <<dl at.
"We pay mach mors attcntbn to do ISNS Irinliiiig Ihc taa(lo mart iilg Ihc took. traming thc cmpbyees," S(SN saki.
Conspisb(tgs ot(tbocko Nonithekls, NRC oAirisb chad lhe plant July 14 for feign Io bg the we of Pb one(hit Iaob. Tbs llRCsad tbc ylsal SNowed taob Io cntcr snd ezk Ihc Vnit2 conilinmcol beslgbg
<<i(host bciog Mnadditbn lo thol( cainpbkits. tbe ra cords incbde domo of mucdbncous gfievanas serb(satb(cd by fcdasl inva-II tail, (OCIUdiilg SNcgcd csrckis rilC(h-of repairin radioactive dericcs sod a failure Io limitaccas Io "ritslarms ofthe pbat.
FPL agrccd Io pay ~ SIN,ON fine Ia January 1997 lo the NRC for fsging to lknit access to vital ~ras. 'The viobtioni, which <<ae admit(cd by FPL darin sn NRC hearin, indedcd 17 fonna an.
yloyees rctaming "adive" badges that would SNO<< than into ratnctcd sass, according to sn bchchick rcpon on the to the NRC that the pbut alb<<cd ~ prtg.
aln( vilitoc Inta the icadcu area without oa(ifybg hcr ofthe danged pored for sa unborn duld. Fcdchd invatigltan h a February 1997 rcport laid tbc pbnt did rial vio4(c si(7 rclii4tKKis hilt (real(i mended that an idcpccknt bak should be made Is() Ihe pndice of alknring fa male viYitaa on lite wi(haut querying them."
Fatly b 1995, cmpbyea toMthe NRC they <<cze ordered Io prearm sbael Tf drums otlioillg sli UaidciitiTicd hquM wkh ~ Meuh Bat. lbe drwns, <<txh wae not 4bdad as nqeired by ngelctions, ooeld have indwkd <<site products, oil separators or anti.frceze, tbc cmployea sld. An NRC bvesigstion found the
. fS.gaNon dhens hld in(UAicicnlbbcb ba caeie they didnl in(fice(c <<hst <<ss in the drumL Twenty other unidcn(iTicd dhunS; ladudmg fee containing an untnowa ma
, Inisi. wae found in the area.
Nat SN of the pbn('s'prabkrw havt been key( bct<<een msnszas snd HRC aiiicilb. Gfi(ches sl the p4nt have made bead(ina nstionsgy in nitntIan.
On Jan. 12, 1996, ~ control hxun oper-
'a(Or kA his post to microwave his hmch arid agoetd thc uns((ceded (cat(ac lo overheat. Tbc contra( roam open(or had
~(tcd another opaator to watch his pand bet didn'I warn him he wsl adding <<ster Io Ihe nudcsr tcsdor. FPL sptzd to pay a 550.000 federal fine for thc aacidcat and thc <<ortcr wal nnpcndaL
. Woitca It(Co(Kung a roe(iae inspca.
tbn Aeg. f4 1996, found thee lacked lwndlcs shiit ill s bsrtup ron(tel sKKU.
Ue abo wsl Caund in nme yad-lacts and t<<o door lacks la ddTcnat areas of the obat fewer than three <<etta before. Tbg HRC caged the ghing tha
<<orat ads OC ubabgc to ~ aedcar ra.
ader clcr, Nedcar <<atchdag ss the c<<n.
plsintl shaeM not I~ten bcaI reridcn(s.
"IfI I'wed near thc pbd. I <<OUM nol be concerned about the hgh number of compbras." ssd Dsvd Lochbaem, ~ nu.
dear safety cngincer st lbc Union ofCon-ccmed St(en(n(s.
a <<stchdag poup ln Wuhing(an, D.C llo<<ever, Lochbaem sail there shouM be oaocern about mlnlzhncnt bsctbri(a
~gaged by some cplolzts <<ho fikd ssfdy comobin(L Tb ~NRC hami C.Ny mkn (btsi caiepb intr Ihst whinlc Ma<<ca havt been subjcdcd to bacMlih by FPL msasgcrL But about 120 cmpbtccs pktetcd the nt in 'June, sayiag FPL managers lail o respond Io<<<<ters'arnobiats.
Carts, who hal lpCnt Ig yean at the pbnt and e oow a asia(asna foreman rc(KCSCntl akaon half of Ihc p4(lt S g uaion <<<<tern Hc slid nuut fear retrib-utio Crom pbat msssgcn if(bcy fibcom-pbioU, aiKI Ihc7 lailic(lnlcl best aboiit cmphyccs scvcrdy dixipliacd or find if.
they draw mtcntian Io a praMcsL 4's not that rmfgavra are afraid ofles.
iag their jabr. said SJ. Davis, <<bo 4 la charge ofAic uhKuil safe(7 consist(eat
~
fuN.(une pozkbo st the Ibnt. ISK(SKL
<<ortas fear bcbg bbdcd as traeMcmlt-ca and palled ova forOoraa(bns ifthey chlAcogc au(hofl(7.
"We have a syncm here <<brie Ifa pcc
~on docsn't this't something is ufa, be dean't have to wart." saif Devi~ who hss wortcd at thc pbat far 20 years.
"Sut'o one wants to be scen as a thwbb mater in (he eyes af msssgzmat."
Some aitics of the pbnt'I opda(bns st(ribute that Io FPL's sggiarivc df<<I to stnsmline its wort farce. The pbnt an.
aaenacd
~ aew round of bya(fz in Janu-ary; 45 <<<<ters. or about 5 per<<at oC(ha pbnt's <<ort farce, are czpectcd Io be bid oif.
S'mce 1991 FPL hss bd olfdmolt a qesncr of irl <<ork force aad now has 10.000 emphyees nltewidc. It a<<w teu nedcsr power pbnts the o(bcr is Tw-tcy Point in soe(h Mbne.Dade County and provides dldrial scmca to doz-Cas oC municipsluia.
lhc lsn wave ofbyolft wsl h Jsausry 1996, <<hen FPL i(milled 30 managers aad 31 unioa cmpbyta h an cAan to re-doce its St. Lecic nsffby 5 pcstnt.
'I tnow they'e oet Ibnt m sate a piofit.but st <<hst elpcascl Wc'rt ulting
~bout a nudcsr power plant, said Ron b
OCA St.r
~Jr'istiid Board. "Ibcy've gant Cram fin(
to <<ant h a inst(CC Ofyarn Bo<<cn caid <<<<tds have IOM4'ni czk-bscts are bziog made dcsp(c sppacol ufdy prObkml (bst might radt.
ll>> hopes cmpbyce compbbts vriN gaea s federal or heal hvcnigstias OC, Ihe plant.
I I
(Canotloo In a ooalinins'ocal ssfdy OICKbb support ths phot'4 dTons Io prepare forcmcrgcncicn "We w<<'t very wcN togc(ha vri(b thl SI. Lode Necksr Pbnt," slid Jact S<<uh srd, Ihc coun(y's public ufdy msaslpr.
"We have ~ very goad rdstionzbip wah Rorida Pa<<cr and light. They have al.
<<syl bren reipaniive to cwr ideas oo ha<<
lo iipdltcsiicfgcnc7 p4OL But aoinpbiatl an h'tdy lo beasts If managers refuses to liz(cn lo cmobtta, laid Jen Riario. an attorney <<kh thc Bit'sl Mus Prolzd ~I Ihe ws(chdag gswp PUMicCkizcn m We(hing(on.
Bmpiayca llia nuclear p4ni art hts canaries in a coal mine." uid Rkao, <<bo ksdl Pebfia Ckizcn's progrsin to tract prabkne at audcsr pisa(n "Obvbesty, mans pmcet lgnora cmpbyta'arucms s( (her own risk."
Bet Ckutb dcfcreb the pboA phXO.
dura and cmpoyecs'(tention to safety dctlib. Most of the ebb(lans NRC hsl
~i(cd stem Crom breaks in procedures, he said. 'Ibaee precede(co are daigncd to a ~
stiN ln wortcrl a dbcipbncd approach Io thc job, he uid..
"I('s no rh(fcrcnt than Ifsamccee toM TCK7,'lphs you shaw ep cor <<orii I<<aat yau to tern on the lights snd theo stlrl theta(fccyaL'f you came in and did ith thc oppalue order they'd cite you far a vh oiltion." Curtis said.
The high numb<< of safety carue(W shwM nin <<any reridcnts that crnpbyca sre bring elpaled to high kvcb of rsdis-tbn he said.
"t(y na means arc <<e taming oet of Ihst plant con(smbatcd." Cunis slid.
A major accident, such as an elplalbn or a sdil(bn kat, 4 higMy improbaMe at ths p4nt dani(e ks docemcntcd prob knu. said Dr. Robert Bsri. chairman of tbc rlluksf tncrg7 dcpar(iluiit at Ibc Sioothavcn Nudcar Laboratay ln Up-ton.N.Y.
"Re<<dents ablole(dy shauM bne uo co<<an about kviag scar thc phot," Bsri pisaaa aaa 00%gitAn47$ on A4 z
A4 Tl>> trews Sunda
%. 10ea COMPLAINTS A ohyoyfology ofpyob/dmg Sf. Lucie Nuclear Plant Jen. 10, 1992
., Tr>> fttstc hes bled b lmx'acceesetptat<<red arts vktl
'eat cl sle aetna b fete usd wtrkern rpkecseed et psy
~ st 00AKon>> la'>> ass related ptoblcn<<coed h s>>
4Nl Fcb 14,1991 The ptets nes hlafb rccsy tretytenr vtrbas crt>> dsnasts pCeedby radebatt Hawevet. he Ctarartr. Sedby an L
<<tokttee slid~by essyesxnu axalcwiA ofScdetel~,
A f022,1992 The NRc leeuee s enttstse reoa1 s>>t says e>> phrs ls 0
T>>t>>tally crtetaaettzed by safety ccrectan~
and tt>>rsw>>nt>>~ SCL trkctte ttnt>>pets br S>> nasr>> I>>evy toe crovwere bt reaaa rxrots cetrstttL'hst>> sate tnatnk stac oftctsn ind s nekecnct neck axd>> pt>> ha ptrfstss ets>> btatyts her~ worker@ And70 ~ pktyses
~rs evaousted sve days a>>t s>> tot s rayon catnes ax beoauce Ofhtyn tevets Ofredenan SN etaet>> tketny a raxr>> sstlneers rsplaatmets Junc 12. 1999 AbOUt 120 wcrksts pkn>> sle tbtnk ssytTf eeteyees>>e Sabty at resptrtdb workers'~
Jtdy 14, 1997.
The rretrs anynhy trcbfem wtnktouh e>> ectastrt ssrsvne
~ s elec artsoes ayshwt<<lenldC sspon~
wcrkets rtsve lated loby e>>r toe Peb.
)992 The lfrf nsuee s vtcretkrtbtsoeestvs'~<
- >Sty eft<<eve ~tNhte tf>> Vbtebtn ren>>hc a tev>> Far Osense-S>>
teart eev<<e Of S>> penance t>> IfR wamc has teoonhat ccrcrkwd ebutes caN
~<<eIsts lt>>ecxcrt tnesnhy a crvt psnety wolNt>> staff.
Feb. 15, 199S sffC efssncrs n>>>> wtn power scent cttcfsts shor an
'tyonnt cotdnns t<<a re<<brs n>>6yencr coohe eysssm eus cc>>tsbny krbtr tests trtdet spscdtuscru st>> caN ttate ceuasd s b ovstne>> hen enerygny.
A gomparigforl 0818'DWBl'lRAtS aaxL Hc slid Oofdisns probably arc
~xpoecd to tnorc radisbon from lhe sun then from iiving near tbc Q. Lucic pfenb Powrr phnu <<>> low4cvd piu.
coaium, compared <<itb thc fud sued io hunbs. and rarefy ship otu span waste, httced storing b h
<<uter fiycd tanks encased ln coo ~
crete, Ctsrit said. Tbc Sk Lucis I 6 hva CSruritrd rsestarx.
in i916 and i922, put out a combined lf660 mega wstu.
~oough to ponce a mcdiunt>>bxd
- Ccly, lo compatisoo, tbc reactors Scoclalc ncsriy ic oitnct lhc '120 wsru ~ out by tbc Fest Wcrcc UtQit>>s~s stcattw
- Iomorlow, said Side Unglabee, kamsn for (he N'ucksr Energy Igti(u(C.
- msnusk, operating nutcsd oa specificsthns sct by npleycca TI>> probtaln <<cre bnwght to Rgb( ahcr hveltigsion dbcennd lo December 199$ that the M4.
- memk,
- 4 pkyas Coi or demoted ifthey cmbensss tbe company orcelt Itnlmc OKKlcy.
SUBJECT:
THOMAS SAPORITO FLORIDA CHAIRMAN JACKSON 0
Go)
Mar"15 98 SUPPL PETITION UNDER 10 CFR 2.206 REQ FOR AGENCY'~
ACTION----FLORIDA'OWER'Ec LIGHT
'COMPANY'ILE CODE: IDR-5 FPL OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY PQg. ERE8 I~> +~~~~
CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET
~ gqg Q/3P'RC-98-0240 LOGGING DATE: Mar 18 98 EDO ACTION:
DISTRIBUTION:
Appropriate CHAIRMAN SPECIAL HANDLING: 2.206 PETITION CONSTITUENT:
NOTES:
TE DUE:
SIGNATURE:
AFFILIATION:
DATE SIGNED:
L{k~g~
)pp 7~H ~