ML17354B112
| ML17354B112 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Saint Lucie, Turkey Point  |
| Issue date: | 03/15/1998 |
| From: | Saporito T SAPORITO, T.J. |
| To: | Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17354B105 | List: |
| References | |
| 2.206, NUDOCS 9809290188 | |
| Download: ML17354B112 (12) | |
Text
National Litigation Consultants Specialists Nuclear 8%istleblmser 6230 W. Indiantown Rd., Ste. 7-355, Jupiter, FL 33458 Voice: (561) 622-1667 Facsimile: (561) 7444615 Internet Einail saporitoga~ailexcite.corn f:March 15, '998 Hon. Shirley Jackson, Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission White Flint Building Washington, D.C.
20555 RE:
SUPPLEMENTAL PETITION UNDER 10 C.F.R. 2.206 REQUEST FOR AGENCY ACTION
Dear Chairman Jackson:
e On February 26 and 27 and March 06,
- 1998, the undersigned f fff f'ertain and specific actions be taken y
the U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
("NRC")
with respect to its licensee Florida Power
& Light Company
("FPL"). Petitioners provided the NRC with sufficient basis to take the requested action in those petitions.
NLC now desires to supplement the basis documented in d
' ~
'dd
l'dditionally, NLC seeks further action by,- the NRC as delineated below:
In accordance with NRC regulations found at Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Petitioners submit this supplemental request for action by the NRC with respect to its licensee, FPL operators of the St. Lucie nuclear station Units 1 and 2 and the Turkey Point nuclear station Units 3
and 4
as fully described below:
This provision.is contained, in Subpart B, Section 2.206 of the NRC's regulations.
9809290188 9809141 PDR ADOCK 05000250 G
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that the NRC take enforcement action to
- modify, suspend, or revoke FPL's operating licenses for all four nuclear reactors operated by the licensee until such time as the licensee can sufficiently demonstrate to the NRC and to the public through NLC that employees at the licensee's nuclear facilities are exposed to a
non-hostile work environment which encourages employees to freely raise safety concerns directly to the NRC without fear of reprisal by the licensee; q ~
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that the 'RC issue a'n ORDER requiring FPL to immediately inform all employees at its nuclear stations in writing that the employees are encouraged to raise safety concerns directly to the NRC without first identifying those safety concerns to FPL; and that FPL encourages such employee conduct; and that FPL will not take any reprisals against any employee for such conduct; that the NRC issue an ORDER requiring FPL to immediately implement in its general employee training program an extensive'raining module which clearly outlines the employee protection provisions under 42 U.S.C.
- 5851, Energy Reorganization Act
("ERA");
and require the licensee to inform. employees through the training program.about how to file a discrimination complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor
("DOL") and provide employees with a written description of what constitutes an act.of discrimination under the ERA which may form the basis of g viable complaint for relief by the DOL.
that the NRC issue an ORDER requiring FPL to immediately implement in its general employee training program an extensive training module which clearly outlines the litigation proceedings when a complaint is filed..with the DOL by the employee including a
time line of events from the filing of the initial complaint; the initial interview with the DOL investigator; the DOL determination letter; the employees'ppeal rights; the DOL hearing process; the DOL administrative review process; the appeals process; the approximate cost to the employee engaged in such
'itigation; and a
written list of attorneys or organizations that employees may contact for representation including NLC;
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5.
that the NRC require the licensee to permit NLC to address its employees at the licensee'raining facilities to advise all employees of their right to protection under
.the ERA and how to engage such protection and to fully describe what may constitute an act of reprisal by the.licensee as a direct or indirect result of an employee having raised safety concerns to the NRC; 6.,'hat the NRC require the licensee to permit NLC to address its employees at the licensee'.training.
facilities on a monthly basis to maintain a working relationship with the employees; to alleviate employee fears to bring safety concerns to the NRC; to assist employees in resolving any complaints of retaliation by the licensee; and to act as a conduit for the employees to provide the NRC with safety concerns CONFIDENTIALLY.
Pursuant to Section
- 103, 161(i),
161(o) and 182 of the Atomic Energy Act of
- 1954, as
- amended, and the Commission' regulations in 10 C.F.R. 2.204 and 10 C.F.R. Part 50, the NRC has authority to take enforcement action against FPL and to issue the aforementioned ORDERS.
On or about Mar h Petitioners took receipt newspa artl.cle which clearly documen a
eeI ww
'o 6
'NRC,
'and th'at~jg~oegg~~xo Mongez~i32~~=-tong sa~t concerns o the attention of the NEg for fear of reprisal.
Sap<
',"'attach'e'~'ereto.'ndeed, the president of the local chapter of the International Brother o
ec rz.ca BEN"),
Mr.
Rick Curtis, stated that "Our people are concerned about it. They don' want their. names divulue~ecause of fears of reta,l'i'ation.
Most won'.pay much now.~ "This statement by Mr. Curtis is very significant as Mr. Curtis is very respected by the licensee'mployees and by licensee management.
- Thus, Mr. Curtis'oncerns
~that employees fear retaliation for raising safety concerns to the NRC can not be taken lightly and must be given due consideration by the NRC.
Petitioners have extensive experience in litigating matters arising under the employee protection provision of,the ERA. Thus,
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Petitioners can most adequately
.and professionally advise licensee employees of their rights under the ERA; how to engage those employee protection rights; what to expect from the DOL; how the litigation process works; how to contact a
competent attorney; what costs will be entailed; what constitutes discrimination under the
'ERA; and how NLC can assist the employees in filing DOL complaints; and how NLC can act as a
conduit to raise safety concerns to the NRC CONFIDENTIALLY.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, this 15th day of March, 1998 NATIONAL LITIGATION CONSULTANTS Thomas J. Saporito, Jr.
Executive Director CC:
Hon. Bill Clinton, President United States of America The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.,
NW Washington, DC 20500 Hon.
Bob Graham United States Senator Post Office Box 3050 Tallahassee, Florida 32315 Billie Pirner Garde, Esq.
'lifford, Lyons
& Garde 1620 L. Street, NW, Suite 625 Washington, D.C..20036-5631 Inspector General Nuclear Regulatory Commission
.Washington, D.C. 20500 David K. Colapinto, Esq.
- Kohn, Kohn
& Colapinto 3233 P 'Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20007 General Media Distribution
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. Release Ofnames chBls FPI, accusers By Andy Retd yyt L)yc He%1 sis1I S)'. LUc:IE COLJH'I"Y - - Ace)>L)sc nuc)e;>I.
m dstorf hnahzilccily rclancd1li'naxs nl Kuil> clll fQ'lof s Lifsa c y conLrf>is i>f uflli Sf ~Lycg H.ck=.)r P)lnt, cn)pfnyL:c% s"l/ If)cy afc afri>f>I Io file II>D~>.'i)li>L))4s>IS
'C)c&.%. NL)efci>r )(cgu)atury CL)m)>)'sstv>)
in Mnim>y sc>)t
)et(L.".s to cu)ployees ivhusc
.nan)cs anil safety Lui)L)a1>s tl>c ageaL:y "inad-vei tenl)y rc(e>>scZ'a H'Lo)TiL1aL1 ibis yn>r, List Lvvxk, tl)c NR(. sent unutlicr roii>id n)
Icltc>s to some pk>at cn>ployecs saying Lhat in 19'Ih anil )997 thc >rgcncy releasril otl>cr 'inap-t)IVPriatc atfepaiiL)s info>n>ativy>" tlmt migl>I have bee>) obtaiacdby I)I)L.
S~n pk>nt c>nptiyyces Wedne~tny in>id I)icy na~>
ttii)t. I)>c
.vIRC nnrl doll I ki'ioiv
)vf>erc to ta c y
L.<<>np)aints.
"i'd>)r pcvplc are coneef))ed about il," said tlyc planl's Inte>national Drvthcfh>)OLI ut'Jccfiica)
IVofkc>L local. "'i>t tf>cumin>aulhutfcLLJceausc of leap <<rctn-i>>tiQll. ~pf0%L-L)of)I sny Inuc)> n>))v NRC spokaanun
)(ogxr't:>ni~>a said tbc agency is invcsiiptinf, Iioiv it rclc;Ised cvnli-dentf)l iafvrn)aikyn retyaf>fi>>g about 20 con)-
pL>i)>Is f>um St. Li>e>c pin>it ci>)ployecs.
"KVc >rant to identify any potent~al ivcnk-ncs>es iii tfic pio;cthl>e. Tf>c agency L)1n>ts io chsarc Lve identify )vhy it happf>>ed anil tip to ensure if docsn'I Inippeu in Ihc CLL(>ur.'luii-1QI'aid.
h) Feb>)a>ry, >hc NRC be+i>) nl) in@ Llilui lh)a i>)ti)hovr it handles safety eoa>pl;>ints al tcr the Thc SfIr;u1 Hc>)vA'r)rfSt., Lucic JVci)s'L>scd tbcfcdcra) lrrca)om cflafof)>)atioi) he((i. rc-LI>)eel w))ics ofroinp)Liats filed ivi(1) Il)c NRI..
in )'JLJ7.
'I'hc HRC snit lhe He>rs 1.2IIO Ia>m nl')L)a>n)e>>ts, induding cmployw>>an>~~
thai
)ccrc suppLIseL) to rcinsin cont)L>en>i >I.
I)ic gene>)i>l ))ol )Ach>dc ttx: I)ill)lesliislv I)cs pilllishci) Fcb. 22 Ilb> Litsi>fcty col)>f hi)ills at ihc pl >nt, but di>l Lw: thc nan)ec Io cvnlacl sc)v:ralcn)p)oyecsabn<<t thcf>.salb>yen)lief>>s.
hftcr Ihc Nc>vs'cifucst for infurmalion, (lie Nl(C pl >ccLI copies of'L)n)c dneun)c>its iii ita public rum>Ls in Wasf)iagto>> anil tbc In-dian River Cunu>>uniiy CL)!)etc Library in Irn>I Pie fee.
))VI. <>bi;iincil coma ot'lic dnc:>L>))eats.
y>4>id> ilidn'I ine)nile n>)<ww bul did have el>L)>lgh ih)L)fnl;>>ion so Ihi)L kn>)LvtcttgL"Lbfc indiviLILI;Llcal t)ic Sl. LL)L1cs'(c
)rout>I I) able Io LJeIcfliilllc Illa c>i)))fopÃs
>lien)ilies, lhc 8 RC slate>t.
hf>cr Iei)ruing vf thc c>ryr, thc NRC's In.
six>(L)r L.)cncra) Office. as sell as 'I task I'oav
)farcney ntficii>)s, bet.an n fcviiiivvfhviv thc r>)h>n)iss>on h,unllcs eL)n)J)iah)I inforinaiion.
l)uring I!>c rcvic)v, irgc>)ey ofhehds )carne>I Ihcy also rcle:ised cn)plvyce inlormation after cec>vil)g Frc'1) L)n) >if il)If)f>lliil>o>i Act re Hkt i'llieials said they t)iiiikonc ol'he iu-Infn>aliua reit>>ests tf)c agency rcvpondcd tn Lvas nuidc by a third party oii lych>)ffof FP).,
ana)r>ling, fr) a March (i lcltcr ffvi>)Anne Bo-fund. Ihc HRC's dime:l>)r Lyf c>)forcen)cnt aa(J N)Yet igat ILyn.
e roin tune lo (i>no gct FO)h rci)ucsts Ciu)n lay~mrs;>nd:Ittnrny~
(lor nne)r>i.
pf:u>ts)." 1fannah said. "Any mcmbcr ul'hc public L:an inal'c a request....
%'c don't ca-Lle>Lvnr to find vut iv!iy an individ>IAIIi)akcs n Ic>)ua l.
'RCl(cfiiy)>L:>) hdn)i>)is(r>tor LL>is f(eyes un I'cb. t sciil;i )elle> I ) F)'I. e)nn:>)>iht, thc "i'>ppr>)printc Ir!ease of'i'llegaliini infofina-IIun ii>I(I cnc>)L>ri>gci! (lie utlfityto I>ia)i)>III>i i)>l chvl>van>eh> Lrhcrc I)lcgefs,'l'fc Iio( $ 1>tyJect lo rdali:ilorv diserii))iiialiuiifor >1>ici>>g sat'ety conecfi>L," )Ji)lan<I's letter stat<<s.
"We Lake vciy seriously any a ttcmpl by a li-I:ea)ze lo discfnnlnatc or lnt:n)id'l>tc nn c>)) ~
)loycc f'vr L)>e>ing co>1:eras lo the l4RC,"
)i>hi)all slliLI.
LVc Lviiilt IL) li>akc siifc peop)c duu't hcsilydc to niisc c1n>cern>>."
S(. ).ucic pfai>t.cn)ptoyecs hail morc evm-lainls substantialcil lyy fe>ICn>t inVeatifuilura
- isl )mr Il)a)i >Lily of lllc )11>ioa s f)5 nucleic plant), ann>diat( Iv Lceoids obtained by thc jVe>>s One pbnt ea>pf>iyec, Lvho askctl Iv ranain ai>Ln)y>L)o>)s. saiyl hc Lvnn( nu>kc nuy a)ore safety con)p)aints lo Ihc NRC.
Pcop)e:>fe af)1>id ilvLv thor n1n)c s "ning lo hc released 'lo LI'le eo'i>)pal)7 tllc en>)'lo)'cc c;iiil."T));>I's >lie ivh)))f p>v>>I of Imving IhnLe (HRC) illspcc'lilfs'Lllcre.... Yu>> il)LII)I Lv:i>ll Lu take it Lo thc ci!n)pany. Nc)v >hey'vc blnivn tI)ill, I'1 l~ spokcsn>'nl Date I y>lv))a's saly)
'llic ci)fapnny enw>ir~g<s;LiiLI any fear vf reprisal is "absurd."
"TI>cy'fejust csprcsihift:>n Lmfountled Lnn-L.cfn,"Thomas said. "~Vc xva>)t then> lo fepo>i (safe;7 concellls) tl)foiigli Ihe L'oaf>den'a) comp:u>y progra>n vr rcport them to Ihc NRC" l)urin(! Iho past )reck, Curtis caid, he h:Is mct )Lith FPI. OHiciafs Lvho I>ss>>>rd han sii-pefvuvrs Lvoii)dn'I puaish c>np)o>ms Lvho voice saftly cni)ccrns.
-Words afe <<i)c Ihu>I!. he(irma
>Lh>(ty afc v hat yva IL)ok f>)r."C:L)ftiss;.iil.
fiC "Our peopfo are caifcerned about ft, They don't want their nant os dlvuJ!lad because offears oIretatiation.... Mostwon't say much nor(." Sic)( CeNa I>itvf>'lonion load>>s'.
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io. Qe,l[;n.s,k)RR 4g. CqVo)>W,GR PG~D~
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY a
CjQVOIBR'ORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET CRC-98-0251 LOGGING DATE: Mar 20 98 Qghga EDO THOMAS SAPORZTO ghgtrysor FLORIDA sw OG) C CHAIRMAN JACKSON
'06
~~~, matte~
Mar 17 98 FILE CODE:
ZD6cR 5 ST.
LUCIE SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL PETITION UNDER 10 C.F.R. 2.206
.REQUEST,.FOR.AGENCY.ACTION.--.-FLORIDA.PWR..
Appropriate CHAIRMAN SPECIAL HANDLING: 2. 206 CONSTITUENT:
NOTES:
TE DUE:
GNATURE:
AFFILIATION:
DATE SIGNED:
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