ML18101A858
| ML18101A858 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Salem, Hope Creek  |
| Issue date: | 07/21/1995 |
| From: | Hagan J Public Service Enterprise Group |
| To: | Cooper R NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM) |
| References | |
| LR-N95112, NUDOCS 9508020292 | |
| Download: ML18101A858 (4) | |
Text
{{#Wiki_filter:Public Service Electric and Gas Company Joseph J. Hagan Public Service Electric and Gas Company P.O. Box 236, Hancocks Bridge,. NJ 08038 609-339-1200 Vice President - Nuclear Operatiorls JUL 21" 1995 LR-N95112 United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555 Attention: Richard W. Cooper, II, Director
Dear Mr. Cooper:
Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G) submits the following information in response to your letter dated June 21, 1995. Your letter references a complaint from an employee of PSE&G, filed with the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division on August 5, 1994. Your letter also points out that, in response to that complaint, the Wage and Hour Division conducted an investigation and found evidence that discrimination as defined by Section 211 of the Energy Reorganization Act was a factor in some of the employment actions of which the employee had complained. Your letter requested that PSE&G provide, within thirty days a response under oath or affirmation that describes the actions, if any, taken or planned to assure that this employment action does not have a chilling effect in discouraging other licensee or contractor employees from raising perceived safety concerns. In sum, our analysis of all relevant data shows that there was no discrimination against the employee. Because the results of our reviews differ sharply from some of the conclusions made by the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, PSE&G has requested an evidentiary hearing be held in October 1995. PSE&G's position on the substantive points raised by the employee's complaint is set forth in our letter to the Wage and Hour Division dated November 9, 1994. While no specific action to address any chilling effects is warranted in this particular case, PSE&G has undertaken substantial actions to establish and maintain an environment conducive to the identification and reporting of safety concerns within the Nuclear Business Unit (NBU) of PSE&G. The President & Chief Nuclear Officer (CNO) of the NBU has personally expressed his expectations to all employees that they feel free to resolve their concerns through line management and existing procedures. 9508020292 950721 PDR ADOCK 05000272 P PDR --~--~-~-- ----......
e.. ** Document Control Desk LR-N95112 2 JUL 211995 Additionally, the February 1995 reorganization of the Quality Assurance/Nuclear Safety Review (QA/NSR) department included the creation of the Employee Concerns Group. The new group was specifically tasked with developing an alternative path, available to all employees, to raise concerns confidentially and/or anonymously. In June, the NBU issued Procedure, NC.NA-BP.ZZ-0008(Z), "Employee Concerns Program" implementing this new program. The program was designed to be comprehensive, and applicable to all NBU employees, as well as contractors. The program allows for confidential and anonymous identification of concerns and is designed to be accessible through multiple mechanisms, including walk-in's, drop boxes, phone-in's, a 24-hour toll free hotline, and exit interviews. Ari extensive communications program is now under way to ensure that all perso~nel are aware of the program and how to utilize it. The program has been publicized in our daily newsletter "Nuclear Today", through direct communications at CNO staff meetings, numerous general manager and manager level staff meetings, a "For Your Information" (FYI) memorandum from the Director of QA/NSR to all department managers, and a letter from the CNO mailed directly to all NBU employees. Also General Employee Training is being revised and a video presentation is being developed featuring the CNO as well as the manager of the Employee Concerns Program and his staff. The video will be mailed to each employee of the NBU and provided to all contract organizations for roll down to their employees. In an FYI to all employees on April 12, 1995 the CNO reiterated his expectations: "I must emphasize again my expectation that we provide for our employees an open, honest work environment that is receptive to all concerns. Safety is and always will be the NBU's #1 priority. Any actions that can be interpreted as harassment or intimidation or hostile behavior on the part of any NBU employee are unacceptable and they will not be tolerated. Any incidence of this nature will be promptly addressed by management and appropriate actions taken." The Employee Concerns Group is working with the Legal Business Unit and the Human Resources Department to develop a training module for all NBU supervisors regarding their roles and responsibilities with respect to employee concerns. The training is expected to be completed in the late summer and fall of this year. 95-4933
Document Control Desk LR-N95112 3 JUL 211995 In summary, PSE&G does not believe that any discrimination took place with regards to this employee, and our initiatives to assure an open and honest work environment demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the safe and reliable operation of our nuclear units. If there are any questions regarding the information provided above, please feel free to contact us. C Mr. T. T. Martin, Administrator - Region I U. s. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Mr. L. N. Olshan, Licensing Project Manager U. s. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint North 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852 Mr. D. Moran, Licensing Project Manager U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint North 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852 Mr. c. Marschall (S09) USNRC Senior Resident Inspector Salem Generating Station Mr. R. Summers (S09) USNRC Senior Resident Inspector Hope Creek Generating Station Mr. K. Tosch, Manager, IV NJ Department of Environmental Protection Division of Environmental Quality Bureau of Nuclear Engineering CN 415 Trenton, NJ 08625 95-4933
.**. *11,., -;.. ., *i" STATE OF NEW JERSEY COUNTY OF SALEM REF: LR-N95112 SS. J. Hagan, being duly sworn according to law deposes and says: I am Vice President - Nuclear Operations for the Nuclear Business Unit of Public Service Electric and Gas Company, and* as such, I find the matters set forth in our letter, referenced above, concerning employee allegations, are true to the best of my knowledge, information and belief Su~scri,be.d and Sworn t°A b~fore this ___ jj _ day of LLuJu , 1995 </1 " c l (I ~. I \\~IL- ---{)-b..ttr1 : \\._ c-:;,\\ \\)Aw - Notary Public of New Jersey me My Commission expires on "I I - 95-4933}}