ML19289C766
| ML19289C766 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Midland |
| Issue date: | 01/12/1979 |
| From: | Deale V Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel |
| To: | |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7901220270 | |
| Download: ML19289C766 (3) | |
Text
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hT.C E l 'C D _C, _..
.'.w3I UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY CCMMISSION
[ Docket Nos.50-329SP,50-330SP]
THE CONSUMERS POWER COMPANY (Midland Plant, Units 1 and 2)
SPECIAL PROCEEDING TRANSMITTAL A copy of the decision by the Comptroller General of the United States (B-192784) dated January 10, 1979 in the Matter of Reimbursement by Federal agency of Private Attorney for Out-of-Pocket Expenses in Agency Proceeding is forwarded herewith for information purposes.
Dated this 12th day of January 1979 at Washington, D.C.
3
$A alentine B. Deale, Chairman Atomic Safety and Licensing Board for Special Processing Enclosure 91I as stated
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3-192784 MATTER CF:
F.ai= burse =ent by Federc.1 c;c:cy of ?:ivste A::c=ey for Out-of-?cche: Trpensas in Jgency Proceeding O t G 5,.a-qlm c
4 "Tuclec ?.o;ulstory Cc- ':sion (120) h:2 no cu:hori:y to p
rei= burse private at:cr:27 f or ou:--o f-p e ck.2: c genses he
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6 This is in :ssponse to a request f c= th:: Cheir:2: of the L*:i:cd
- b 6 @g S:stec I;uclear Ecsula: cry Cc=:icsic: ('T.C) for our cpinion c: v ccher s
the :aC has the authcrity to rei='.:::se
= sri = = cf 51,'JOC in ac:ual out-of-pocket c:penses incurred by a prirate a::c =ay.
- 2C believes tha: the trithdrswal, sc le=ent arc tc::d:stica cf :he proceeding in in h2 public interest.
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.e vere brou:;h by a private at:c: ey representing c ps::icip :t 1 the p cceediu; agains: c:so h?.C c:aff a::orneys, who ci:c brough: ch::tes c.c..o.<cas.,c.,..
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proceedin;" van initis:cd to invcs:igate the c cht:ges.
hc pa :ics to this dispute then re. ached a propcsed se::le=c::.
-"ac se:~lenen: tass, however, cc:ditiened upc: p: :e ~. :o the private c:torney by EP.C of up to S1.000 for hi:, cut-cf-pock : cxpens:s
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.m requs.. for rei= bur:ccen: fer ou:-cf-;ocia: c:penses ii ti.i.s Of fica rules th:: the ::nc lacks cutho 1:7 :o rei= burse hin.
Ye are xare of no cpecific st::u:ory c.au:hcritf for :C0 to r e.<._ s,urs a. :,,, p 4 '.
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ct:crney in these circ.=:s:s:ces '..ci: :.c: be.ccessary fer er in-ciden:a1 to carryi.ng cc: GC functic ;.
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Ohile under certain circu= stances we have held that a regula:ory agency could pay ou:-of-pocket expenses of an indigen: in:ervenor whose participa:1cn was necessary in order for the agency :o reach a full and fair decision on a regula:ory or adjudica:ory hearing, (3-15022',
i May 10, 1976), none of these circu= stances are present in :he instan:
The priva:e at:orney is a par:y,not an in:ervenor.
The cos:s l
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in question are not related directly to a licensing hearing before the NRC but to the special proceeding 1:ves:1 gating charges of =is-conduct.
There is no indication here tha: :he priva:e at:orney is financially unable to participate. We are awa-' -
no other basis for a Government agency :o agree to rei burse t incurred by a participant in an agency proceeding.
Payment of the expenses of its own staff at:orneys by the NRC stands on a dif f erent footing.
The Uni:ed 5:ates ac:s through 1:s e=ployees. Accordingly, upholding the authori:y and propriety of' action taken by employees in furtherance of : heir du:ies serves as well to protec: the Federal Govern =en: as the e=ployee.
- See, e.z.,
Johnson v. Marvland, 254 U.S. 51, 55-56 (1920).
Federal e=ployees would-be less vigorous in upholding Federal law and in discharging their duties, if, when sued, they had to pay their own expenses of litiga: ion.
Also, since the conduct at issue was perfor=ed in connection with Federal e=ployment, i: =ay be i=por: ant fro: a j
governmental standpoint to es:ablish i:s legality.
Therefore, i:
is Govern =en: policy to provide represen:ation for Federal e=ployees in proceedings agains the= as individuals but arising fro: the per-l for=ance of their official duties.
(3-130441, April 12, lo7S.) NRC 4
believes that the withdrawal, settlemen and :er=ina: ion of the special
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proceeding is in the public interest.
That deter =ination is necessary, g,
in the sense tha: NRC could not endorse a settle:en: if it believed that it was not in the public interest, but the belief tha: a se::le-
=ent is in the public interest does no: per=i: NRC to =ake expenditures in connection with a settle =enn which are beyond its legal authority.
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In su=, we see no basis on which the NRC can rei= burse the private a::orney for ou:-of-pocket expenses in cennec: ion wi:5 the special proceeding brough: to investigate =iscondue: charges.
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rr.y.*fCo=ptroller Genera 1 l
of the Uni:ed Sta:es I
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