ML20003E565

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Urges Revision of Regulations Re Util Hiring Practices,Min Job Requirements,Code of Conduct & Penalties for Nonconformance.Highland Park News 810305 Article Re Drug Arrests at Facilities Encl
ML20003E565
Person / Time
Site: Zion  File:ZionSolutions icon.png
Issue date: 03/12/1981
From: Quigg C
POLLUTION & ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS, INC.
To: Harold Denton
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
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ML20003E564 List:
References
NUDOCS 8104060237
Download: ML20003E565 (2)


Text

/dC C e e

Pollution & Environumtal Problems, Inc.

P.O. Box 309 Palatine, Illinoia 60067 March 12, 1981 Mr. Harold Danton U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Oonnission washington Do, 20505 Dear Mr. Denton As you well know, the utilities you regulate can se the NRC if thier beliera they haye been poorly regulated. The ireny of Gmeral Publie Utilities charging the NRO with failure to alert B(I operators to a similar incident at a plant in Toledo, Ohio is a case in point.

This same accusation of failure to regulate could some day be leveled at the NRO if a serious'accidet occurs because of the misbehavior of a nuclear station employee. The enclo sed clipping describes two Zion Nuclear Station employeea using druga while on duty at that plant.

The citizens in this area believe the NRO, chief regulator of the nuclear l

indu stry, should see that only the storictests se' eming, hiring practicss r

and codes of conduct are maintained by all employees at a nuclear power station, not just the security guards. If an accidet were to happen as a reslt of a worker's drug use, for example, the health and safety of millions in the Chicago area would be at stake.

we urgently reconened that the Federal Oode of Regulations be revised to include new regulations concerning a utility's hiring practices, min-inum job requiremmte, an empicyees' code of conduct and psalties for nonoonfo rmance.

Por the NRC to tolerate the narret laxity and lawlesmess among nuclear workers is to invite accidents, injuries, public condemation and po ssible l

lawmits against the NRC.

Sincerely, f

/ Catherine Quigg, re directo r l

Pollution & Drrironamtal Problema,Inc.

Q1p/381-6695)

Jo eph Hendrie ect s

'N Victor Stello 1

1

'8104 0 6 'O W

Highland Park

~ g News.

MWER MSS NEWSPAPER i

doch 5,194t1 ARONEBt PRESSPEW5PMER",-

I Comed denies extensive dr.ug use at Zion By MARCIA NICK 0W The n,,$,u include valve operators, more vigilant than ever in their observa-Marabito said he doubted the NRC woukt

~

lab technicians and supervisory and man-tion of (employes)."

aonduct the investigation requested by the J

A Commonwealth Edison spokesman agement personnel,he said.

While Commonwealth Edison has cast soleuclear group.

said Tuesday that an " internal travestigs-Police will not allow Commonwealth doubt on claims by polke that drug use Te can't tell them (Commonwealth tion" at the Zion nuclear plant has contra-Edison to 'W" the continuing in-within the Zion plant has been extensive, Edison) who they can or can't hire," he dkted claims by poike that many em-vestigation, said Mulcrone.

the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said. "We've got to be careful that we just ployes there have used and sold drugs Mulcrone and other MEG agents are (N RC) is taking a waitend-see attitude, don't simply go outside our jurisdiction.

while on duty, scheduled to meet Friday with Zion police Russ Marabito NRC spokesman in Chi-There are some things that are just beyond Spokespan John Hogan said company to discuss further' efforts.

cago, said the agency'does not plan to con-the purview of the NRC.

duct aninvestigation ofits own.

"The NRC's primary function is to representatives spoke to " impartial" law enfortement agencies as part of the inside ARRESTED OUT5IDE the main gate "We can only go on the facts," he said.

make sure that any nuclear plant is operst-probe, launched after Zion,polke Feb. 24 of the nuclear station Feb. 24 during thir "All we're talking about at this point is two ing as safely as is humanly possibly," said crrested two valve operators on drug lunch hour were Jeffrey J. Kostroskt Zl, of ' people.

Marabito. "That's our concern. Anything Waukegan, and Scott A. l(leprig,22. Of Ke-

"We are a regulating and licensing involving safety we would examine under a charges.

Hogan declined to say whkh law en-nosha.Wis. Both men have been suspended

  • sgency; we are not law enfortement," he micmscope "

Marabito noted that the NM. tests and added.

foctement smups the utility had consulted., from their jobs.

licenses control room operator trainees "Everything wvve learned bears out Kostroski was charged with selling co-our initial reading of the situation," Hogan caine to an undercover MEG agent on

. A SIIMEMBER North Shore antimu-and also requires that security personnel, said.

three dates - Feb. 6,13 and 24. Kleprig clear group, Citizens Opposed to Radioac-who have access to areas where " key equi-Two days after the Zion drug arrests, he was charged with rA.de of marijuana.

tive Pollution, sent a letter Monday to ment" is stored, undergo background in-said the company was " reasonably cer-Kostmsid had been training to become James G. Keppler, NRC regional director.

vestigations.

t:in" no other employes have used or sold a control room operator.

The letter asked the NRC to investigate Marabito said the NRC responded to the drugs within the plant, according to wire Utility spokesman Hogan said that if

" hiring practices and management" at the drug arrests by assigning additional in-service accounts.

, Zion police and MEG have "edditional in-Zion plant.

spectors to the plant "orHmd4ff" through Asked'if he waar implying that Zkm formation," Commonwealth Edison would Miriam Ise Targ. a spokeswoman for Sunday.

polke and the North Shore Metropolitan like to ha reit,too.

the group, said members are concemed "They didn't find any irregularities or Enforcement Genup,(MEG), an under,

"I wl }i they would put their cards on that the use of drugs may cause " human threats to safety," he said. "They saw cover drug unit that assisted Zion police, the table," he said. "We have nothing to go error " which, in tum, could lead to nu - nothing indicating a problem with perfor-have exaggerated their findmgs, Hogan on otlyr.han Tumors and vague generali-clear accidents.

mance. The plant is being operated Last May, the NRC reported that the safely."

i said,"I'm not going to make that accusa-ties."

t.

tion."

But he added,"We can't expect them to Zion plant released radioactive gas be.

Two NRC Inspectors are assigned to the jeopardire a continuing investigation, espe-cause "a valve was mistakenly opened" by plant full-time.

DRUG UNIT DIRECTDIt lawrence cially if it's being done undercover."

an employe. Only a.small amount of ra-Mulcrone this week reaffirmed an earlier dioactivity was released -insufficient to ZION Pol _ ICE CHIEF Norman IEe statement that " intelligence" indicates HOGAN SAID THE company has affect operations, the agency said.

said Tuesday the NRC has asked police for further information on the findings of the more than 25 employes at the plant have

" tightened supervison" at the plant after KEPPLEIL WAS unavailable for com-drug investigation, but Commonwealth Ed-used or sold marijuana, cocair.e or amphe-last week's arrests.

trmines while on duty.

" Supervisors are being instructed to be ment on ihe anti-nuclear group's letter, but ison has not.

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