ML20033D094
| ML20033D094 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/13/1981 |
| From: | Lieberman J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE LEGAL DIRECTOR (OELD) |
| To: | Humphrey J MILES, WAY & CALDART |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8112070218 | |
| Download: ML20033D094 (1) | |
Text
_.
N/W44 DISTRIBb' TION ELD Rdr O'.
i NRCCentral/
October 13, 1981 Subj.
Rdg.
Murray chron Licberman chron
,J
5 Shapar/Engelhardt e, 4, a
7 R,
/
James A. Humphrey, Esq.
"A p'
4 Miles, Way F. Caldart DEg4 T_
Su1tc 10 19gy d.3
- v.,,
Rainier National Bank Building g
Olympia, Washington 98501 4'
Dear l'r. Hunphrey:
I' Your letter of September 28, 1981 to this agency's General Counsel has been referred to me for reply. You pose an hypothetical question concerning the reporting of defects at a nuclear power plant construction site.
The importance to the public health and safety, including workers' health and safety, of high quality construction and operation of nuclear plants is difficult to overenphasize. For this reason the !!uclear 4
Regulatory Comnission has always encouraged the free flow of infomation concerning problems or potential problems at nuclear plants.
Indeed, as you nay know, a recently chacted statute (P.L.95-601) makes it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against a worker for. coming forward with safety inforr.ation to the NRC. Beyond that, such action by an employer unuld imrxxitetely raise a question as to any involved licensee's fitness to hold its hRC license.
The Comission recognizes the legitimate reasons underlying employers' encouraging employees to report safety infomation to managerent.
However, an al. tempt by "an employer, contractor, subcontractor or licensee i
involved in the construction of a nuclear power plant [to] restrict the j
reporting by any of their coployees to agents or inspectors of the NRC of.
quality control problecs observed by such employees in the construction.of the nuclear plant"--to quote from your inquiry--would be viewed by the fiRC..
as contrary to the interests of public health and safety and deserving L
of swift renedial action appropriate to the particular circunstancas.
Sincerely, i
[\\ -
O James Liebeman i
Deputy Director.
Ts Rulemaking and Enforcement Division-
'\\
bec:
, DESIGNATED ORIGIBAL
[
Victor Stello, IE-
-@Sb'f
. A @, _ \\ \\, -
gp Certid ed By 3-l.D,,,,,,,,,,[,,$,h,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,fh,',,,,,,,,,
T "*'
snaur)....irray:ssf JL ebeman DThompson nar* 10n UR1 -
10/13 10/9/81 a
_ p p g p e e u o g.../81 J
POR OFFICIAtr RECORD COPY
- m m -a m 2 q
'