ML20033F502

Reemphasizes Licensee Responsibilities to Assure Contractors & Subcontractors Permit Employees to Freely Contact NRC Re Potential Safety Issues W/O Restrictions

ML20033F502
Person / Time
Site:	Seabrook
Issue date:	04/27/1989
From:	Stello V NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:	Ellen Brown PUBLIC SERVICE CO. OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
Shared Package
ML20033F501	List: ML20033F500 ML20033F502
References
NUDOCS 9003210252
Download: ML20033F502 (4)

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i NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION UNITED STATES l

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W ASHINGTON. D. C. 20566 April 27, 1989 Docket No. 50-43 W3 Mr. Edward Brown President & Chief Executive Officer New Hampshire Yankee Division Public Service Company of New Hampshire Post Office Box 300 Seabrook, New Hampshire 03874

SUBJECT:

NOTIFICATION OF THE NRC OF EMPLOYEES' POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUES The purpose of this letter is to reemphasize to licensees their responsibilities to assure that they, and their contractors and subcontractors permit their employees to contact, without restrictions, the NRC with concerns about potential safety issues.

In particular, this letter notifies licensees that it is not acceptable to include in settlement agreements for discrimination matters arising under Section 210 of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, as amended, or in any labor agreements or other agreement affecting compensation terms, conditions and privileges of employment, any restrictions on employees or former employees providing information to any members of the NRC including-the staff, inspectors, investigators, Administrative Law Judges, Boards', or the Commission.

Information _ Notice 84-08 (February 14,1984) reminded licensees that the public health and safety requires that employees be free to raise safety issues to licensee management and to the NRC.

Failure to permit employees to do so violates 10 CFR 50.7 regarding " Employee Protection" and may subject licensees to significant' enforcement action by the NRC.

In addition to NRC action, employees who have been discriminated against for raising safety issues have the right to file complaints with the Department of Labor pursuant to Section 210 of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974,- as amended, for the purpose of remedying the harm caused by the discrimination.

Following the filing of a complaint, the Department of Labor performs an investigation.

If either the employee or the employer is not satisfied with the outcome of the investigation, a hearing can be held before an Administrative Law Judge with review'by the Secretary of Labor.

In many cases, the employee and the employer reach settlement of the issues raised in the DOL proceeding before completion of the formal process and a finding by the Secretary of Labor.

NRC supports settlements as they provide remedies to employees without the need for litigation. Settlement agreements in Section 210 proceedings are matters within the jurisdiction of the Department of Labor.

Licensees and their contractors must not include clauses in these settlements which in any way restrict the ability of employees to provide Q3M!h

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,.Mr. Edward Brown.

2-April 27, 1989 information about potential safety issues to NRC. Examples of restrictive clauses include but are not limited to prohibiting or in any way limiting an employee, or an attorney for such employee, from ecming to and providing safety information to an NRC staff member.

Licensees should examine their current and previous agreements to assure that restrictive clauses are not present.

If restrictive clauses are found,,

licensees should promptly inform the employee or former employee that the restriction should be disregarded, that he or she may freely come to NRC at any time without fear of any form of retribution, and that such a restriction will not be enforced.

Please notify us ro later than July 31, 1989 if any such restrictive clauses have been identified.

Your response should be provided to your licensing contact in headquarters.

This request for information was approved by the Office of Management and Budget under clearance number 3150-0011 which expires December 31, 1989.

Comments on burden and duplication may be directed to the Office of Management' and Budget, Reports Management Room 3208, New Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C.

20503.

Questions concerning this letter should be directed to the Director of the Office of Enforcement.

Sincerely, MO tor Stel

, Jr.

Executive Director for Operations s

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• tgwar'd A. Br:wn Pvolic.!arvi:t C:m:ar.y cf New Hampshire Seabrcok Nucletr Power Statien c::

Thomas tignan. Esc.

E. Tupper Kinder, Es J:hn A. Ritscher Esq.

4. tiar.a tisbee, Esc.q.

P::es end Grey 225 Franklin Street Ass stant Attorney General Office of Atterney General E:st:n, Massachusetts 02110 206 State House Annex Concord, how Hampshire 03301 kr. Bru:e B. Beckley, Project Maneger Fublic Servica Company cf New. Nam: shire Resident inspector m

Fest 0ffice lex 330 i

US f uclear Regulatory Comission-Fanchester, Eew Hampshire 03105 Pest Office Box 1149 tr. Yabray Tye, President

!sttreek, New Hampshire 03874

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Sun Yelley Association 2C9 Sumer Street Mr. A. M. Ebner, Project Manager Unitto Ergineers & Constructors Haverhill, Massachusetts 01830 Pest Office Box 8223 Aebert lackus, Esq.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19101 Backus,:Meyer and Solomon Steven Oleskey Esc.

115 Lewe11 Street OfficeoftheIttorneyGeneral Manchestar, New Hampshire 03106 One Ashburten Place I

P.O. Box 330 Diane Corran, Esq.

Besten, Massachusetts 02108 Harmon and Weiss 2001 5 $treet, NW C&ro) $. Sneider, Esq.

Suite 430 Office of the Assistant Atterney General Washingten D.C.

20009 One Ashburten Place P.O. Box 330 PM11p Ahren, Esq.

Assistant Atterney General-Boston, Massachusetts 02108 State House, Station #6

0. Pierre 4. Cameron, Or., Esq.

Augusta, Maine 04333 General Counsel Public Service Company of New Halipshire Mr. Eddard A. Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer Manesestar, New Hampshire 03105 New Hamnshire Yankee Division Mr. James M. Peschel Public service Company of Public Service Company of New Hamsphire New Ma::; shire P.O. Box 300 Post Office Box 300 i

Seabrook, New Hampshire 03874 seab-cok, How Hampshire 03874 SeacoastAnti-Pollutioni.ethe Regionti Administrator, Region !

5 Market Street U.S. Nucitar Regulatory Cosmission Portsmouth, New Hampshire 03801 475 Allendale Road 25 Maplewood Ave.

King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406 Ms. Diana P. Randall 70 Collins Street Ashed R. Amirian, Esq.

Town Ceunsel for Merrimac sesbroek, NetiMampshire 03874 376 Main Street Mr. T. Feigenbaum Haverhill, Massachusetts 08130 Public $6rvice Company of New Haasphtre i

Post Office. Box 330,,

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service Com:ary cf New Na.?.;snire Sethrect Nuclear Power Station L

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Mr. Calvin A. Canney, City Manager M. Alfred Y. Sargent, City Hall Ciairman i

26 caniel Street hard c'selectren Pcrtsr.:uth, New Ha':; shire 03801 Town of Salisbury, MA 01950 Beard of Selectmen RFD Oalt:s Road senator Gordon J. Humphrey I

ATTH: Tom lurack

-Brentveed New Hat; shire 03533 531 Har: senate Office But1 ding U.S. Senate Ms. Suzanne Breiseth, Washing.:n, D.C. 20!!C-

'i Beard of Selectmen Town cf Hampten Falls Drinkwater; Road Mr. Owen B. Durgin. Chairman Him; ten Falls, New Hampshire C3844

. Durham Board of selectmen Town of Durham Mr. Guy Chichester, Chairman Rye Nuclear Interventien Durham, New Hampshire 03824 Cc:r.i ten c/o Pye Town Hall Jkne Spector 10 Central Road Federal Energy Regulatory I

Comission Rye, Kew Har.pshire 03870 825 Herth Capital 5treet, N.E.

Room 81C5 Chairman, Board of Selectmen Fashington D.. C. 20426 PFD 2 South Htept:n, New Hampshire 03827 R.5::ttHill-Whilton Mr. R. Sweeney Three Metro Center Lageuits, slark Hill-Whilten Stite 610

& Mesutre 79 State Street lethesda, Maryland 20814 Newburypom, Ma. 01950

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CasO.an, Chairman Mr. Richard Strome. Director i

Beard of Selectmen New Hampshire Office of Emergency Managesent Town of Amesbury 5 tate Office Park South Town.Halli.

107 Pleasant Street A:nes:ury, pssachusetts 01913 Cencord, New Hampshire 03331 Honorable Peter J. Matthews Ad,fudicatory File (2)

Atomic safety and Licensing Board Mayor, City of Newburyport s'

Panel Docket City Hall "

Newburypert Massachusetts 01950

• U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Consnission Washingtn, D.C. 20555 Mr. Donald !. Chick, Town Manager Congressman Nicholas Mavroules Town of Exeter 10 Front' street 70 Washington Street h eter, New,Mampshira 03823 Salem, Massachusetts 01970 Mr. G. Thomas Mr. John C. Duffett President h6 Chief hecutive Officar Puslic service Company of New Hampshire Pubite SeWee Company of New Haapshire Post Office Box 330 1000 (1m 54. P.O. son 330 Manchester,1New Hampshire 03105 sesbrook, New Hampshire 03874

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, ag L'NITiD $7ATEi NUCLEAR REGULATORY CCMISSION "g

OFFICE OF IN5FECi!CN AND EFCRCEMENT g,g----

VA5NIliCTON, D.C.

2)!!5 Febrvery 14, 130%

IE INFpAMATION NECE NO. 64-08: 10 CFR $0.7 "IMPLOYEE PROTECTION" addres's ee s :

All nuclear power reactor facilities nolding an operating license (OL) or construction pe eit (CP); nuclear steam system suppliers; and architect-engineers.

Puroese:

This i' formation n:tice calls attention to 10 CFR 50.7, which prohibits dis-n criminatien against an'eraployee for engaging in certain protected activities, such a' providing the Commission inforta ion about possible violations of s

re::uirements imp: sed by the Atomic Energy Act or the Energy Reorganization i

Act.

,t Descriotien of Circumstances:

In recent mentns the Department of Lahr (DOL) has received a number of discrim-instich complaints.

Some might have rssu'ted because not all employers are s.are of their responsibilities under 10 CFR 50.7.

n In 1$78, The Energy Reorganization A:t of 1974 was amended to i'nclude Section 210, ?!mployee Protection." This se: tion was er. acted into law because of a strong feeling in Congress that esployees of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)' licensees and appilcants and of -hair centractort and subcontractors should be protected from discharge or othe.r acts of ciscrimination for contacting the NRC.

In 1982, the NRC amended its repuistices (10 CFR Parts 19, 30, 40, 50, 60. 70, 72, and 150) to implement section 220; 10 CFR 50.7 implements it for nuclear reactors.

Section 50.7 prohibits esployers from discherging or othewise discriminating against any employee who contacts or seeks to contact the NRC, and indicates-that' DCL may award an employee reinstatement, back pay and compensatory damages if cisgrimination has occurred. Any empicyee who believes discrimination has occurred may file a complajnt with 00L but must do so within thirty (30) days l

of the date the employee became aware of the discrimination.

In a memorandue l

of understanding dated October 25, 1982, NRC agreed to cooperate fully with 00L in investigating discrimination complaints (47 FR 54535).

In sedition, the NRC may take enforcement action for violation of Section 50.7.

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(r SN 8s 08 February 14, 1984 9egt 2 of 2 There chn be no question that puolic hssith and safety r be free to raise safety issues to licensee management and toequire that e noticed a recent increase in the nusber of Section 110 complai t the NRO.

NRC has wnich gay have been preventable.

information to the NRC often occur when employers go not hProte:ted a ns some of program for soliciting and resolving safety concerns of em l ave an effective tionally, safety concerns have been taken to the NRC because th p oyees.

Addi-em;1oyee was unaware that an issue raised pre e concorred resolved.

p oyer had been gationspr.pelled to contact the NRC, fewer safety concerns w feels s mployee

.to the NRC and there should be fewer instances of real or perc siscrimination.

e ved Ve urge you to review'your activit.se to ensure that (1) notified about this mechanism.esployees to raise safety issues 2

i a mechanism exists fer Your contractors also should be svare of t

matter, oyees are i

Ammints",rator of the appropriate NRC Regional Offic e Re

, or this office. gional

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Edvard Jorcan, Director

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Dhist of Emergency Preparedness and rinnering Response

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Office of Inspection and Enforcament Tecnnice)

Contact:

W. l.. Fisher, IE (301) 492-8073 Atta:hment-

.ist of Recently Issued If Inforse-ion Notices i

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h6 Mr'. Edward A. Brown cc:

Thomas Dignan, Esq.

Mr. A. M. Ebner, Project Manager John A. Ritscher, Esq.

United Engineers & Constructors Ropes and Gray Post Office Box B223 225 Franklin Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19101 Boston, Massachusetts 02110 D. Pierre G. Cameron, Jr., Esq.

Mr. Bruce B. Beckley, Project Manager General Counsel Public Service Company of New Hampshire Public Service Company of New Hampshire Post Office Box 330 Manchester, New Hampshire 03105 Manchester, New Hampshire 03105 Mr. T. L. Harpster Dr. Mauray Tye, President Public Service Company of New Hampshire Sun Valley Association P. O. Box 300 209 Summer Street Seabrook, New Hampshire 03874 Haverhill, Massachusetts 01830 Regional Administrator, Region I U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road Pobert Backus, Esq.

King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406 Backus, Meyer and Solomon 116 Lowell Street Ashed N. Amirian, Esq.

Manchester, New Hampshire 03106 145 Main Street, P.O. Box 38 Bradford, Massachusetts 01830 Diane Curran, Esq.

Harmon and Weiss 2001 S Street, NW Suite 430 Washington, D.C.

20009 Mr. Peter Brann Assistant Attorney General Mr. Alfred V. Sargent, State House, Station #6 Chairman Augusta, Heine 04333 Board of Selectmen Seacoast Anti-Pollution League 5 Market Street Senator Gordon J. Humphrey Portsmouth, New Hampshire 03801 ATTN: Tom Burack 531 Hart Senate Office Building Mr. T. Feigenbaum U.S. Senate Public Service Company of Washington, D.C. 20510 of New Hampshire Post Office Box 330 Mr. Owen B. Durgin, Chairman Seabrook, New Hampshire 03874 Durham Board of Selectmen Town of Durham Resident inspector Durham, New Hampshire 03824 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Seabrook Nuclear Fower Station Mr. John Traficonte Post Office Box 1149 Chief, Nuclear Safety Unit Seabrook, New Hampshire 03874 Department of the Attorney General-One Ashburton Place Boston, Massachusetts 02108-1698

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%V ar Mr. Edward A. Brown CC' Board of Selectmen RFD Dalton Road Jane Soector.

Feceral Energy Repulatory Commission Brentwood, New Hampshire 03B33 825 North Capital Street, N.E.

Room 8105 Ms. Suzanne Bretseth, Board of Selectmen Washington, D.C. 20426 Town of Hampton Falls Drinkwater Road Mr. R. Sweeney Three Metro Center Hampton Falls, New Hampshire 03844 Sutte 610 Mr. Guy Chichester, Chairman Eethesda, tiaryland 20814 Rye 14uclear Intervention Committee Mr. George L. Iverson, Director c/o Rye Tcwn Hall New Hampshire Office of Emergency 10 Central Read Management Rye, New Hampshire 03870 State Office Park South-107 Pleasant Street Chairman, Board of Selectmen Concord, New Hempshire 03301 RFD 2 Adjudicatory File (2)

South Hampton, New Hampshire 03827 Atomic Safety and Licensing Board F. Scott Hill - Whilton Panel Docket U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Lagoulis, Clark, Hill-Whilton Washington, D.C. 20555

& McGuire 79 State Street Congressman Nicholas Mavroules Newburyport, Massachusetts 01950-70-Washington Street Salem, Massachusetts 01970 Ms. R. Cashman, Chairman Mr. Jchn C. Duffett Board of Selectmen Town of Amesbury President and Chief Executive Officer Town Hall Public Service Company of New Hampshire-1000 Elm St.. P. O. Box 330 Amesbury, Massachusetts 01913 Manchester, New Hampshire 03105 Mr. Donald E. Chick, Town Manager tir. Jack Dolan Town of Exeter 10 Front Street

_ Federal Emergency Management Agency Region 1 Exeter, New Hampshire 03823 J. W.-McCormack Post Office and Courthouse Building, Room 442 Boston, Massachusetts 02109 4

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