ML20080F680
| ML20080F680 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palo Verde  |
| Issue date: | 02/28/1983 |
| From: | Bernabei L, Lisa Clark, Garde B GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT |
| To: | Fortuna R NRC OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS (OI) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20079P594 | List:
|
| References | |
| FOIA-83-161, FOIA-83-A-9 NUDOCS 8402130108 | |
| Download: ML20080F680 (2) | |
Text
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,,$6VERNMENTfCCOUNT(ILITY PROJECT -
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W Institutt! for Policy Studies 1901 Gue Street. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009 (202)234 9382
.e February.28, 1983 Mr. Roger Fortuna-,
Office of Investigations g
,'r U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission East-West Towers Building Bethesda, Maryland
Dear Mr. Fortuna:
I am enclosing a copy of affidavits ~and supporting exhibits from two former workers at the Palo Verde nuclear
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plants for your consideration.
The. Government Accountability Project (GAP).now represents these two individuals -- Mr. Robert Gunderson and Mr. Wallace Royce.
We believe that the prior and ongoing investigations into these two men's allegations by Region V, Inspections and.
Enforcenents (IE) and by Mr. Owen Shackleton of your office have been no more than facial reviews of the evidence. Further, we do not believe that the problems evidenced by these two former workers experiences have been adequately addre'ssed.
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Therefore, GAP is undertaking a preliminary investigation of workers allegations at the Palo Verde nuclear power plant.
Ms..Lynne Bernabei, GAP's Staff Counsel, will be the supervising attorney of the Palo Verde investigation.
Of particular concern to GAP are the comments made to Mr. Royce by Mr. Shackleton that "although Mr. Royce was pro-tected by federal law from retaliation for bringing these safety concerns to the NRC's attention, the NRC could do nothing to protect him against retaliation or harassmen.t from his' employer. "' We also understand from the evidence on the public record, as well as from other witnesses, that the investi-gation of Mr. Gunderson's charges was not in accordance~with the-NRC's investigation procedures.
The licensee,'the Arizona _Public.
Service Company and its constructor, the Bechtel Corporation-were informed of the allegations prior to the NRC site' visit. 'This prior announcement of an upcoming investigation-enabled the problems to be corrected before the NRC inspection /investig'ation effort.
Although. GAP generally agrees with correction of identified construction problems 'as early as possible it -is unconscionable.that workers who take great risks =to identify hardware deficiencies and other construction problems are double-crossed by government officials infan effort to vindicate their own inadequate investigations and-inspections. if that is indeed what happened.
8402130108 B31110 PDR FOIA BERNABE83-A-9 PDR V
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Roger Fortuna "cbruary 28, 1983 Of(ica,of Investig tons The Government Accountability Project (GAP) will be requesting an investigation'of Region V's and Mr. Shackleton's handling of these two workers allegations specifically, as well as,their general handling of. inspections and investige.tions at San Onofre, Palo Verde, and Diablo Canyon.
At the present time we are conducting our-own review of public documents,
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aifd contacting other workerslwithin Region V IE reports c who have had similar experiences with the NRC officials in that area.
We will summarize our preliminary findings and forward them to your office in the near future, however, we i
appreciate the opportunity to bring these concerns to your attention immediately.
Sincerely, l
G BILLIE PIRNER GARDE Director, Citizens' Clinic LOUIS CLARK Executive Director M
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L NNE BERNABEI 2
Staff Counsel
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THOMAS DEVINE [
Legal Director Enclosures BPG/LC/I,B/TD/bl I
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OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS FIELD OFFICE, REGION V q f $,j'8c
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March 29, 1983'
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N MEMORANDUM FOR:s Lee S. Dewey, Esq., ELD g
FROM:
Owen C. Shackleton 3r., Director, Office of Investigations, Region V
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SUBJECT:
PALO VERDE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION (PVNGS) -
ALLEGATIONS OF CURRENT CONCERN TO THE ASLB IN OI INVESTIGATIONS:
5-82-006, 5-82-009 AND 5-82-011 REFEERENCE:
Telecon between 7D, and Shackleton on captioned subjects on March 25, 1983 For your reference, the three cases with allegations on PVNGS OI has been investigating that are of it: mediate concern to the ASLB are identified below:
1.
Case:
5-82-006
Title:
PVNGS, Allegations Re:
Postweld Heat Treatment on Piping Status:
Clesed on January 19, 1983 2.
Case:
5-82-009
Title:
PVNGS, Allegations Re:
Electrical and Other Con'struction Items made by Robert D. GUNDERSON Jr.
Status: Open 3.
Case:
5-82-011
Title:
PVNGS, Allegations Re: Welding of Piping, Inspections by NRC, etc..
Status: Open Enclosed are copies of the folicving documents you requested:
1.
Letter
- Owen C. SHACKLETON Jr., Director, OI:RV, to 7D' -
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dated January 13, 1983 (Case 5-82-011).
N NOTE:
7D
,/ requested confidentiality from OI and it was granted Ito him. Care must be taken not to disclose his name to persons out:.;ide NRC personnel that have a need to know.
2.
CAP letter to Roger FORTUNA, 01:HQ, dated February 28, 1983 concerning CAP's representation of Messrs. Robert GUNDERSON and Wallace ROYCE.
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NOTE:
The allegations made by ROYCE vere of a technical nature and were not investigated by 01.
A special inspection was conducted by RV intu ROYCE'u allegations. Tulbert YOUNG Jr. is the Section Chief in RV over this matter (PTS 463-3853).
3.
Affidavit of Robert D. GUNDIRSON before the ASLB concerning PVNr.S I
signed January 8, 1983 (Caue 5 82-009).
4.
Affidavit of Robert D. CUNDERSON before the ASLB concerning PVNCS signed May 17,1982 (Case 5-82-009).
S.
Affidavit of Wallace R. ROYCE before the ASLB conccining PVNGS.
signed February 25. 1983.
6.
Resume of Wallace Ray ROYCE.
7.
Bechtel memorandum from BUC110LZ to ROYCE dated November 12, 1982.
8.
Mcmorandum from ROYCE to BUCHOLZ dated November 14, 1982.
9.
NRC RV Inspection Report No. 50-528/82-3?..
10.
U.S. Department of Labor latrer to Bechte.1 Corporation Legal Department re. Wallace ROYCE vs. Bechtel Corporation dated December 20, 1982.
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Owen C. Shackleton Jr.,
irector Office of Investigations Field Office, Region V l
Enclosures (10)
I bec w/ enclosures:
01 Matters bec w/o enclosures:
Case S-82-006 5-82-009 5-82-011
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