ML20080H729
| ML20080H729 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palo Verde  |
| Issue date: | 06/05/1992 |
| From: | Stevens R ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE CO. (FORMERLY ARIZONA NUCLEAR |
| To: | Martin J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION V) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20080H720 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-93-638 NUDOCS 9502230310 | |
| Download: ML20080H729 (6) | |
Text
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e Arizona Public Service Company N
PALo VERDE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION P O BOX $2034 PHOENIX. ARIZONA 85072-2034 212-01009/RJS June 5,1992 Mr. John B. Martin Regional Administrator, Region V U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1450 Maria Lane, Suite 210 Walnut Creek, CA 94596-5368
Reference:
Letter dated April 22,1992, from R. P. Zimmerman, Director, Division of Reactor Safety and Projects, NRC, to William F. Conway Executive Vice President, Nuclear, Arizona Public Service Company
Dear Mr. Martin:
Subject:
Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (PVNGS) 3 Units 1,2, and 3
)
Docket Nos. STN 50-528/529/530 Reply to Request for Information Regarding Concerns Received by the NRC File: 92-056-026. 92-003-350 Attached is Arizona Public Service Company's (APS) response to NRC's April 22,1992, request for information. In this response, APS is providing background information (Attachment A) and a descriptir 1 of APS' evaluation and resolution (Attachments B, C, and D) of issues raised to the Employee Concerns Program (ECP) by the individual referred to in the above referenced correspondence.
The issues addressed by the ECP encompass the issues contained in the enclosures to NRC's request for information, with three minor exceptions. The three exceptions were discussed with the indiviCJa! by ECP representatives on December 30,1991. At that l
time, the individual indicated these three items had been resolved to his satisfaction by line supervision. The ECP confirmed that line supervision had addressed these items when first made known. Attachment E desenbes the three exceptions.
Of the twenty.four issues identified by the referenced individual, nineteen could not t:e substantiated, two were substantiated, and the remaining three were suggestions ter improvements. No safety significant issues were identified.
9502230310 940718
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-638 PDR l
Mr. John B. Martin 212-01009/RJS r
U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission June 5,1992 Region V l
Reply to Request for Information Regarding Concerns Received by the NRC j
Page 2 The attachments to this letter describe concerns that were initially provided to the ECP.
The ECP assures employees that their concerns will be kept in confidence. Therefere.
l APS requests that the attachments to this letter be withheld from public disclosure in j
accordance with 10 CFR 2.790. If you have any questions, please contact T. C. Stewart at (602) 393-6701.
l Sincerely, 3
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Ronald J. Stevens, Director l
Nuclear Licensing & Compliance RJS/TCS/rw Attachments j
cc:
W. F. Conway C. M. Trammell D.H.Coe Document Control Desk i
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ATTACHMENT B ECP File No. 91-087-01 i
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1 doncern No. 91-090-13 The concerned individua! had a concern that he would not be selected for the upcoming outage in Unit 1. His Unit 2 Foreman A, mentioned that he was aware of what he (the concerned individual) was capable of (history of Section 210). The concerned individual stated that a Unit 1 Foreman (specifically identified) was upset because he (the concerned individual) forced the System Engineer to use a grounding strap (the concerned individual got the strap). The concerned individual feels the foreman will have influence in Unit 2 and he will not be used in Unit 1 outage. Shortly after this incident, the concerned individual was told by a Unit 2 l&C Technician, D1 - Atlantic Group that a list of who was selected for the Unit 1 outage was out and the concerned individual was not on it.
The concerned individual stated that he would not be selected for the upcoming outage in Unit 1 because of his p..ticipation in the ECP,in that he had disclosed various significant nuclear safety and industrial safety concerns related to the PVNGS Unit 2 Refueling Outage.
The concerned individual provided the following specific issues which he believes prevented him from selection as a contractor l&C Technician for the Unit 1 outage:
1.
The Unit 2 I&C Foreman A, mentioned that he was aware of what the concerned individual was capable of.
2.
A Unit 1 I&C Foreman (specifically identified) was upset because the
}
concerned individual forced a System Engineer to use a grounding strap.
/
The concerned individual believes this foreman will have influence in the selection, and he will not be used in the Unit 1 outage.
3.
Unit 2 I&C Technician D1 - Atlantic Group told the concerned individual that he was not selected to work the Unit 1 outage.
4.
Another Unit 2 I&C Technician D2 - Atlantic Group told the concerned individual that his name was not on the APS/PVNGS list of contractor I&C Technicians selected to work the Unit 1 outage.
5.
On January 2,1992, the Site Representative - Atlantic Group told the concerned individual he was not selected to work the Unit 1 outage.
The primary concern as well as each specific issue was evaluated by the ECP and are addressed individually below.
Investination Interviews were ccnducted with the following individuals:
Una 2 I&C Foreman A 3
Unit 2 I&C Foreman B j
Un:: 2 !&C Superviscr 15 cf 23
doncern No. 91-090-13 (Centinu d)
+
Unit 2 Work Control Manager Unit 1 I&C Supervisor M
Unit 1 I&C Foreman A Unit 1 l&C Foreman B Concerned Individual, I&C Technician - Unit 2 Manager, Systems Engineering Supervisor, Systems Engineering Unit 3 I&C Foreman (mistakenly identified by the concerned individual)
Atlantic Group Representative A Atlantic Group Representative B Atlantic Group Representative C Procedure 13AC-0PR02 PVNGS Contract Personnel Request and Exiting Procedure was reviewed for compliance.
Results Unit 1 was budgeted for fewer contractor l&C Technician positions than were used for the Unit 2 Refueling outage. Therefore, positions were not available for all of the Unit 2 Technicians.
Unit 1 management requested and received (from the Atlantic Group) resumes of the contractor Unit 2 I&C Technicians. Unit 1 Management spoke with Unit 2 3
Management about the performance of the contractors utilized during the outage
)
and most, including the concerned individual, were recommended. Based on Unit 1 management's analysis of their in-house technicians' skills and the contractor resumes, they selected individuals who would provide skills or experience to complement their in-house technicians. The concerned individual was not among the contractors selected.
The following addresses the specific issues raised by the concerned individual:
Results, Issue No.1 i
Unit 2 I&C Foreman A acknowledges making the statement during a meeting with the concerned individual and Unit 2 I&C Foreman B.
However, Unit 2 I&C Foreman A clarified that the statement was taken out of context and that the intent was to assure the individual that he was aware of his abilities and qualifications as an I&C Technician. He further stated that it was his responsibility to know the capabilities of all personnel under his supervision. Further, his intent was to assure the concerned individual that he did not question his capability when requesting i
technical information.
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.. Cbncern No. 91-090-13 (Continued)
Unit 2 l&C Foreman B, who also attended the above mentioned meeting, was
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interviewed and corroborated Unit 2 I&C Foreman A's statement. Unit 2 l&C M
Foreman B stated that during the meeting, the concerned individual made statements regarding the foremen's abilities to select the right personnel for an assigned task because the foreman did not know the capabilities of the contractor l&C Technicians. At that point, Unit 2 l&C Foreman B stated that Unit 2 I&C Foreman A said,"l know what you are capable of based on the training exams, the completion of job qualification cards, and your being independently qualified."
This investigation indicates that Unit 2 l&C Foreman A's statement, when put in the proper context (foremen's knowledge of capabilities), was not inappropriate.
Results issue No. 2 The person identified by the concerned individual as a Unit 1 I&C Foreman is actually a Unit 31&C Foreman who had no influence on the selection of contractors for the Unit 1 outage.
Results. Issue Nos. 3,4 & 5 Unit 2 I&C Technician D1 - Atlantic Group told the concerned individual that he was not selected to work the Unit 1 outage.
T Unit 2 l&C Technician D2 - Atlantic Group told the concerned individual that his I
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name was not on the APS/PVNGS list of contractor I&C Technicians selected to work the Unit 1 outage.
On January 2,1992, Site Representative A - Atlantic Group told the concerned individual he was not selected to work the Unit 1 outage.
Unit 2 I&C Technician D1 and Unit 2 I&C Technician D2 are contract l&C i
Technicians working for the Atlantic Group, as does the Atlantic Group S',te Representative A. None of these people had any influence in deciding who was selected for outage support. Other than receiving resumes from the Atlantic Group's Site Representatives, Unit 1 management did not consult with Atlantic Group Representatives in selecting the I&C contractors.
Conclusion i
The primary concern as well as the individual issues were not substantiated.
Responsive Actions None.
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NADONAL WHISTLEBLOWER CENTER 517 Florida Avenue,NW Washington, DC 20001 1850 (202) 667-7515 Fax (202) 462-4145 December 7, 1993 IREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST J
14 343P 3
9 h'dbOe{
Chief, FOIA/LPDR Branch Division of Freedom of Information and Publications Services Office of Administration U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission i
Washington, D.C.
20555 i
i Re:
FOIA Recuest
Dear Chief:
i Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA"), 5 U.S.C.
l 5 552, et sea, the National Whistleblower center ("NWC") hereby requests a copy of any and all records and information pertaining i
directly or indirectly to the following:
1.
The Atlantic Group, Inc.
(" TAG").
I 2.
All contracts between TAG and any and all licensees of j
the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ("NRC").
l 3.
Any and all licenses issued to TAG by the NRC.
4.
Any and all NRC investigative reports that reference TAG.
This request includes but is not limited to notes, letters, memoranda, drafts, minutes, diaries, logs, procedures, instruc-tions, engineering analyses, drawings, files, graphs, charts, maps, photographs, agreements, handwritten
- notes, s'/2 dies,
- data, notebooks, books, telephone messages, computations, interim and/or final reports, status reports, and any and all other records relevant to and/or generated in connection with the above-listed categories of information.
s As you are aware, the FOIA requires you to release documents in segregable portions in the event they contain exempt material.
For any documents or portions that you deny due to a specific FOIA exemption, please provide an index itemizing and describing the I
documents or portions of documents withheld.
l 4
HM fjL/t2-22419L/f-r
D
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FCIA Request December 7, 1993 l
Page 2 j
We also ask that all fees be waived because the information
'i requested will contribute significantly to the public's understand-
,l ing of the operations or activities of the government and/or is primarily in the public interest and is not in the commercial interest of the requester.
The National Whistleblower Center is a tax-exempt, non-profit organization.
The purpose of the NWC is to e
assist whistleblowers to bring allegations of corporate wrongdoing and/or government corruption to the attention of the public.
- See, FOIA-91-114.
TAG is a contractor in the nuclear industry which is alleged to have harassed and intimidated whistleblowers.
Due to an increase in the number of retaliation complaints against TAG the NWC is conducting an investigation of TAG on behalf of whistleblowers.
The iNC intends to dismeminate to the public the information received from the NRC pursuant to this request.
We look forward to hearing from you within ten (10) working days as the law stipulates.
Sincerely, 4
v David K olapinto for the National Whistleblower Center Encl.
l
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