ML20093L953

Responds to Re Allegation by Manager of Hlp on Station Problem Rept at Facility

ML20093L953
Person / Time
Site:	South Texas
Issue date:	09/08/1993
From:	Cottle W HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER CO.
To:	Beach A NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
Shared Package
ML20093L863	List: ML20093L953
References
FOIA-93-642 ST-HLP-AE-4565, NUDOCS 9510260136
Download: ML20093L953 (4)

Text

a to The Light co mp anySouth Texas Project Decthnasting Station P. OAs m Wwonh. Texas 77m Houston Lighting & Power September 8, 1993 ST-HL-AE-4565 File No.:

G25 10CFR50.7 i

Mr. A. Bill Beach Director, Division of Reactor Projects U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region IV 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400 Arlington, TX 76011-8064 1

South Texas Project Units 1 and 2 Docket Nos. STN 50-498; STN 50-499 Investication of Allecations 1

In response to your letter of June 1,

1993, Houston Lighting Power company (HL&P) has investigated allegations relating to statements made by a manager regarding generation of a Station Problem Report (SPR).

HL&P has completed its investigation of this matter and the results of this investigation are available onsite for NRC review.

The investigation indicates that this matter apparently involved statements and behavior that are inconsistent with HL&P's policy of encouraging individuals to raise safety concerns,

and, where appropriate, to document those concerns on SPRs. Accordingly, HL&P is taking action to assure that all management and supervisory personnel, particularly those at senior levels, understand the need to manage and communicate in a manner which minimizes the risk of any potential chilling effect, either real or perceived.

In addition to the actions described in my May 21, 1993 letter to you, which address similar issues, we have taken the following actions.

1.

I have conducted a seminar for STP managers and supervisors on these issues-to reinforce the need for sensitivity in responding to. employee concerns that may be of potential safety significance.

A copy of the videotape made at the seminar is attached. All management and supervisory personnel will view the videotape by October 15, 1993.

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all of the Panicipants in the South Tczas Project

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All senior level site management have attended the sensitivity training described in my letter to Mr. Hilhoan dated May 28, 1993 or have viewed the videotape of the training.

3.

A short bulletin concerning this issue has been posted onsite to ensure that personnel understand management's approach to this issue and are aware that any behavior which may discourage employees from raising safety concerns or otherwise reporting problems will not be tolerated.

Management expectations regarding responsiveness to employee concerns 4

have also been reinforced in recent policy revisions and other site communications.

4.

I have met with each of the individuals who might have been affected by this event to personally reinforce with them that preparation of the SPR in question was entirely appropriate and to encourage them to continue to bring any similar problems which they may become aware of to senior management.

5.

An evaluation of the STP employee concerns program, SPEAKOUT, has been initiated. This evaluation will assess the program's

policies, scope, procedures, and implementation, and will result in recommendations on how to assure that the program is effective in soliciting and responding to employee concerns.

HL&P will keep the NRC apprised of the results of this evaluation and actions to address its recommendations.

Although the matters investigated did not involve any actual retaliation, HL&P believes that this occurrence underscores the need for sustained efforts to assure that the Company's policy of openness and responsiveness to concerns is fully appreciated and implemented.

Please call me at (512) 972-8434 should you wish to discuss this matter further.

(A us I'

W-w William T.

Cottle Group Vice President, j

Nuclear JTC/pa j

Attachment:

" Responsiveness to Employee Safety Concerns" Videotape l

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Regional Administrator, Region IV Rufus S. Scott Nuclear Regulatory Commission Associate General Counsel t

611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400 Houston Lighting & Power Company Arlington, TX 76011 P. O. Box 61867 i'

Houston, TX '77208 Lawrence E. Kokajko i

Project Manager l

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Institute of Nuclear Power j

Washington, DC 20555 13H15 Operations - Records Center 1-700 Galleria Parkway David P. Loveless Atlanta, GA 30339-5957

-Sr. Resident Inspector.

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c/o U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Dr. Joseph M. Hendrie f

Commission 50 Bellport Lane

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Box 910 Bellport, NY 11713 Bay City, TX 77404-910 D. K. Lacker i

J. R. Newman, Esquire Bureau of Radiation Control l

Newman & Holtzinger, P.C.,

STE 1000 Texas Department of Health i

1615 L Street, N.W.

1100 West 49th Street i

Washington, DC 20036 Austin, TX 78756-3189 i

D. E. Ward /T. M. Puckett U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comm.

Central Power and Light Company Attn:

Document Control Desk P. O.

Box 2121 Washington, D.C.

20555 e

Corpus Christi, TX 78403 l

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C. Lanier/M. B. Lee i-City of Austin Electric Utility Department 721 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704 l

K. J. Fiedler/M. T. Hardt City Public Service P. O.

Box 1771 i

San Antonio, TX 78296 4

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ALLEGATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM t

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' ALLEGATION NUMBER - RIV-93-A-0054-RUN DATE: 11/18/93 DOCKET / FACILITY / UNIT: 05000498 / SOUTH TEXAS 1

/1 DOCKET / FACILITY / UNIT: 05000499 / SOUTH TEXAS 2

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DOCKET / FACILITY / UNIT:

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j DOCKET / FACILITY / UNIT:

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ACTIVITY TYPES - REACTOR i

i MATERIAL LICENSES.-

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. FUNCTIONAL AREAS SAFEGUARDS OTHER SCENARIO 0F POTENTIAL THREAT 2

j DESCRIPTION.6/25/93 DRSS MEMD REC'D - N0 NEW ISSUES TO REVIEW RIV REC'D A COPY OF A LETTER THAT EXPRESSED SEVERAL CONCERNS A80UT THE SECURITY ORGANIZATION AND PROGRAM.

THE LETTER CONCERNS -

ALSO IDENTIFIED A SCENARIO OF EVENTS THAT DEPICTED A 4

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POTENTIAL THREAT, MANY OF THE ISSUES HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY l

DOCUMENTED IN OTHER ALLEGATIONS r

i SOURCE - CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEE CONFIDENT - NO RECEIVED - 930427 BY - M. SATORIUS

/ RIV j

ACTION OFFICE CONTACT - W. JOHNSON l-RESPONSIBLE PGM OFFICE - R VIOLATION SECTION 210 ALLEGED - NO STATUS - OPEN SCHED COMPLETION - 931027 DATE CLOSED -

j ALLEGATION SUBSTANTIATED -

ALLEGER NOTIFIED -

OI ACTION - YES OI REPORT NUM8ER 93-023 RK i

REMARKS - 4/27/93 ARP - FACSIMILE COPY LTR TO NUCLEAR GROUP VP, RA l

CONTACTED 0!G, AC CONTACTED ALLEGER 4/29/93 INITIAL LTR TO ALLEGER W/ DOL INFORMATION 5/3/93 ALLEGER CONTACTED AC - PROVIDED ADDITIONAL CONCERN RELATED TO TRAINING OF SECURITY OFFICERS 6/25/93 DRSS MEMO REC'D - NO NEW ISSUES TO REVIEW

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_4/27/93 SPECIAL ARP CONVENED - REFER TO STP REFER-

' ACTION: REFER TO STP, REVIEW LICENSEE ACTIONS WHEN COMPLETE ENTERED SYSTEM - 930427 CLOSED SYSTEM -

RECORD CHANGED - 930707,

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