ML20101L485

Responds to NRC Detailing Incident Whereby Util Maint Foreman at Plant Allegedly Told Employee That Employee Could Not Talk to NRC About Concerns Re Work Effectiveness & job-preplanning

ML20101L485
Person / Time
Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	07/05/1995
From:	J. J. Barton GENERAL PUBLIC UTILITIES CORP.
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
Shared Package
ML20101L427	List: ML20101L485
References
FOIA-95-417 C321-95-2185, NUDOCS 9604040071
Download: ML20101L485 (3)

Text

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l o' EH -Wuclear GPU Nuclear Corporation 2fn:ur3S*

a Forked River, New Jersey 087310388 j 609 971 4000 i Writer's Direct Dial Number:

C321-95-2185 July 5, 1995 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission  !

Region 1 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 1

Dear Sir:

Oyster Creek Nuclear Generadng Station ,

Docket 50-219 Response to Alleged Chilling Effect letter This letter is in response to your letter dated June 6,1995 detailing an incident whereby a GPUN maintenance foreman at the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station allegedly told an employee that the employee could not talk to the NRC about concems regarding work effectivent w and job-preplanning.

Based on discussions with the maintenance foreman and his supervisor, it appears that the foreman was not denying the employee access to the NRC. Rather, the foreman was looking for guidance from his supervisor as to the proper protocol prior to sending the employee to the NRC Resident's office. The foreman was questioning whether the employee could go to the NRC's office immediately, whether a meeting between the employee and the NRC should be scheduled, or whether the resident NRC inspectors should be notified to confirm a meeting with the employee. It is our understanding that within approximately 10 minutes, the foreman retumed to the employee and informed him he could go to the NRC at that time.

In order to avoid this situation in the future and to ensure this occurrence does not have a chilling effect in discouraging other licensee or contractor employees from raising perceived safety concems the following actions have been taken:

1) At a previously scheduled meeting, held on June 28,1995, and designated as " Stand Down Day", which was attended by all available Station Supervisors and Managers, the opportunity was taken to discuss the " protocol" to be used in allowing an i employee to contact the NRC as well as other " expectations and standards" required -

l of managers and supervisors. It was stressed that if an employee identifies a desire to l

speak with the NRC, the supervisor should recognize it is their right and should support them within the context of the job he/she is currently assigned.(e.g., leave the job in a safe condition.)

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GPU Nuclear Corporation is a subsidiary of the General Public Utihties Corporation 9604040071 960314 PDR FOIA SHEEHAN95-417 PDR

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C321-95-2185 h

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2) The topic of employee access to the NRC was again emphasized during a mcent l l series of station employee meetings as part of our overall action plan to address the  ;

l concerns expressed in your June 6,1995 letter.  !

3) A memo on the subject of "OPEN COMMUNICATIONS WITH NRC RESIDENT

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l STAFF" was distributed to all Oyster Creek Personnel on June 15, 1995. This memo l again reemphasized to all personnel that they may communicate nuclear safety j concerns through numerous means without fear of retribution. Included in the vanous means mentioned in the memorandum was contacting the Oyster Creek resident NRC  :

staff or regional NRC offices. The memo restated that Plant Management continues l

to recognize the right and obligation all workers have to repart potential problems so (

[ that they may be evaluated and corrected. I l Additionally, the following actions had been taken prior to the incident:

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1) NRC phone numbers are prominently posted throughout the site (via NRC Form-3) )

meluding entrances to radiologically controlled areas.

t l 2) The topic of an employees' right to contact the NRC is covered annually in General )

l ' Employee Training (GET) which every employee who has un' escorted protected area  ;

access attends. *

! l l 3) GPUN has had a long standing Ombudsmen program which we encourage our l

l employees to utilize whenever they feel issues are not being resolved by their management The Ombudsmen program provides a confidential mechanism for anyone to identify nuclear and radiation safety concerns. 'Ihe existence of this program has been widely publicized and is known throughout the corporation.

4) GPUN has proceduralized guidance to help assure that agreements with employees or former employees do not contain clauses which in any way restrict the ability of the individuals to freely and fully communicate with the NRC or other govemment bodies about potential violations or other hazards falling within their respeedve regulatory responsibility.

Finally, the following action is planned to be taken in the near future:

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The topic of open communication with the NRC will again be addressed during l previously planned supervisory training' meetings which are scheduled to commence in the third quarter of 1995. '

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, C321-95-2185 Page 3 ,

We tmst the above actions address your concerns in this matter which we take very seriously. It is GPUN's belief that the right to freely communicate with the NRC has been widely communicated and understood. Funhennore, it is GPUN's belief that this specific incident occurred as a result of a misunderstanding cmated when an inexperienced supervisor needed to obtain assistance in handling an issue he had never before encountered. Should you wish further discussion on this matter, please contact me directly.

I Very t ly yours, f

r l John J anon j l

' ice ident and Director l yster reek JJB/BDEM )

Sworn and subscribed to before me this 3+ f,1995. day of 6

1,hbb %.

6 JUOlm M.CROWE mearyPublicof l My m E W o /4##0 cc: USNRC Document Control Desk Senior Resident NRC Inspector Oyster Creek NRC Project Manager