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- UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION j
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REClON IV
$11 RYAN PLAZA DRIVE, SUITE 1000
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ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76012 1
July 3, 1979 i
Docket No. 50-498 i
50-499 4
I MgIE)RANDUM FOR: File TERU
. C. Seidle, Chief, RC&ES Branch j
MW. A. Crossman, Chief Projects Section
'FROM:
W. G. Bubacek, Reactor Inspector, Projects Section
$UBJECT:
ALLEGATION OF QC IRREGULARITIES AT THE SOUM TEIA PROJECT (STP) DN 50-498; 50-499 l
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On May 1, 1979, W. A. Crossman received a telephone call at his home from a I
former Brown & Root employee who reported alleged QC irregularities at STP.
l on the evening of May 2, 1979, a telephone call to the allager was made by l
W. A. Crossman sad W. G. Rubacek for the purpose of securing additional in-3 formation concerning the allegation. During the telephone conversation, I
the following information was provided by the allegert l
The allager has,mada sa approximately 200 page sworn deposition to a Brown & Root attorney in connection with a suit against Brown & Root
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4 resulting from termination of his employment at STP. The alleger stated that his deposition contains references to QC irregularities that were observed during his employment at STP and he asked if the NRC hearing board would be interested in obemininy his deposition by subpoena.
The alleger stated that his deposition described what he referred to j
as "a continuous card sama" in the NDE lab and other locations by 4
l the QC Civil Department,during sa approximate 6-8 month period j
beginning in Mid-1977. Es stated that the QC inspectors would leave 1
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the ason only to sign sonerata pour cards when requested by radio j
sad return to the same without performing further inspection. Be stated that no inspections were performed for approzimately four 2
I useths because of threats.
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The allager stated that he would make information contained in the I
deposition available to RIY on request.
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h Docket File No. 50-498; 50-499 July 3,1979 The allager stated that he would immediately mail to RIV information concerning other irregularities at STP (waterproofing, tie holes, robar) which was discussed on May 1,1979, with W. A. Crossman.
On May 7,1979, the former B&R employee again called to report additional irregularities at the STP site. He stated that the assigned B&R QC inspector refused to sign off the pour card for lift 5 of the Unit 2 Containment En41 ding due to discrepancias he had identified, but the QC Lead Civil Inspector signed the card in place of the assigned inspector.
The alleger stated that the assigned QC inspector had made wide distri-bution on site of a meno in which he documented numerous discrepancias in life 5.
'The alleger also reiterated information that he had previously supplied on May 1,1979, concerning the " card game" by the Civil QC Department. He stated that some past and present B&R employees are lying to cover up this matter. The allager also stated that he is willing to take a polygraph test given by any reputable agency.
Tha allager also provided names of four individuals who could cooroborate his allegations.
The material mailed by the allager was received by RIV on May 8,1979.
Wd _ _,
W. G. Hubacek j
Reactor Inspector l
cc W. C. Saidle W. A. Cressman C. E. Wisner l
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jo UNITED STATES g
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c 611 RYAN PLAZA DRIVE, SUITE 1000 D
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Octobar 26, 1979 Docket No. 50-498 50-499 HDIORANDUM FOR:
G. W. Reinmuth, Assistant Director, RCI THRU:
g, p. C. Seidle, Chief, RC&ES Branch gyW. A. Crossman, Chief, Projects Section FROM:
W. G. Hubacek, Reactor Inspector, Projects Section
SUBJECT:
RESPONSE TO COMMISSIONER BRADFORD'S INQUIRT REIATED TO A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ABOUT THE SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT (AI E06000447)
Pursuant to the request in the above Action Item Control Form, dated October 19, 1979, the following information is provided to clarify statements contained in the newspaper article referred to by Comissioner Bradford:
The"surpriseinspec$1on"mentionedinthearticlewasanannounced I.
inspection of the South Texas Project Quality Assurance Program (Report No. 50-498/79-13; 50-499/79-13) which was performed August 6-10, 1979, in accordance with the requirements of HC 2512, Procedure 35200B, "Hid Term CP QA Inspection." The inspection was announced to assure the presence of appropriate licensee personnel who were contacted during the inspection. The inspection was performed by four inspectors - two Region IV Reactor Inspectors, the Resident Reactor Inspector designated from Region III and a member of the Performance Appraisal Team from Region II. The inspection was not ordered by the NRC as a reaction to the "CBS Magazine" program although members of the CBS team were at the South Texas Project site during the inspection and some of the NRC inspection activities were filmed by the CBS camera crew.
II. Allegations by Mr. Swayze concerning the be'ating of a QC inspector in July 1977 and subsequent failure of QC inspectors to perform inspections were investigated (Reports 50-498/77-08 and 50-498/79-14; 50-499/79-14) by Region IV but could not be substantiated.
The statement, "There was some harassment of quality inspectors,"
Thornburg said, "So we went to Brown & Root and told them to do something about it and I believe things got a lot better," apparently refers to a management meeting (meeting agenda and Report 50-498/78-13; 50-499/78 Attachment 1) held August 15, 1978, by Region IV with responsible Houston g-.e G-J
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f, G. W. Reinmuth October 26, 1979 Lighting and Power Company representatives. The management meeting was held,to discuss NRC concerns resulting from an investigation of alleged irregularities (Report 50-498/78-12; 50-499/78 Attachment 2).
Although the allegations could not be substantiated and no items of non-compliance were identified during the investigation Region IV represen-tatives expressed concern that apparent low employee morale could have adverse effects on the quality of safety-related work. Brown & Ecot personnel did not participate in the meeting.
A Houston Lighting and Power Company representative stated that matters discussed during the meeting would be pursued and that Region IV would be advised of significant developments. The licensee submitted a written response on October 3,1978, (Attachment 3) which addressed HL&P's response to the allegations presented in Report 50-498/78-12; 50-499/78-12.
Region IV has reviewed the licensee's corrective actions during subsequent inspections and has confirmed that 'the actions have been effective.
.~1 ys. 5; p W. C. Rubacek, Reactor Inspector Projects Section Attachments:
1.
Meeting Agenda (8/15/78) and Inspection Report No. 50-498/78-13; 50-599/78-13 2.
Inspection Report No. 50-498/78-12; 50-499/78-12 3.
EL&P's Response to Inspection Report No.
50-498/78-12; 50-499/78-42 e
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