ML20127F764
| ML20127F764 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Midland, 05000000 |
| Issue date: | 09/24/1982 |
| From: | Foster J NRC OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS (OI) |
| To: | James Keppler NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20127F538 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-85-213 NUDOCS 8506250250 | |
| Download: ML20127F764 (3) | |
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION confidential sourca o
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.....,o September 24, 1982 MEMORANDUM FOR: James G. Keppler, Regional Administrator, Region III FROM:
James E. Foster, Acting Director, Office of Investigations Chicago Field Office
SUBJECT:
GAP LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 6, 1982, REGARDING MIDLAND e
The subject letter, in Section III, pages 3-4, contains comments on an interview of a former welding inspector for the Midland plant, Mr. E. Earl Kent.
By way of background information, Mr. Kent worked as a Level I visual, Level II PT inspector at the Palisades plant from August 31, 1981 until November 20, 1981, and at the Midland site from approximately December.
1981, until February 26, 1982. At the Midland site Kent was a weld inspector trainee. Site records indicate that on February 9, 1982, Kent was given, and failed, the Level I welding inspection (visual) test.
On February 25, 1982, he was again given the Level I test, and again failed.
He was then advised he was terminated. On the morning of March 2, 1982, Detroit FBI Agent Leo Barron contacted RIII and advised that Kent had contacted the FBI and asked for protection on February 26, 1982. He had discussed. concerns relative to defective welds with FBI personnel.
On March 2, 1982, Kent contacted RIII via teleconference between myself, Robert Warnick, William Key, Duane Danielson, Bill Paton (ELD), and intervenor Barbara Stamaris. During this discussion, Kent detailed concerns relative to socket welds, veld inspectors, containment liner plate welds, and pipe hanger welds (see attached memo dated March 3, 1982).
I made a second contact with Mr. Kent the same evening, utilizing the telephone number he had provided to the FBI. During this conversation, I was able to gain more specific information (see attached memo dated March 4, 1982).
I contacted the Resident Inspector for Midland, Ron Cook, and RIII Inspector Kavin Ward, who happened to be at the Midland site on a routine
~ inspection. We held three separate conversations on March 3, 1982 (see attached memo dated March 5, 1982), and they looked into the matters.
In summary, the concerns provided by Mr. Kent had no apparent merit.
The findings of Ward and Cook are contained in NRC Inspection Report Nos. 50-329/82-04, 50-330/82-04 (attached).
I had subsequent contacts with Ms. Barbara Stamaris, and Mr. Richard Vanden-bosch (referred to by Mr. Kent as " Dutch") on March 17, 1982 (memos attached).
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GARM85-213 PDR Contains identity of confidential sourca
DO NOT DISCLOSE e
Cont in] identity cf
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confidential source James G. Keppler September 24, 1982 The Region's inspection report was issued March 24, 1982. Barbara Stamaris wrote to me (letter dated May 12, 1982), and posed questions regarding the review of Kent's concerns. Kavin Ward drafted some tentative responses, but the response letter was not generated due to other priority work.
When the GAP package of affidavits was received in RIII, I noted that Mr. Kent was one of the affiants.
This concludes the background informa-tion.
The GAP letter of September 6, 1982,Section III, contains several errors as described below:
1.
The date (paragraph 2) is incorrect. The interview took place on August 12, 1982.
2.
Mr. Kent's visit was not to check on the status of the investigation.
He was traveling in the Midwest, seeking employment. He expressed a desire to come to RIII and discuss his concerns in detail. He made 3ug mention of checking the status of the investigation.
3.
Mr. Kent met with myself, Inspector William Key, and Inspector Kavin Ward. I also requested the presence of Cordell Williams, Duane Danielson, and Robert Warnick (see attached routing and trans-mittal slip) but they were unable to attend.
4.
The taped meeting itself took two hours, twenty minutes. Before he left the RIII office, Kent and I discussed and arranged for his travel payments.
l S.
The RIII personnel and myself were anxious to receive specific, explicit details of Kent's concerns relative to Midland, Palisades, and San Onofre.
This is why so much time was spent with Kent.
i 6.
Mr. Kent was advised that investigation of his concerns would not start immediately, due to other priority work. He was advised he would be recontacted if, in the process of looking into his concerns, NRC needed further information.
7.
Mr. Kent suggested that NRC hire him to go to Midland and show us his I advised him that I felt that we had sufficient informa-concerns.
tion to begin our review, and if it later appeared worthwhile for j
him to go onsite we would consider his offer.
I did not advise that
" nuclear witnesses can't go on the construction site to identify the l
problems". As you know, we have done this in the past.
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confidential source
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DO NOT DISCLOSE Contrias identity cf confidential source James G. Keppler September 24, 1982 I have had a transcript of the Kent interview tapes made. Although the transcript needs corrections for misunderstood words and phrases (I plan to do this shortly) I will gladly provide you with a copy at your request.
As you know, I have provided you with a copy of the audio tape.
James E. Foster, Acting Director Office of Investigations Chicago Field Office Attachments: As stated cc w/ attachments:
W. Shafer, RIII W. Key, RIII K. Ward, RIII R. Cook, SRI:RIII A. B. Davis, RIII W. Ward, OI:HQ R. Fortuna, OI:HQ l
- M T DisCLoss Contains identic I
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