ML20129J795
| ML20129J795 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/29/1991 |
| From: | Vorse J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II) |
| To: | Whitley J JUSTICE, DEPT. OF |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20129J793 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-96-412 NUDOCS 9611080083 | |
| Download: ML20129J795 (5) | |
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UNITeo STATas
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION YMAnisENe*ETE, Nano ATLANTA GEORGIA 3323 i
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May 29, 1991 i
I Mr. Joe D. Whitley l
United States Attorney 1
Northern District of Georgia i
Richard B. Russell Building j
75 Spring Street, S.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30335
Dear Mr. Whitley:
.l The purpose of this letter is to introduce our investigative organization, the Office of Investigations (01) of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Connission (NRC).
4 to your office, and to request your assistance with regard to the provision of l
information pertaining to the Southern Company.
i NRC OI is charged with the investigation of allegations or indications of l
intentional wrongdoing on the part of those individuals, companies, or i
corporations that have been licensed by NRC for the consnercial use of nuclear j
material. This OI responsibility is an integral portion of the overall mission of the NRC to protect the health and safety of the public citizen'by the regulation of this connercial use of nuclear energy. The authority for this regulation is set forth in the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and l
in Title 10 of U.S. Code of Federal Regulations.
5 l.
Obviously the integrity, professionalism, and dedication of these NRC licentees i
to this protection of the public health and safety is of the utmost importance.
When there are indications that any of these licensee employees, particularly i
those in middle to upper level management positions, are conducting activities that brings their integrity into question, it is a matter of grave concern to the NRC, regardless of whether or not these activities are directly related to their management of nuclear power.
l Our office has observed in the media over the past year or so, that your office has been looking into issues such as tax fraud, illegal campaign contributions, and questionable payments on consulting contracts on the part of various entities of the Southern Company. A number of these entities are also NRC licensees. These licensees are required by regulation to submit various filings to the NRC. The NRC does not verify all of these filings by inspection or investigation. The licensee must be able to be relied upon to provide complete, accurate, and truthful information in these filings. The combination of our own investigations and the aforementioned issues being addressed by your office has caused us to look more closely at the filings and i
l activities of some of the licensees that are part of the Southern Company.
l Therefore, we respectfully request that your office provide to us as much information as is possible regarding issues of wrongdoing or questionable i
integrity on the part of the Southern Company and its subsidiaries. The l
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l 9611090083 961105 l
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l BRANNIO96-412 PDR
Mr. Joe D. Whitley 2
May 29, 1991 possible consequences of a nuclear power plant being operated and/or managed by anyone with less than the utmost integrity are not pleasant to contemplate.
We are aware, of course, that the provisions of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure with respect to Federal Grand Jury (6e) material may apply to portions of this information, but in the interest of the health and safety of the American public the NRC sincerely appreciates any assistance your office may be able to render.
You may contact me or Investigator Larry L. Robinson by telephone at FTS 841-6502 or 331-6502 (connercial).
Sincerely,
- 344.,
James. Vorse, Director Office of Investigations Field Office, Region II cc: James E. Facan. Jr.. AUSA (NorthernDistrictofGeorgia) i
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSON 1 A A T EET W,
UE ATLANTA. GEORGLA 3DED
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May 29, 1991 Mr. Joe D. Whitley
(
l United States Attorney Northern District of Georgia
\\
U Richard 8. Russell Building 75 Spring Street, S.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30335
Dear Mr. Whitley:
The purpcse of this letter is to introduce our investigative organization,'the Office of Investigations (01) of the U.S. Nuclear Regu' atory Commission (NRC),
to your office, and to request your assistance with regard to the provision of infonnation pertaining to the Southern Company.
NRC O! is charged with the investigation of allegations or indications of intentional wrongdoing on the part of those individuals, companies, or corporations that have been licensed by NRC for the comercial use of nuclear material. This OI responsibility is an integral portion of the overall mission of the NRC to protect the health and safety of the public citizen'by the regulation of this comercial use of nuclear energy. The authority for this regulation is set forth in the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and in Title 10 of U.S. Code of federal Regulations.
Obviously the integrity, professionalism, and dedication of these NRC licentees i
to this protection of the public health and safety is of the utmost importance.
When there are indications that any of these licensee employees, particularly
{
those in middle to upper level management positions, are conducting activities that brings their integrity into question, it is a matter of grave concern to i
the NRC, regardless of whether or not these activities are directly related to their management of nuclear power.
Our office has observed in the media over the past year or so, that your
)
office has been looking into issues such as tax fraud, illegal campaion -
l contributions. and ouestionable narts aa consultina contracts on the parl of various entities of the Southern Company. A number of these entities are also NRC licensees. These ncensees are required by regulation to submit various filings to the NRC. The NRC does not verify all of these filinot by inspection or investigation. The licensee must be able to be relied upon to provide comoiete accurate. ana ten +hful information in these fiiino s ine=
i combination of our own investigations and the aforementioned issues being addressed by your office has caused us to look more closely at the filings and activities of some of the licensees that are part of th Southern Company.
I j
Therefore, we respectfully request that your office provide to us as much information as is possible regarding issues of wrongdoing or questionable integrity on the part of the Southern Company and its suesidiaries. The
~7 Mr. Joe D. Whitley 2
May 29, 1991 possible consequences of a nuclear power plant being operated and/or managed by anyone with less than the utmost integrity are not pleasant to contemplate.
We are aware, of course, that the provisions of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure with respect to Federal Grand Jury (6e) material may apply to portions of this information, but in the interest of the health and safety of the American public the NRC sincerely appreciates any assistance your office may be able to render.-
You nay contact me or Investigator Larry L. Robinson by telephone at FTS 841-6502 or 331-6502 (commercial).
Sincerely, i
l M
James
. Vorse Director Office of Investigations Field Office, Region II 4
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cc: James E. Facan. Jr.. AUSA-(NorthernDistrictofGeorgia) i
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THE WALL STREET J0URNAL.
DOWJONES & COMPANY,INC.
Publishers ONE PEACHTREE CENTER-303 PEACHTREE STREET, N E, SUITE d200 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30308 TEL. (4 04) 865-0170 March 8,1996 Cher Simmons FOIA/PA REpEST U.S. Attorney's Office CaseNo:
9
' IA 1800 Richard Russell building Date Rec'd
/*-lW 75 Spring Street SW Suite 1800 g,,g g-t e
' Atlanta, Georgia 30335
Dear Ms. Simmons:
Under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act,5 U.S.C.
552, I am requesting access to any and all records related to your closed investigation of Southern Company which began around 1988 and extended several years.
If you find it suitable, I am willing to%iew these records in your office in Atlanta before selecting which I may want to copy.
I would like to have access to any and all investigative and grand jury records within the custody of the U.S. Attorney. Since this investigation also involved several federal agencies, including the internal Revenue Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Office of Labor Racketeering, please let me know if some records may lie outside of your custody.
I appreciate your help and look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks and regards, h4 i
Martha Brannigan Staff Reporter j%e :
Y6 Y-26 5 ^ Y 3 Y y
9y-rfC 't5 W l
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