ML20136E872

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Forwards from J Lieberman Re Millstone Issues Related to whistle-blowers & Termination of 100 Employees
ML20136E872
Person / Time
Site: Millstone  Dominion icon.png
Issue date: 01/29/1997
From: Blanch P
AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
To: Zwolinski J
NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned)
Shared Package
ML20136C110 List:
References
NUDOCS 9703130355
Download: ML20136E872 (3)
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l From PAUL BLANCH <PMBLANCH0ix.netcom.com> l Tot WND2.WNP3(jaz) l Dates- 1/29/97 6:50pm '

l Subjects LETTER FROM SEN LIEBERMAN JOSEPH I. LIEBERMAN l CONNECTICUT l

l COMMITTEES: 1 l ARMED SERVICES l

ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS SMALL BUSINESS I

, United States Senate l WASHINGTON, DC 20510-0703 l January 16, 1997 t

DEAR SIR:

l Thank you for your letter concerning Millstone issues rulated to whistle-blowers and the termination of 100 employees.

' As I assume you know through Paul Blanch, I have been in contact with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on a number of l

occasions concerning the 100 people who lost their jobs in January, including with Chairwoman Jackson. I am enclosing the most recent response I have received from the NRC. As indicated

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in the letter, the task force report and the OI investigations are part'of the review being conducted by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut. I will continue to seek reports on this situation.

I was also deeply troubled that the situation at Millstone was allowed to deteriorate to the point'where all four reactors had to be shut down. .You may be assured that I will continue to do everything possible to protect the interests of Connecticut

, consumers and ensure that this situation does not reoccur in the future.

I am absolutely committed to doing everything possible to ensure that none of the plants reopen in Connecticut until protection of public health and safety is ensured. We also need to determine how the NRC and Northeast Utilities (NU) allowed the situation at the plants to end up on the watch list. I am working on several fronts to find answers to some of these questions, including with the General Accounting Office (GAO),

Congress' investigative branch, on two ma]'or investigations of

the NRC. I am also working with NRC Chairwoman Shirley Jackson 4

(she was not there at the time of the problems) who seems committed to ensuring safety at the Millstone plants and trying J

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to' determine the' root causes of the problems so they will not

- happen'again. Additionally,'my staff'is staying'in close contact with the'NRC's Inspector General. This office has done,.

and is working on, a' number of studies which address both

specific incidents and root causes of the problems at Millstone.

With respect to'the GAO, one study is a review of how the NRC and  ;

4 the Department of Labor hand.'e whistle-blower complaints and

what can be done to ensure-that employees in the industry feel' i

free to raise ~ safety concerns. Some of the questions you-o have raised go to the heart of'more general issues about the overall policies on' whistle-blower issues which I have asked the GAO to address.- The second study is a GAO investigation of the NRC's overall approach to handling issues relating to safety at-nuclear power plants. :The GAO will give specific emphasis to Millstone to review the NRC's knowledge of the safety conditions at the plant. I anticipate that these GAO investigations will provide recommendations for improvement.

With respect to actions by the NRC regarding whistle-blowers at NU, the NRC has issued an order directing NU to implement a comprehensive plan for handling safety concerns and for assuring ,

ac environment free from retaliation and discrimination. The, NRC slso ordered NU to contract for an independent third party to oversee its corrective action plan. The plan'must be.

developed.and submitted prior to restart of any of the Millstone units, recognizing the critical importance of a new attitude at _

' Millstone as part of the proper functioning of the plants.

The NRC review also criticized the NRC's own process for handling allegations at Millstone. ~Six main problem areas were cited:

inadequate sensitivity and responsiveness, inadequate discrimination follow-up, unclear enforcement, ineffective inspection techniques and performance measures, cumbersome NRC/ Department of Labor interactions, and ineffective e implementation of an allegation program.' The head of the team (John Hannon) has recommended eight corrective actions for NRC problems. I will be closely monitoring the follow-up on these recommendations.

I appreciate your taking the time and trouble to give me the benefit of your views on this matter. Please don't hesitate to let'me know how you feel about any other important issues in the future.

Joe Lieberman UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C.

October 24, 1996

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The Honorable Joseph Lieberman United States Senate Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Lieberran:

l I am responding to a request by your staff for the status of NRC's activities pursuant to Northeast Utilities' termination of

. employees in January of 1996. Specifically requested was the status of the initial NRC review of this matter and the status of any resulting investigative- activities.

! In March 1996 a task force was set up to review the January 1996 work force reduction at Northeast Utilities to determine if the process was utilized to discriminate against employees who had raised safety concerns. The task force completed its efforts in mid-April and orally reported its findings to senior NRC l

management. Subsequently, the office of Investigations (OI) initiated two investigations regarding several complaints. OI is presently pursuing these matters. In mid-September, the task force was asked to document its findings and a report has now l been completed. The task force report and the OI investigations l are part of the review being conducted by the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.

Sincerely, I Dennis K. Rathbun, Director Office of Congressional Affairs Paul M. Blanch Energy Consultant 135 Hyde Rd.

West Hartford CT 06117 Tel: 860-236-0326 Fax: 860-232-9350 l

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