ML20137N699

Advises That Encl Investigation Case 5-84-009 Will Be Placed in PDR Per 10CFR2.790.No Violations of NRC Requirements Identified within Scope of Investigation

ML20137N699
Person / Time
Site:	Trojan File:Portland General Electric icon.png
Issue date:	01/29/1986
From:	Kirsch D NRC
To:	Withers B PORTLAND GENERAL ELECTRIC CO.
References
NUDOCS 8602040220
Download: ML20137N699 (1)

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JAN 2 91966 f

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Docket No. 50-344 x ,

Portland Genera 1' Electric Co. "'

'c 121 S. W. Salmon-Street _ - - '

E Portland, Oregon. 97204 <

, s Attention: sMr.'Ba'rt D. Withers

' Vice President," Nuclear" i

Subject:

Investigation Condkc'ted by the NRC Office of Investigation Case No.'5-84-009

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L This letter refers to,a,specia1' investigation conducted by the NRC Office of Investigation of activities authorized by NRC Operating License No. NPF-1.

The investigation, described in the enclosed Office of Investigation report summary, consisted of interviews of personnel and review of selected documents. No violations of NRC requirements were identified within the scope of the investigation. In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790(a), a copy of this 1etter and the enclosure will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.

l Should you have any questions concerning this investigations, we will be glad U to discuss them with yeu.

Sincerely,

D. F. Kirsch, Director

. Divisicn of Reactor Safety and Projects

_cc w/ enclosure

! J. Knight, NRR

~ W. S. Orser, PGE (Trojan) General Manager J. D. Reid, Manager. Plant Services C. A. Olmstead, Manager, Quality Assurance Lynn Frank, Director, State of Oregon, Dept. of Energy

, H. F. Moomey, Trojan Resident, Oregon Dept. of Energy bec: Docket File: OI, Investigation Report Transmittal File 5-84-009 l

Document Control Desk '

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Title:

TROJAN POWER PLANT CHEATING ON EXAMINATION FOR LICENSED CONTROL ROOM OPERATORS Licensee: Portland General Electric Co. Case Number: 5-84-009 121 S.W. Salmon Street Portland, Oregon 97204 Report Date: March 19, 1985 Docket No.: 50-344 Control Office: 01:RV Status: CLOSED Reported by: Reviewed by:

Eugefte J. Pgpidr, Investigator

_ 'NF j . In v Office of Investigations Field Owen C. Shackleton Jr., Dirp;gror Office of Investigations Field Office, Region V Office, Region V Approved by:

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LM _ l fM Sk gn B. p yes, Director vffice of Investigations O

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SYNOPSIS .

On February 7,1984, Region V, U.$.' Nuclear Regulatory Co:: mission (U.S. NRC), was advised by Portland General Electric Company (PGE),

a licensee, on examination of February a possible 3,1984 compromise during an annual relicensing On February 3,1984, a written examination, with a six-hour time limit, was given to 13 members, or students, of a training class, which was the culmination of a two-week annual reactor operator's The requalification program was administered by PGE to th control room auxiliary operators and senior reactor operators in order to meet the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55.

was proctored at all times by a PGE representative. The examination Between the hours of 11:30 a.m. and 11:55 a.m. on February 3,1984, one member of the class, who had completed his examination, visited the towel rest room and he discovered a reference document in the paper holder.

The rest room was located directly adjacent to the training classroom in which the examination was given and the during the examination. students were allowed to use the rest room, one person The discovered reference document was identified as a copy of a Nuclear Data Sheet, Nuclear Design - Cycle 6, dated November 15, 1984, which had been prepared by the Trojan facility.

the document had been issued as a study guide to each student inA copy of the class for his use during the two-week requalification course. -

The licensee conducted an immediate and complete investigation into the incident, which included conducting interviews of all 13 students in the class, plus the rest room cleaning attendant. On February 6,1984, during his interview, an auxiliary operator confessed that he had placed the document in the rest room just minutes prior to the start of the examination, but he stated that he did not know why he did it. The operator averred that he did not use the data sheet during the examination. He further indicated that he could have easily left the site without saying a word since he had recently obtained another job and was going to submit his resignation. On the following day, February 7,1984, the individual specifically identified the Cycle 6 Design Data Sheet as that which he had placed in the towel holder. As a result, the operator resigned his position with the Trojan Power Plant on February 7,1984, and he was immediately denied access to the plant. The PGE report of investigation concluded that "this case of possible compromise is an isolated incident."

no indications of involvement by other individuals. There were 1 .

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.- p g Also as a direct result of the incident, Region V, U.S. NRC, ,

conducted a special inspection of the operator requalification program at Trojan during February 11-13, 1984, which was contained in their Inspection Report No. 50-344/84-04. Additionally, Region V conducted an operator licensing examination of the PGE requalification prograq during March 1-14, 1984, which was contained in Examination Report No. 50-344/0L 84-01. In the forwarding letter of April 10, 1984, Region V categorized the ",

overall evaluation of the licensee's requalification program as

" marginal," which was defined as that falling between a satisfactory and unsatisfactory evaluation. There were no items of noncompliance or deviation identified in the two NRC reports; however, several areas where improved administration of the program may be warranted were identified.

On January 29, 1985, the former auxiliary operator vas interviewed under oath in Phoenix, Arizona by an investigator with the Office of Investigations Field Office, Region V, U.S. NRC. During his interview, he provided substantially the same information as contained in the PGE investigation. He stated that he had hidden the specific document in the towel holder on February 3,1984, a few minutes before the examination. He stated, "It was not a premeditated act. It was a spur of the moment decision." He indicated that he did not know why he did it, but he acknowledged that if, during the examination, he had a question relating to the information contained in the document, it was his initial intention to go to the rest room for the purpose of answering the question.

. He stated that he acted of his own free will, and he acted alone.

The operator further averred that he did not hide any other type of reference material on his person, or any other place for use during .-

the examination. He stated that he did not remember using the rest room during the period of the examination; however, he guessed that he probably had. The operator testified that he did not use the study guide for any purpose during the examination. He averred that he did not cheat during the examination on February 3, 1984, or on any other operator's examination. He further indicated that he had no knowledge of any individual who had ever cheated, or attempted to cheat, on any type of operator's examination. When asked why he did not acknowledge that it was he who had placed the document in the rest room prior to being asked during the PGE investigation, he answered, "I was confused. Everything was moving fast at that time." He further explained, "I know I made a mistake. I. admitted the mistake. I wanted it resolved as quickly as possible. I did not cheat." On January 30, 1985, the operator executed a sworn statement on the results of the interview.

! On the basis of the information obtained during the 0! investiga-

! tion, no further investigative effort is warranted. The status of the 01 investigation is CLOSED.

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