ML20137X081
| ML20137X081 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Waterford  |
| Issue date: | 07/26/1984 |
| From: | Groesch G GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17198A272 | List:
|
| References | |
| RTR-NUREG-0787, RTR-NUREG-787 PR-840726, NUDOCS 8510040454 | |
| Download: ML20137X081 (3) | |
Text
7 1.27 '84 09:24 N.O. PLL IC EER(1.T )ff,, $.E M o m u P.03 wono.
22 57 BAYOU ROAD NEW ORLEANS, LA 70119 (504)945-6919 ee**eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee*****ee**
PRESS CONFERENCE 1:30 p.m.
Suite 920 Thursday, July 26 First National Bank of Commerce Building 210 Baronne, New Orleans seeeeeeeewon eee e e e e e ee eeeeee e ee e ee eee e e e e e...e* *
- e e e eeeeeee ee PRESS RELEASE EMBARCO UNTIL JULY 26,1:30 P.M.
CAP CALLS FOR THIRD-PARTY REVIEW OF WATERPORD 3 A
Government Accountability Project (CAP) investigator called for an independent third-party review of the program to address quality assurance (QA) breakdowns at the controversial Waterford 3 nuclear power Plant.
The " totally inadequate" program submitted by Louisiana Power Light (LP&L) on June 29 necessitates this step, GAP attorney Lynn Bernabei said in a press conference Thursday in New Oricans.
Other reasons cited were the history of failure of LP&L management to live up to CA committments, and possible criminal violations of the Atomic Energy Act.
Bernabel characterized the June 29 letter of James Cain, president of LP&L, ac "miccing the mark by a
mile."
She accused LP&L of a
"ccc-no-evil" attitude that prevents them from realictically assessing the serioac nature of the Nucicar Regulatory Commiccion charges.
The in-place review process outlined in the letter hac all parties reporting directly to Cain.
The charges stem from an unprecedented 60-pernor. NBC investigation into nearly 400 allegations of QA breakdowns brought forth by workers and former workers at Waterford 3.
In a June 13 letter, the NRC l These listed 23 areas where their investigatorc found QA failure.
areas include, among other things:
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JLt. 27 '04 09:25 N.O. PUB;1C SCRVICC PCW ORLCfrE P,04 (1) 30-40% of the quality control inspectora for two major subcontractora were unqualified; (2) 60% of all lower tier discrepancy notices were not upgraded to non-conformance reports (NCRs) and reported to LP&L; (3) one-third of all NCRs had a questionable resolution, others were found unresolved; (4) a nur'.iv-of NCRs were found mJ ssing conplately fro = the NCR index and from the subcontractor's QA vault; (5) document problems that show LP&L does not know the aa-built condition of some structureas
( 5) exit interviews of employees were inadequate, nonexiatent, or ignored; (7) a total QA breakdown in the program of the instrument contractor, Mercury of Norwood, and Ebacco, the main contractor.
Bernabel' said the breakdowns are as serious as those that plagued the Midland and Zimmer nuclear power plants, but the response of LP&L management is far worse.
For instance, LP&L offered to review only 20% of the quality control inspectors credentials, docpite the large pcrecntage of problem inspectors.
"The people of Louiciana deserve an equal icvel of protection as the people in any other state," she centinued.
She also noted that the Office of Invectigation, an internal NRC
- watchdog, has prepared at least two c6scu for submittal to the U.S.
Justice Department for prosecution based on information gathered at Waterford 3.
"These cases involve wrongdoing at Waterford 3,"
she said,"and it would be a mistake to allow management to oversee the safety of this community until we are sure they are not guilty of any violations of the Atomic Energy Act."
4 JLL.27 '84 09:26 N.O. PUB IC SERVICE tCW ORLE46 P.05 4
CAP began their investigation on April 10 at tho rCquGCt of the Citizens for Safe Energy and the New Orleans Chapter of the Sierra Club.
i
-end-contact person: Gary Groesch, 945-6919 l
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