ML20140H555
Text
/
h UNITED STATES
((2 g1 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 3
M/
C s*4 ASHINGTON. O C. 20555 1,%'T 7,
s..../,l
~,
4 August 13, 1985 F-
.s
\\
-J,
O' s
The Honorable Edward Markey, Chairman Subconstittee on Energy Conservation and Power Consittee on Energy and Conserce United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Cear Mr. Chairman:
Enclosed for your information is an announcement that the Nuclear Regulatory Consission staff is proposing to fine Duke Power Company
$64,000 for an alleged violation of NRC requirements which prohibit.
discrimination against an employee who brings safety concerns to the attention of management.
This announcement will be mailed to the news media today.,
/ o/
Sincere
/-
i
/
/
far C
on
, Director fice of Congressional Affairs
Enclosure:
As stated cc: Rep. Carlos Moorhead IDENTICAL LETTER SENT TO:
Sen. Simpson/cc: Sen. liart Rep. Udall/cc: Rep. Lujan Sen. Hollings Sen. Thurmond Rep. Spratt j
s 85102300P3 851004 PDR FOIA JACOBS85-478 PDR O
y 1
f""%,,
UNITED STATES
< ' i,
. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs i.
J
i j, #
Washington, D.C. 20666 s
No.85-108 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tel. 301/492-7715 (Tuesday, August 13,1985)
NRC PROPOSES TO FINE DUKE POWER FOR DISCRIMINATION AGAINST EMPLOYEE The Nuclear Regulatory Comission staff is proposing to fine Duke Power Company $64,000 for an alleged violation of NRC requirements which prohibit discrimination against an employee who brings safety concerns to the attent'on of management.
s The finding of an alleged violation is based on a Partial Initial Decision issued by a NRC Atomic Safety and Licensing Board on June 22,19f>4.
~
The Licensing Board concluded that Gary E. " Beau" Ross, a quality control welding inspector foreman, had been poorly rated in his 1981-1982, Ncvember 1982 interim and 1982-1983 performance appraisals because he ard his crew had brought safety concerns involving the construction of the Catawba nuclear power plant near Rock Hill, South Carolina, to the attention of Duke Power management.
The alleged discrimination against Ross was addressed in a June 4 Director's decision concerning a request for enforcement against Duke Power Company, and has been categorized as a Severity Level II violation since the alleged discrimination involved senior nianagement officials. The NRC's Enforcement Policy lists five categories of violations, with Severity Level I being the most serious.
Duke Power Company now has 30 days to provide a written statement to the Director of the NRC's Office of Inspection and Enforcement which:
admits or denies the alleged violation; the reasons for the violation if it is admitted; the corrective steps that have been taken and the results achiesed; the corrective steps which will be taken to avoid further violations; and the date when full compliance with NRC requirements will be achieved.
The company also has 30 days to pay the fine or to protest its irrposition in whole or in part. If the fine then is imposed, the company may request a public hecring.