ML20149M914
| ML20149M914 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | River Bend  |
| Issue date: | 02/23/1988 |
| From: | Martin R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | Deddens J GULF STATES UTILITIES CO. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8802290254 | |
| Download: ML20149M914 (2) | |
Text
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In Reply Refer To:
Docket: 50-458
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James C. Deddens, Vice President River Bend Nuclear Group Gulf States Utilities P.O. Box 220 St. Francisville, Louisiana 70775
Dear Mr. Deddens:
SUBJECT:
FITNESS FOR DUTY PROGRAM This letter is to convey to you my concerns regarding what I understand to be the terms of a settlement agreement between Gulf States Utilities and the IBEW I understand that as a result of.a law suit brought by GSU employees at Beaumont.
Texas, a settlement agreement with the union was signed on September 1, 1987.
The settlement agreement, among other things, provided for.the return to duty of all GSU employees who had previously been discharged as a result of drug testing at all GSU facilities. Among the four former River Bend Station employees affected by this provision of the agreement, two had worked in positions requiring unescorted access to the River Bend facility. My concern focuses on whether unescorted access could be granted to these individuals without departing from all necessary rehabilitation and evaluation provisions of the Fitness for Duty Program.
Such an action would be a departure from the GSU comitment to NRC, provided through their participation in NUMARC, to institute and adhere to a Fitness for Duty Program in conformance with EEI guidelines. One of the important features in the EEI guidelines is the provision that any illegal use of drugs will result in removal from job assignments until satisfactory completion of professional rehabilitation. This EEI feature is repeated as part of the Comission's Policy Statement regarding an accepteble fitness for duty program for nuclear power plant personnel. The policy statement includes, as essential program elements, the provisions that any use of illegal drugs within the protected area will result in imediate revocation of access to vital areas and discharge from nuclear power plant activities and that any other use of illegal drugs will result in imediate revocation of access to vit:1 areas and mandatory rehabilitation prior to reinstatement of access.
A departure from the comitment to such a program would be as serious concern to the agency in that it would call into question the degree to which GSU comitrents in this area would be honored when subjected to external pressures.
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4 James C. Deddens, GSU -
A fundamental element of the value of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission utilizing policy statements, and their willingness to accept licensee comitments relative to those policy statements, is based on a conviction that such comitments would be honored in every circumstance. To do otherwise in this or any other case would do substantial damage to this method of achieving increased safety at nuclear facilities. Your careful consideration of these concerns would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely, f
OklGINAL SidNED 89 ROSERT D. MARTH Robert D. Martin Regional Administrator cc:
Gulf States Utilities ATTN:
J. E. Booker, Manager-i River Bend Oversight P.O. Box 2951 Beaumont, Texas 77704 Louisiana State University, Government Documents Department l
Louisiana Radiation Control Program Director bectoDMB(IE51) bec distrib by RIV:
DRP Resident Inspector R. D. Martin, RA SectionChief(DRP/C)
RPSB-DRSS Project Engineer, DRP/C Rly File i