ML20154C185
| ML20154C185 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Peach Bottom, 05508682  |
| Issue date: | 09/07/1988 |
| From: | Ballantyne J PECO ENERGY CO., (FORMERLY PHILADELPHIA ELECTRIC |
| To: | NRC OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION & RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (ARM), NRC OFFICE OF ENFORCEMENT (OE) |
| References | |
| EA-88-005, EA-88-5, NUDOCS 8809140266 | |
| Download: ML20154C185 (4) | |
Text
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September 7, 1988 Director, Office of Enforcement I
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attention:
Document Control Desk Washington, D.C.
20555 1
l Re:
James W. Ballantyne Docket No. 55-8682 J
License No. OP-6049-2 EA 88-05
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Dear Sir:
SUBJECT:
REPLY TO NOTICE OF VIOLATION As a result of the enforcement conference conducted with me 1
on February 16, 1988, I received notice that I would be subject j
to a Severity Level III Violation and a proposed civil penalty of
$500.00.
The Notice of Violation served upon me stated that for i
i an extended and indeterminate period of time prior to March 24, 1987, particularly during the 11:00 p.m.
to 7:00 a.m.
shift, I 2
was inattentive and I
allowed nyself to be distracted by l
activities that were in violation of Peach Bottom Atomic Power r
Station's Administrative Procedure A-7 entitled "Shift l
Operations".
I was told that my violation of Administrative Procedure A-7 proveated me from adequately performing the duties 1
with which I was chargod.
i Please accept thin reply as my full acknowledgment of the charges against me.
As I admitted at my enforcement conference, i
i I put my feet up and closed my eyes while I was on duty.
I read l
material that was prohibited by Administrative Procedure A-7 and
)
I played a golf game during the midnight shift as well as the afternoon shift.
By failir.g to observe Administrative Procedure l
A-7, I violated the terms of my license.
From the time I joined Philadelphia Electric Company and was i
assigned to the Control koom, I engaged in unacceptable behavior l
l on shift.
No one stopped me and I continued my bad practices to break the sonotony of shift work and to keep my mind active.
I worked too much overtime and I tried to alleviate my problems 1
j with adjusting to the long hours by engaging in conduct banned by the Procedure.
I never gained the proper respect for the importance of A-7.
I thought it was enough to read it, from time to time, to pass my licensing examination.
Unfortunately, I
never gave it the priority that I gave to compliance with other procedures, such as those that d!4ectly affected the operation of f[j91jgOCN05000277 uh, 266 69o907 l
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PDC I
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i Director, Office of Enforcement September 7, 1988 Page 2 5
equipment in the Control Room.
I never realized how crucial my l
i 1
behavior was to the safe operation of a nuclear power plant.
i After the Shutdown Ordery as I am sure you are aware, wo came into compliance with the Station Procedures.
What took me 1
longer was the process of realizing how significantly I had fallen below the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's expectations of I
appropriate behavior for a licensed operator.
I did not fulfill I
i the trust which you put in me and I did not fulfill my pledge to t
guard the public.
I am thoroughly ashamed of myself for this.
I have too -uch pride in myself to ever allow this situation to develop ac
- 3. n.
t The first significant corrective action I took was to make a i
change in my day to day habits.
I asked my family to help me in I
getting mere rest.
I adjusted my eating habits so that my body i
i could better cope with the changes of shift work.
I cut back my overtime schedule significantly, so that I do not work too many hours without a break.
4 I next worked on changing my temper.
I heard a lot of l
1 negative comments about the fact that I lost my temper in the i
}
Control Room, and that I evicted personnel.
Through the PFE I
l program other operators were decent enough to tell me that I let i
the pressure of the job bother me to the point where I seemed i
unprofessional.
I realized that I had to learn to respect other j
people's jobs because they considered their duties as important as I considered mine, and they had the right, just as I had the r
i right, to complete their assigned work for a shift.
I make sure to schedule in their work now, rather than refusing them access l
to the Control Room.
l I also integrated changes into my practices while on shif t
(
to make sure that I keep my mind occupied, constructively.
I j
found tnat physical exertion helps me from gettina lazy or i
l unfocused.
I watch instruments, gauges and talk to supervisors
(
and reactor operators about Operations' issues.
Becauae we have l
all been thoroughly humiliated by the shutdown we are now far more interested in each other's welfare.
A supportive camaraderie is developing on shift.
l l
Because my job entails the assigning of tasks to others I have tried to design projects that promote a healthier attitude.
For example, all work on blocking permits used to be done during l
}
the day.
Now, blocking is split up among other shifts, to keep reactor operators and floor operators busy.
As far as auxiliary operators are concerned, I give them projects such as cleaning i
the remote panels to avoid electrical shorts and inspecting rooms
[
to make sure that equipment is functioning.
I give directions
}
specifying the importance of this work to keep the people I am responsible for motivated.
To keep others from developing the t
i I
I i
Director, Office of Enforcement September 7, 1980 Page 3 temperament problems that I developed, I take pains to aplit i
assignments fairly and to make sure that breaks are frequently and fairly given to all the operators.
I rs, ally want to re-gain i
the respect I lost.
I am convinced that I will avoid future problems because I l
now understand how the licensing of individuals works.
Before shutdown, 1 thought Philadelphia Electric Company was responsible to the NRC and I was responsible only to Philadelphia Electric Company.
Now I know that if I am given the right to hold a
- license, it is mine alone.
It is separate from Philadelphia Electric Company.
This means that if I see a safety problem I l
must address it.
If nothing is
- done, I
must take full responsibility.
I can no longer blame management or bad morale or poor training or any of the other excuses that I used os come up with, to explain my failure to do my job properly, d
Because you have permitted me to keep my licanso I promise l
that I will not fail again in performing the obligation I owe to r
you and to the public.
I will impart the knowledge that I have gained to the younger individuals who are coming up now and explain to them how to properly operate a nuclear cactor so that they can lesrn from my mistakes.
For as long as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission continues to let me operate the controls at Peach Dottom, I will be the individual who is responsible for l
what goes on in that Control Room.
Respectfully submitted, j
a_ w lA A
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.es W.
D'illantyne
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l cc:
Regional Administrator U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Corrmission Region I f
475 Allendale Road l
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406 i
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COMMONWEALTil OF PENNSYLVANIA l
COUNTY OF v,b Before me, a Notary Public, personally appeared James W.
I Ballantyne, who being duly sworn according to law deposes and l
says that the statements rhade in his Reply to Notice of Violation t
are true and correct to the best of his information, knowledge l
l and belief.
Sworn to and subscribed to before me this Y day of l
M6
, 1988.
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