ML20154R143

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Forwards Rept of Investigation Re Gap Allegations That Region IV & Ofc of Ivestigations Took No Action Upon Receipt of Repts of Wrongdoing by Util Mgt.Region IV Should Have More Promptly Responded to Allegations
ML20154R143
Person / Time
Site: Comanche Peak  Luminant icon.png
Issue date: 08/30/1985
From: Connelly S
NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTOR & AUDITOR (OIA)
To: Asselstine, Palladino, Roberts
NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
Shared Package
ML20154R138 List:
References
NUDOCS 8603280100
Download: ML20154R143 (3)
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August 30, 1985 MEMORANDUM FOR: Chairman Palladino Conmissioner- Roberts Commissioner Asselstine Commissioner Bernthal Commissioner Zech N9f RTd by FROM: Sharon R. Connelly, Director WU. i.c;;m r Office of Inspector and Auditor - "'

SUBJECT:

C0f1ANCHE PEAK - GAP ALLEGATIONS (LACK 0F NRC ACTION WHEN NOTIFIED OF WRONGD0ING BY UTILITY)

The attached report documents the Office of Inspector and Auditor's (01A) investigation into allegations by Ms. Billie Pirner Garde, Director, Citizens Clinic, Government Accountability Project (GAP) that Region IV and the Office of Investigations (01) took no action when reports of wrongdoing by Texas Utilities Generating Company (TUGCO) management and employees were received.

TUGC0 is the applicant at the Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station (SES).

Ms. Garde outlined three instances when Region IV and OI allegedly failed to -

respond to reports of wrongdoing by TUGC0:

On March 8,1984, the Comanche Peak SES Quality Assurance Supervisor detained p'qht quality control inspectors in a room then searched their desks and confiscated inspection reports documenting numerous deficiencies with electrical equipment.

In September 1983, TUGC0 management pressured a contract inspector to reword his inspection report concerning the adequacy of the paint coatings program at Comanche Peak SES.

TUGC0 had falsified inspection reports concerning improper installation of liner plates for the spent fuel tank, refueling cavities, and two transfer canals.

0IA investigation disclosed that Region IV initially took no action when several anonymous callers and the TUGC0 Vice President for Nuclear Operations reported that some Comanche Peak SES quality control inspectors had been 8603280100 e60320 PDR ADOCK 05000445 A PDR CONTACT: George Mulley, 0IA 49-24473 REE00" 0F !"EOP""!O"/MIVTCY f,CT EE"PTIO" (b)(5) i (7)(c) o "'" > ............... .. ..................... ................ . . .. ... ............. ..................... ................... ....................

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  • sequestered in a room and their desks were being searched. By the time Region IV acted to obtain firsthand information, the incident was over. When Region IV later learned that TUGC0 management had confiscated inspection documents from desks of quality control inspectors, the region acted promptly to secure custody of the documents and to place them under NRC control. 0IA learned that once OI ensured the seized inspection records were under NRC control, that office took no further action into this matter because no allegations of harassment or intimidation were made.

In regard to the alleged inaction by Region IV and OI when notified that a contract inspector had been pressured to reword an inspection report, 0IA's investigation developed ro information that the contract inspector made an allegation to the NRC that he had been unduly pressured, harassed, or intimidated by his employer or TUGC0 to retract his inspection report.

Our investigation into actions by Region IV and OI when notified-that TUGC0 had falsified inspection reports concerning the spent fuel tank liner plates determined that as a result of the allegations received in April 1984, 01 conducted an investigation into falsification of inspection reports by TUGC0 and the NRC Comanche Peak Technical Review Team (TRT) reviewed the technical issues. OIA learned, however, that in August 1983, 0I had received information that TUGC0 was allegedly falsifying liner plate inspection documents. 01 did not identify this as an 01 matter; therefore, no investigation of the alleged falsification of inspection documents was conducted at that time. However, as a result of the information received in April 1984, the ellegations originally raised in August 1983 were investiga'.ed by OI.

Conclusion b

The facts developed during this investigation indicate that Region IV was not sufficiently sensitive to reports concerning the detention of Comar.che Peak quality control inspectors and the search of their desks and files. OIA I lallegationsbyactingtogatherfirsthandinformationabo believes that Region IV should have more promptly responded to the anonymous o

incident. Region IV would have then been better able to decide whether the gs situation was a TUGC0 lahnr-management dispute or whether additional NRC involvement was required.

Y The OIA investigation did not develop any indication that the contract inspector believed or reported .that he was harassed, intimidated, or unduly pressured in connection with his inspection report. Consequently, we believe Region IV and 01 acted appropriately in this matter. I t

OIA believes that Region IV and 01 responded appropriately to reports received in April 1984, alleging falsification of inspection reports concerning the spent fuel pool liner plates. As a result of these cllegations, the OI Field Office, Region IV, conducted an investigation into possible licensee l wrongdoing and the NRC Comanche Peak TRT reviewed the technical concerns with l the spent fuel pool liner plates. OIA noted, howeser, that'the 01 Field i Office, Region IV had received information in August 1983, that inspection /

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reports for the spent fuel pool liner plates were being falsely prepared.

Because this was not identified as an 0I matter at that time, investigation of ([t this issue was' inappropriately delayed until the allegations were again rec

v. eived in April 1984. j cc: W. Dircks, EDO, w/ attach B. Hayes, 01, w/c attach W. Magee, OCM, w/o attach

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' THIS REPORT IS BElfiG PROVIDED FOR THE COMMISSI0fl'S ( \/ ,

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