ML20196G850
| ML20196G850 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | South Texas  |
| Issue date: | 01/13/1988 |
| From: | Pickle J HOUSE OF REP. |
| To: | Zech L NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20196G838 | List: |
| References | |
| CON-#188-5776 2.206, NUDOCS 8803100006 | |
| Download: ML20196G850 (3) | |
Text
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- wntus J.J. PICKLE 10tm Distn<t,7tus WAYS AND MEANS JCINT COMMITTEE ON TAXATION 24: CAeaos House Omca Suseine Congress of tije 1Hnitch 6tates
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7E:Niil'iai Mastington, BC 20515 January 13, 1988 Lando W.
Zech Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555
Dear Chairman Zech:
I have been contacted by the South Texas cancellation Campaign concerning the Governmental Accountablity Project (GAP) request to the National Regulatory Commission to establish a Special Investigating Team to look at the allegations made by workers at the South Texas Nuclear Project.
I understand that the Commission has refused this request because-the workers making the allegations would not identify themselves.
I can understand your reluctance on this basis; however, there have been serious statements made to my office by the South Texas cancellation Campaign regarding plant management.
This group alleges many violations of safety regulations during construction.
Further, I understand that many of these allegations have been well documented.
I do not pass judgement en these allegations and fully recognize the purpose of this group is to stop the STNP.
Nevertheless, serious allegations have been made.
Please let me know if the Commission has plans to look into any of these allegations.
Also, I would appreciate an update as to the status of this plant's operation.
I appreciate your assistance in this matter.
Since y,
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Dan Herrison 3400-B La Fayette Austin, Texas 78722 November 16, 1987 Honorable J. J. Pickle 242 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Congressman Picklet I appreciate your continued efforts to monitor the status of the South Texas Nuclear Project and inquire of the Nuclear Regulatory Comission on the motions and reports that I have written you about. The copy that you sent me recently of the letter you received from the NRC was informative.
Your interest in this issue and the help you have given us is gratifying.
Yet the fact remains that the South Texas Nuclear Project (STNP) is nearing ccepletion, and some serious safety questions are unanswered. Over 50 of the very people who built it have made 650 allegations of construction problems regarding safety, cost overruns and criminal activity at the STNP. These plant workers do not trust the Nuclear Pegulatory Comission (NRC) to adequately investigate their complaints. Many have tried the NRC only to find their inspectors unresponsive, or have seen other workers experience retaliation from their sployers after having gone to the NRC.
For this reason, they have gone to the Government Accountability Project (GAP), a public interest law firm, for help in getting their concerns investigated while protecting their identities G.A.P. has requested that the NRC establish a Special and jobs.
Team to look into the allegations at STNP, but the Connission has refused.
Your position in Congress gives you the influence to break this stalemate.
The people of Texas need these problems investigated to assure the safety of the STNP, and you can do this by requiring the NRC to establish a Special Investigating Team.
I am contacting you on behalf of the South Texas cancellation Canpaign, an anti-nuclear power organization with over 300 members in Austin and other parts of Texas. We have long questioned the safety of construction of the STNP, and now more problems have surfaced even as the first unit of the plant nears completion.
Some of the biggest doubts about STNP safety are the recently uncovered evidence of corruption and nuclear industry bias at the Nuclear Regulatory Ccanission. In December of 1986 the NRC assembled an internal 4,000-page report on regulatory activity within the 10-state NRC region (Region 4) including Texas that documented numerous inspection failures and policy violations. (See enclosed article for details) The report concluded that the regulatory function of NRC Region 4 was unreliable. Then in April of this year the Senate Governmental Affairs Comittee heard testimony of corruption at several levels within the NRC.
It included an NRC inspector working at the Comanche Peak plant near Fort Worth who was harrassed by management for his critical inspection reports and a case of unethical information passing to a nuclear plant utility i
a page 2 by a member of the Comission. (See enclosed article for details) These facts do not inspire confidence in the NRC to assure nuclear plant safety. And they reinforce the Government Accountability Project's hesitance to provide the NRC with any evidence without a Special Investigating Team.
G.A.P. began interviewing past and present workers from the nuclear plant last year. Within 6 months 35 workers had come forward with over 500 allegations of construction problems. So far, a total of 56 workers have testified to over 650 allegations of violations at STNP. Over 250 of the alleged violations involve safety-related construction. The NRC has refused G. A.P.'s request for a Special Investigating Team, but instead the NRC has subpoenaed their. lawyers and the witnesses.
G.A.P. has gone to court to fight the NRC rathh man turn the evidence over to NRC discretion.
G.A.P. recently won the first round when a Washington judge ruled against the NRC subpoenas.
The establishnent of a Special Investigating Team is a step that has been taken at other nuclear power plants. At the Zimer plant in Ohio, the Comanche Feak plant near Fort Worth and, previously, at the STNP, the NRC has set up such teams to hear evidence of construction problems. With the NRC's present lack of credibility this is the only way to assure an objective and fair review of the evidence. And it is the only way to assure protection of the workers' identities and protect them from retaliation.
On behalf of all the people of Texas who must trust in the safe construction of this plant against the threat of a nuclear accident, we ask that you make a Special Investigating Team for the STNP a high priority. Please contact the NRC about this matter right away. Time is running out as STNP Unit 1 could tecome operational in a few weeks. All safety concerns must be resolved before this is allowed to happen.
We would like to meet with you on this matter the next time you are in your home district. We will contact your office to ask for an appointment. Thank you again for taking an interest in this issue.
urs tru b.
4.L @ %
Dan Harrison Spokesperson, South Texas cancellation Canpaign i
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