ML20198L510

Responds to ,Requesting Copies of OI Repts 1-95-050,1-96-02 & 1-96-043.Request Denied as Stated in Listed Info

ML20198L510
Person / Time
Site:	Maine Yankee
Issue date:	01/14/1998
From:	Lieberman J NRC OFFICE OF ENFORCEMENT (OE)
To:	Lynch M Maine Yankee
References
NUDOCS 9801160047
Download: ML20198L510 (3)

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' NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION k

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--January 114,1998

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iMs. Mary Ann Lynch -

Vice President, Law and Govemment Affairs Maine Yankee Atomic Power Co.

L P.O. Box 408 -

Wiscosset,' Maine 04578' i

SUBJECT:

E - MAINE YANKEE ATOMIC POWER COMPANY REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF OFFICE OF INVESTIGATION REPORT NOS. 195-050,196-025, AND 1-96-043

DearM Lynch:

I am responding to your December 31,1997, letter, in which you request that Maine Yankee -

Atomic Power Company (MYAPCo) be provided with cop'es of the NRC's Office of 1

' investigations (01) Report Nos. 195-050,196-025 and 1-96-043.The referenced reports are -

. related to the apparent violations transmitted to MYAPCo in the NRC's letter of December.19, 1997. MYAPCo's prev!ous request for Cl Report Nos. 1-95-050 and 1-96-025 (FOIA/PA 97-394) was denied by our letter dated October 27,1997.

In your December 31,1997, letter, you request the three referenced Ol reports so that -

MYAPCo may understand and evaluate the bases for the apparent violations, and may fully and fairly respond thereto..You state that cons lderatiens of fundarnental faimess make FOIA Exemption 7(A) no longer apolicable given the current procedural status, that releasing the reports to MYAPCo at this time would cause no prejudice to the NRC, and that not releasing the -

reports to MYAPCo prior to a predecisional enforcement conference concerning the apparent violations would prejudice MYAPCo. You also state that our December 19,1997, letter and its

. enclosures do r 4 identify the actions or omissions constituting careless disregard or willful conduct associ..ted with the apparent violations. Your request is denied, as explained below.

- In view of the current status of the enforcement process concoming the apparent violations,

_ FOIA Exemption 7(A) still applies. Moreever, a purpose of the predecisional enforcement conference, among others, is to providn the licenge the opportunity to present its version of the facts to the NRC before it datermines what, o any, action is warranted. Our December 1J, 1997, letter and its enclosures provide the factual basis for the apparent violations. As a result, MYAPCo will have the opportunity to present its views and its conclusions as to whether the apparent violations occurred and whether certain apparent violations involved willfulness. NRC policy is that 01 reports underlying pending enforcement actions not be released prior to taking enforcemera action.' If and when enforcement action is proposed, ' MYAPCo may then renew rig c

{ lts request for the underlying 01 reports. At that time, the reports, subject to redaction, will be

1. tC provided to you and placed in the PDR: In our view, MYAPCo is not prejudiced by denial of its '

request for access to tne 01 reports prior to the predecisional enforcement conference.

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t The NRC requests that if MYAPCo still intends to request a predecis_lonal_ enforcement -

conference, it be promptly scheduled with Region I personnel, as instructed M our -

December 19,1997i letter.

Sincerely, _

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- James Lieberman, Director Office of Enforcement

- cc:

- D.' Davis, President, Yankee Atomic Electric Company (YAEC)

' M. Meisner, Vice President, Licensing and Regulatory Compliance, MYAPCo R, Fraser, Director of Engineering P. Anderson, Project Manager, YAEC W. Odell, Director of Operations M. Ferri, Director of Decommissioning T-Dignan, Jr., Esquire, Ropes and Gray P. Dcstie, State of Maine Nuclear Safety inspector -

_ U. Vanags,- State of Maine Nuclear Safety Advisor C. Brinkman, Corabustion Engineering, Inc.

First Selectmen of Wiscusset R. Shadis, Friends of the Coast w

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