ML20199B138
| ML20199B138 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Millstone  |
| Issue date: | 11/07/1997 |
| From: | Travers W NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | Winslow G AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20199B140 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9711180226 | |
| Download: ML20199B138 (5) | |
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4 UNITED STATES
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Novesiber 7, 1997 Ms. Geralyn Winslow 30 Mullen Hilli Road Waterford, CT 1 06385
Dear Ms. Winslow:
In your letter of September 15, 1997, to Chairman Jackson of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission (NRC) you expressed concerns about the recent events involving the termination of two contractors in the motor-operated valve (MOV) 9roup and its potential " chilling effect" on other employees. As you state, l.ittle Harbor Consultants (LHC), the independent, third party organization overseeing the Northeast Nuclear Energy Company's (NNEC0 s, the licensee's) employee safety concerns program, investigated the events and concluded that retaliation did take place. The NRC staff will review the results of these investigations, and, on the basis of these reviews and other available information, will determine what further actions may be necessary.
We recognize and are concerned about the potential impact of this event on the willingness of employees to raise safety issues without fear of retaliation.
LHC's letter of August 25, 1997, identifies the potential chilling effect of this event on other members of the MOV group.
It is, therefore, important that licensee programs address this issue and that the licensee and LHC assess the success of these measures.
In its September 22, 1997, report, LHC concluded that the licensee took appropriate and timely action in response to allegations of retaliation and the potential chilling effect on the MOV group.
However, the LHC re) ort identifies deficiencies on the part of the licensee s senior managers in landling the issue, including the lack of timeliness in recognizing and responding to indications of retaliation and the chilling effect on employees and the employee safety concerns program.
Once senior management recognized the potential for retaliation in connection with the terminations and the effect the terminations had on the MOV group, LHC concluded that the licensee's management demonstrated the ability to promptly respond and took appropriate actions to counter the chilling effect in the MOV
- group, LHC has also conducted a review of the current status of employee attitudes in the MOV grou effect within the group. p and found no evidence of a lingering chillingThe NRC licensee's efforts to ensure that licensee and contractor em)loyees work in an environment in which employees may raise safety concerns witnout the fear of retaliation.
The NRC staff's evaluation of these recent events will be included as an element of the overall assessment of NNEC0's readiness to restart Mnistone Unit 3 (the first unit planned for restart). To facilitate th15 6 sessment the NRC staff has developed a Millstone Restart Assessment Plan the add %
the significant technical issues at Millstone Unit 3, as well as the
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programmatic issues common to the three Millstone units. -The NRC staff will ver fy that all the corrective actions associated with the restart issues are appropriately implemented.
Subsequent to this verification, the NRC Commissioners will make the final determination on restart.
I believe that-this. process is consistent with your request that Unit 3 not be restarted until licensee management meets all regulatory requirements.
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!_ trust you find this letter responsive to your concerns, hfrdk#hif:ned by:
William D. Travers, Director-r Special Projects Office i
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation j
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r o Geralyn Winslow, programmatic issues common to the three Hillstone units. The NRC staff will verify that all the corrective actions asmciated with the restart issues are appropriately implemented. Subsequent to this verification, the NRC Commissioners will make the final determination on restart. I believe that this process is consistent with your request that Unit 3 not be restarted until licensee management meets all regulatory requirements. I trust you find this letter responsive to your concerns. Sincerely, f ~ wM/- William D. Travers. Director Special Projects Office Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
J. ACTION ~ I EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROMs-DUE: 10/15/97 EDO CONTROL: G970704 DOC DT: 09/15/97 FINAL REPLY: Gerclyn Winslow I Watcrford, CT i TO: Chairman Jackson FOR SIGNATURE OF,
- GRN CRC NO: 97-0966 Col 1 ins, NRR
'Y4 u ve.) DESCs ROUTING: MILLSTONE NUCLEAR POWER STATION Callan Thadani Thompson Norry Blaha Burns DATE: 10/03/97 Miller, RI ASS.tGNED TO: CONTACT: NRR Collins e SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS: Put EDO.and Chairman on for concurrence. Chairman's office to review response prior to dicpatch. NRR. RECEIVED: OCTOBER 6, 1997
- NRR ACTION:
SPO: TRAVERS ~~ NRR R0tlTING:: - COLI INS- "$iREN . DUE T0f4RR DIRECTOR'S SHEDON j BY h /d8, R B0HRER f
F 9 p., e OFFICE OF Tile SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET PAPER NUMBER: CRC-97-0966 LOGGING DATE: Sep 29 97 ACTION OFFICE: EDO AUT110R GERALYN WINSLOW AFFILIATION: CONNECTICUT ADDRESSEE: CHAIRMAN JACKSON LETTER DATE: Sep 15 97 FILE CODE: IDR-5 MILLSTONE
SUBJECT:
MILLSTONE NUCLEAR POWER STATION...... ACTION: Direct Reply CllAIRMAN,(F/l(S DISTRIBUTION: SPECIAL 11ANDLING: SECY TO ACK CONSTITUENT: NOTES: CIIAIRMAN SilOULD REVIEW RESPONSE PRIOR TO DISPATCH DATE DUE: Oct 97 SIGNATURE: DATE SIGNED: AFFILIATION: Itn'd Off. 000 Datt. ~ Teng EDO -- G970704 L_.}}