ML20203F111
| ML20203F111 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Millstone  |
| Issue date: | 02/10/1998 |
| From: | Travers W NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | Kenyon B NORTHEAST UTILITIES |
| References | |
| EA-98-055, EA-98-55, NUDOCS 9802270207 | |
| Download: ML20203F111 (5) | |
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I!NITED STATES
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February 10, 1998 EA 98-055 Mr. Bruce D. Kenyon, President and Chief Executive Officer Nuclear Group Northeast Utilities Service Company P.O. Box 128 Waterford, CT 06385
SUBJECT:
POTENTIAL DISCRIMINATION
Dear Mr. Kenyon:
On January 29,1998, the U.S. Nuclear Regulutory Commission (NRC) became aware of a memo,andum developed by your Nuclear Oversight managers dated January 11,1998, that stated, " inability to ' isolate' cynics from group culture." The langue3e was not consistent with encouraging a questioning attitude necessary for fostering a safety-conscious work environtnent (SCWE). Further, the language used in the memorandum involved a potential violation of the employee protection provisions set forth in 10 CFR 50.7(f) as it may be perceived as establishing a condition of employment that would discourage employees from being engaged in protected activity. This could have a chilling effect on licensee or contractor personnel, in that these statements might deter them from identifying any nuclear safety-related concerns. We recognize that you have initiated an independent investigation into this matter to understand what occurred, Accordingly, pursuant to Sections 161c,161o,182, and 186 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and the Commission's regulations in 10 CFR 2.204 and 10 CFR 50. 54(f) in order for the Commission to determine whether regulatory enforcement actions are appropriate, you are required to provide this office, within 30 days of the date of this letter, a response in writing and under oath or affirmi :.,n that describes:
eT 1.
Your position regarding whether the actions described above violated 10 CFR 50.7 and hIj the basis for your position, including a copy of any investigation that supports your position as well as any other investigations that addresses why this memorandum was EI written, distribution and release of the memorandum, and its impact on your employees, {}
and contractor employees; G3 2.
Your assessment of how this incident occurred in light of your efforts to improve your Mi g
SCWE and actions you have already taken or plan to take to assure that this matter is e 1 not having a chilling effect on the willingness of other employees to raise safety and
[i compliance concerns within your organization and, as discussed in NRC Form 3, to the NRC; and C)
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Your assessment of the need to take remedial action to prevent a recurrence of this event and if you conclude action is neoded, describe such action and your schedule for achieving it.
We recognize that you may not believe that either unlawful discrimination or inappropriate conduct has occurred. Rugardless of your answer to item 1 above, we request that you consider the need to address the possible chilling effect that an ongoing issue of this type may have on other employees.
Your response should not, to the extent possible, include any personal privacy, proprietary, or safeguards information, so that it con be released to the public and placed in the NRC Public Document Room. if pyrsonal privacy information is necessary to provide an acceptable response, then please provide a bracketed copy of your response that identifies the personal privacy-related information and a redacted copy of your response that deletes the personal privacy-related inf7rmation. Identify the particular portions of the response in question which, if disclosed, would create an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, identify the individual whose privacy would be invaded in each instance, describe the nature of the privacy invasion, and indicate why, considering the public interest in the matter, the invasion of privacy is unwarranted. If you request withholding on any other grounds, you mual specifically identify the portior's of your response that you seek to have withheld and provide in detail the basis for your claim of withholding (e.g., provide the information required by 10 CFR 2.790(b) to s,upport a request for withholding confidentb. commercial or financial information).
After reviewing your response, the NRC will determine whether enforcement action is necessary at this time to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter and your response will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
The responses directed by this letter are not subject to the clearance procedures of the Office of Management and Budget as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, Pub. L.
No.96-511.
Sincerely, William D. Tr ers, F.coctor Special Projects Office Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation g
Docket Nos. 50-245,50-336, and 50-423 License Nos. DPR-21, DPR-65, and NPF-49 cc: See next page
j i
B. D. K;nyon Kebruary 10, 1998 3.
Your assessment of the need to take remedial action to prevent a recurrence of this event and if you conclude action is needed, describe such action and your schedule for achieving it.
We recognize that you may not believe that either unlawful discrimination or inappropriate conduct has occurred. Regardless of your answer to item 1 above, we request that you consider the need to address the possible chilling effect that an ongoing issue of this type may have on other employees.
Your response should not, to the extent possible, include any personal privacy, proprietary, or safeguards information, so that it can be released to the public and placed in the NRC Public Document Room. if personal privacy information is necessary to provide an acceptable response, then please provido a bracketed copy of your response that identifies the personal privacy-related information and a redacted copy of your response that deletes the personal privacy-related information. Identify the particular portions of the response in question which, if disclosed, would create an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, identify the individual whose privacy would be invaded in each instance, describe the nature of the privacy invasion, and indicata why, considering the public interest in the matter, the invasion of privacy is unwarranted if you request withholding on any other grounds, you nms1 specifically identify the portions of your response that you seek to have withheld and provide in detail the basis for your claim of withholding (e.g., provide the information required by 10 CFR 2.790(b) to support a request for withholding confidential commercial or financial information).
i After reviewing your response, the NRC will determine whether enforcement action is necessary at this time to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter and your response will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
The responses directed by this letter are not subject to the clearance procedures of the Office of Management and Budget as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, Pub. L.
No.96-511.
Sincerely, Original signed by:
William D. Travers, Director Special Projects Office Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-245, 50-336, and 50-423 License Nos. DPR-21, DPR-65, and NPF-49 Distributior *Ncket File PUBLIC SPO R/D L-SPO Enforcement Officer Senior Allegation Coordinator, RI Director, OE l
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OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
Northeast Nuclear Energy Company Millstone Nuclear Power Station, Units 1,2, and 3 cc:
Lillian M. Cuoco, Esquire Mr. Wayne D. Lanning Senior Nuclear Counsel Deputy Director of Inspections Northeast Utilities Service Company Special Projects Office P. O. Box 270 475 Allendale Road Hartford, CT 06141-0270 King of Prussia, PA 19406-1415 Mr. Kevin T. A. McCarthy, Director Mr. F. C. Rothen Monitoring and Radiation Division Vice President - Work Services Department of Environmental Northeast Nuclear Energy Company Protection P.O. Box 128 79 Elm Street Waterford, CT 06385 Hartford, CT 06106-5127 Charles Brinkman, Manager Mr. Allan Jshanson, Ass't Director Washington Nuclear Operations Office of Policy and Management ABB Combustion Engineering Policy Development and Planning 12300 Twinbrook Pkwy, Suite 330 Division Rockville, MD 20852 450 Capitol Avenue - MS 52ERN P. O. Box 341441 Mr. D. M. Goebel Hartford, CT 06134-1441 Vice President - Nuclear Oversight Northeast Utilities Service Company Regional Administrator, Region i P. O. Box 128 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Waterford, CT 06385 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Mr. M. L. Bowling, Jr.
Recovery Officer - Millstone Unit 2 First Selectmen clo Ms. P. A. Loftus Town of Waterford Director-Regulatory Affairs Hall of Records Northeast Nuclear Energy Company 200 Boston Post Road P. O. Box 128 Waterford, CT 06385 Waterford, CT 06385 Mr. J. P. McElwain Senior Resident inspector Recovery Officer-Millstone Unit 1 Millstone Nuclear Power Station Vice President (Acting)- Millstone Unit 3 clo U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Northeast Nuclear Energy Company P. O. Box 513 P. O. Box 128 Niantic, CT 06357 Waterford, CT 06385 Mr. David Amerine, Vice President Deborah Katz, Pre:ident Nuclear Engineering and Support Citizens Awareness Network Northeast Utilities Service Company P. O. Box 83 P. O. Box 128 Shelburne Falls, MA 03170 Waterford, CT 06385
Millstone Nuclear Power Station, Units 1,2, and 3 cc:
Mr. M. H. Brothers Little Harbor Consultants, Inc.
Vice President - Operations Millstene -ITPOP Project Office Northr.ast Nuclear Energy Company P. O, box 0630 P. O. Box 128 Niantic, CT 06375-0630 Waterford, CT 06385 Mr. Evan W. Woollacott Mr. M. R. Scully, Executive Director Co-Chair Connecticut Municipal Electric Nuclear Energy Advisory Council Energy Cooperative 128 Terry's Plain Road 30 Stott Avenue Simsbury, CT 06070 Norwich, CT 06360 Mr. Daniel L. Curry Mr. Willit.
- 9. Meinert Project Director Nuclear u mer Parsons Power Group Inc.
Massachust.... Municipal Wholesale 2675 Morgantown Road Electric Company Reading, P/.19607 P. O. Box 426 Ludlow, MA 01056 Mr. Don Schopfer Verification Team Manager Ernest C. Hadley, Esquire Sargent & Lundy 1040 B Main Street 55 E. Monroe Street P. O. Box 549 Chicago, IL 60603 West Wareham, MA 02576 Mr. P. D. Hinnenkamp Joseph R. Egan, Esquire Director-Unit Operations Egan & Associates, P.C.
Northeast Nuclear Energy Company 2300 N Street, NW P. O. Box 128 Washington, D.C. 20037 Waterford, CT 06385 Citizens Regulatory Commission Mr. J. A. Price ATTN: Ms. Susan Perry Luxton Unit Director-Millstone Unit 2 180 Great Neck Road Northeast Nuclear Energy Company Waterford, CT 06385 P. O. Box 128 Waterford, CT 06385 The Honorable Terry Concannon Nuclear Energy Advisory Council Room 4035 Legislative Office Building Capitol Avenue Hartford, CT 06106 Mr. G. D. Hicks i
Unit Director-Millstone Unit 3 Northeast Nuclear Energy Company P. O. Box 128 Waterf.rd, CT 06385
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