ML20204J577

Discusses 990112 Request for Consideration of Several Actions to Address Ig Event Inquiry on NRC Staff Handling of Harassment & Intimidation Complaints at Millstone

ML20204J577
Person / Time
Site:	Millstone
Issue date:	03/18/1999
From:	Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
To:	Dodd C, Gejdenson S, Lieberman J HOUSE OF REP., SENATE
Shared Package
ML20204J583	List: ML20204J577 ML20204J617 ML20204J629
References
NUDOCS 9903300127
Download: ML20204J577 (3)

Text

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% ..... ! March 18, 1999 CHAMAN The Honorable Joseph I. Lieberman United States Senate Washington, D.C. 205100

Dear Senator Lieberman:

This is in reference to your letter of January 12,1999, requesting my consideration of several actions to address the inspector General's (IG) Event Inquiry on the NRC Staff's Handling of Harassment and intimidation (H&l) Complaints at Millstone." in addition, I committed in my January 12,1999 letter to you that I would keep you informed of steps NRC is taking in this matter.

As I indicated in my letter to you of January 12,1999, on behalf of the Commission, I directed the staff to review the'lG report and to develop lessons learned, recommendations for improvement, and corrective actions, and provide answers to specific questions attached to my tasking memorandum. The staff responded to me on January 27,1999, with an assessment that addressed specific questions, including concerns you raised in your January 12,1999, letter to me, involving the lack of documentation of the bases for decisionmaking and keeping the Commission informed of staff decisions. The staff's assessment also included lessons learned, recommended corrective actions, and points of clarification about several conclusions (see enclosure),

i On behalf of the Commission, I chartered an independent review to: (1) assess the merits of  !

the cases addressed in the Inspector General's report, (2) formulate lessons learned from the NRC staff's handling of the cases and (3) offer recommendations for improving investigative l and enforcement processes. This review was led by Judge G. Paul Boliwerk,111, Acting Chief Administrative Judge of the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, who reports directly to the Commission. Like the Inspector General, he is independent of the rest of the staff. Judge Boilwerk was assisted by individuals from within and outside the NRC, none of whom have had  !

prior involvement in the Millstone cases under scrutiny. The Commission received the report )

documenting the review on March 12,1999.

You raised specific issues related to the handling of the cases. While the staff has addressed these issues in the enclosed response to my tasking memorandum, there remains the possibility that additional recommended corrective actions will result from the independent review conducted by Judge Bollwerk. Consequently, we will forwerd you a consolidated report ,  :

on these issues following the Commission's review of the subject report.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any additional concerns regarding this matter. l Sincerely, M

on009 Q 9903300127 990318 PDR COMMS NRcc /q' O CORRESPONDENCE PDR Shirley Ann Jackson ,

Enclosure:

As stated ,

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, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20656-4001

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\j# March 18, 1999 cham 4AN -

1The Honorable ChristopherJ. Dodd United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Dodd:

This is in reference to your letter of January 12,1999, requesting my consideration of several actions to address the inspector General's (IG) Event Inquiry on the "NRC Staff's Handling of .

1 Harassment and !ntimidation (H&l) Complaints at Millstone." In addition, I committed in my January 12,1999 letter to you that I would keep you informed of steps NRC is taking in this matter.

As I indicated in my letter to you of January 12,1999, on behalf of the Commission, I directed the staff to review the IG report and to develop lessons learned, recommendations for

~ improvement, and corrective actions, and provide answers to specific questions attached to my I tasking memorandum. The staff responded to me on January 27,1999, with an assessment that addressed specific questions, including concerns you raised in your January 12,1999, letter to me, involving the lack of documentation of the bases for decisionmaking and keeping the Commission informed of staff decisions. The staff's assessment also included lessons ,

learned, recommended corrective actions, and points of clarification about several conclu'sions I (see enclosure).

On behalf of the Commission, I chartered an independent review to: (1) assess the merits of the cases addressed in the inspector General's report, (2) formulate lessons learned from the j NRC staff's handling of the cases and (3) offer recommendations for improving investigative

. and enforcement processes. This review was led by Judge G. Paul Bollwerk, lil, Acting Chief {

Administrative Judge of the Atomic Sa'ety and Licensing Board, who reports directly to the Commission, Like the Inspector General, he is independent of the rest of the staff. Judge Bollwerk was assisted by individuals from within and outs!de the NRC, none of whom have had  ;

prior involvement in the Millstone cases under scrutiny. The Commission received the report

' documenting the review on March 12,1999.

You raised specific issues.related to the handling of the cases. While the staff has addressed ,

these issues in the enclosed response to my tasking memorandum, there remains the

- possibility that additional recommended corrective actions will result from the independent review conducted by Judge Bollwerk. Consequently, we will forward you a consolidated report on these issues following the Commission's review of the subject report.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any additional concerns regarding this matter.

Sincerely, Shirley Ann Jackson

Enclosure:

As stated '

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March 18, 1999 CHAIRMAN The Honorable Sam Gejdenson )

United States House of Representatives  !

Washington, D.C. 20515

)

Dear Congressman Gejdenson:

This is in reference to your letter of January 12,1999, requesting my consideration of several actions to address the Inspector General's (IG) Event Inquiry on the "NRC Staff's Handling of Harassment and intimidation (H&I) Complaints at Millstone." In addition, I committed in my January 12,1999 letter to you that I would keep you informed of steps NRC is taking in this '

matter.

As I indicated in my letter to you of January 12,1999, on behalf of the Commission, I directed the staff to review the IG report and to develop lessons learned, recommendations for improvement, and corrective actions, and provide answers to specific questions attached to my tasking memorandum. The staff responded to me on January 27,1999, with an assessment I that addressed specific questions, including concerns you raised in your January 12,1999, letter to me, involving the lack of documentation of the bases for decisionmaking and keeping the Commission informed of staff decisions. The staff's assessment also included lessons l learned, recommended corrective actions, and points of clarification about several conclusions

~

(see enclosure).

On behalf of the Commission, I chartered an independent review to: (1) assess the merits of the cases addressed in the inspector General's report, (2) formulate lessons learned from the NRC staff's handling of the cases and (3) offer recommendations for improving investigative and enforcement processes. This review was led by Judge G. Paul Bollwerk, Ill, Acting Chief Administrative Judge of the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, who reports directly to the Commission. Like the inspector General, he is independent of the rest of the staff. Judge Bollwerk was assisted by individuals from within and outside the NRC, none of whom have had prior involvement in the Millstone cases under scrutiny. The Commission received the report documenting the review on March 12,1999.

You raised specific issues related to the handling of the cases. While the staff has addressed these issues in the enclosed response to my tasking memorandum, there remains the possibility that additional recommended corrective actions will result from the independer.t review conducted by Judge Bollwerk. Consequently, we will forward you a consolidated report on these issues following the Commission's review of the subject report.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any additional concerns regarding this matter.

Sincerely,

/- n Shirley Ann Jackson

Enclosure:

As stated