ML20207H429

Discusses NRC OI Rept 2-1998-014 on 980429-990112.NRC Determined That There May Have Been Atmosphere at BSEP Such That Employees Were Reluctant to Report Safety Problems. Requests Written Response Re Position on Environ

ML20207H429
Person / Time
Site:	Brunswick
Issue date:	03/02/1999
From:	Reyes L NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II)
To:	Keenan J CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT CO.
References
EA-99-026, EA-99-26, NUDOCS 9903120320
Download: ML20207H429 (6)

Text

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March 2,1999 i EA 99-026 Carolina Power and Light Company .

Brunswick Steam Electric Plant ATTN: Mr. J. S. Keenan .

Vice President P.O. Box 10429 Southport, NC 28461

SUBJECT:

NRC OFFICL' OF INVESTIGATIONS REPORT NO. 2-1998-014 On April 29,1998, the U.S. Nunear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Office of Investigations (01), initiated an investigation .o determine whether the Environmentai and Radiation Control i (E&RC) Manager at the Brur swick Steam Electric Plant threatened to fire individuals who l brnught safety concerns to t ie NRC, and if these actions caused a chilling effect and a hostile  :

working environment within the E&RC Branch. On January 12,1999,01 completed the I investigation and concluded that based on the evidence developed during the investigation, the allegation that, the E&RC Manager, caused a hostile work environment could not be substantiated.

l Although, the allegation regarding a hostile work environment was not substantiated, the NRC has determined that there may have been an atmosphere within the E&RC group at Brunswick such that employees were reluctant to report safety problems. This poteiitial situa+ ion is of significant concern to the NRC. The current regulatory system encourages licensee and contractor employees to raise nuclear safety concerns both internally and directly to the NRC, and employees who raise concerns serve an important role in maintaining a quality-conscious l wo k environment.

l- The NRC needs further information in order to ensure that a " chilling effect" does not exist as a j  ; result of this situation such that employees are fearful of raising nuclear safety concerns.

l Therefore, pursuant to sections 161c,1610,182 and 186 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and the Commission's regulations in 10 CFR 2.204 and 10 CFR 50.7, in order for the l Commission to determir:e whether your license should be modified, suspended or revoked, or other enforcement action taken to ensure compliance with NRC regulatory requirements, you are required to provide a written response that describes your position regarding whether a chilled environment currently exists within the E&RC group at Brunswick and the basis for your position, including the results of any investigations that were conducted for this purpose.

! Notwithstanding your view as to whether a such an environment currently exists, you are also

' required to provide an explanation of the actions you have taken or plan to take to assure I employees are aware they are free to raise safety and compliance concerns within your organization without fear of retaliation. This response is required to be submitted to this office under oath or affirmation within 30 dayc of the date of this letter.

After reviewing your response, the NRC will determine whether a meeting to discuss this issu with you further is warranted. In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rule of Practice", a copy of this letter and your response will be placed iri the NRC Public Document Room (PDR). Therefore, 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 9903120320 990302 PDR ADOCK 05000324 G PDR

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. and placed in the PDR. If personal privacy information is necessary to provide an acceptable l response, then please provide a bracketed copy of your response that deletes the personal privacy-related information. Identify the particular portions of the response 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 j request withholding on any other grounds, you myg1 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). If safequards information is necessary to provide an acceptable response, please provide the level of protection described  ;

in 10 CFR 73.21.

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact Anne T. Boland, Enforcement ,

Officer, at 404-562-4421.

i Sincerely, 1 Original Signed by J. R. Johnson Luis A. Reyes Regional Administrator Docket Nos. 50-325,50-324 3 License Nos. DPR-71, DPR-062 i

Enclosure:

Synopsis to 01 Report No. 2-1998-014 i cc w/ encl: See page 3

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~ Director $

, Site Operations j Brunswick Steam Electric Plant .

. Carolina Power & Light Company:

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_ P. O. Box 10429 '  !

Southport, NC 28461-  !

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. J. J. Lyash, Plant Manager .  !

- Brunswick Steam Electric Plant j

. Carolina Power & Light Company

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- P. O. Box 10429 . l 1 Southport, NC 28461  ;

.i D. B. Alexander, Manager .  !

Performance Evaluation and 1 Regulatory Affairs CPB 9  :

'- Carolina Power & Light Company P. O. Box 1551 _

- Raleigh, NC 27602-1551

.l K. R. Jury, Manager  !

Regulatory Affairs .  !

Carolina Power & Light Company  !

Brunswick Steam Electric Plant l P. O. Box 104291 '!

~ Southport, NC 28461-0429 -  !

William D. Johnson . .  !

.Vice President & Senior Counsel  !

' Carolina Power and Light Company l P. O. Box 1551.

Raleigh, NC 27602 i i

Mel Fry, Director j Division of Radiation Protection - i

. N. C. Department of Environment i

'and Natural Resources -l

. 3825 Barrett Drive- .i Raleigh NC 27609-7721 Karen E. Long - l Assistant Attorney General  !'

. State of North Carolina P. O. Box 629. j Raleigh, NC 27602 ' j

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4 Robert P. Gruber

< Executive Director Public Staff NCUC P. O. Box 29520

' Raleigh, NC 27626-0520 Public Service Commission State of South Carolina P. O. Box 11649 Columbia, SC 29211 Jerry W. Jones,' Chairman Brunswick County Board of -

Commissioners P. O. Box 249 Bolivia, NC 28422

~ Dan E. Summers Emergency Management Coordinator New Hanover County Department of

' Emergency Management P. O. Box 1525 Wilmington, NC 28402 William H. Crowe, Mayor City of Southport 201 E. Moore Street Southport, NC 28461 l

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