ML20209C083

FOIA Request for Documents Re Safety Violations at Plant, Including Internal Memos,Onsite Inspector Repts & Any Testimonial Evidence Supplied by Util Employees,Former Employees or Govt Informers

ML20209C083
Person / Time
Site:	Peach Bottom
Issue date:	04/01/1987
From:	Moriarty P KYW-TV3, PHILADELPHIA, PA
To:	NRC OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION (ADM)
References
FOIA-87-185 NUDOCS 8704280583
Download: ML20209C083 (4)

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KYW-TV 3 INDEPENDENCE MALL EAST O PHILADELPHIA PA 19106 TELEPHONE 2384700 W

GROUP W TELEVISION,INC.

april 1, 1307 Nuclear llequlatory cot 1i9sion FREEDOM OF INFORMATION Oirector, Oivision of :!ules u ,le.;ords ACT REQUEST Office of r.dninistration MA .iashincton, OC 21555 MW 4-3 -#7 l 1

Dear Sir:

\

This is a recuest under the Freedo, of Infor,ation lict as I a, ended (5 U.S.C. 552).

I a, writing to recuest a'.1 infor,ation that pertains to safety violations et the Peach 30tto1 nuclear ,ower plant. This should '

include all internal ,e,oranda, on-site ins,ector's reports, and any testi,onial evidence supilied by Peach 30tto,e,ployees, ,

for,er e,ployees, or gover: ient infor1ers. I a.n most interested in

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obteining any docu1ents used by the ittC in laking its decision l to shut down operations at Peach Jotto1. '

Please include br.ckground infor,ation relating to safety violations uncovered in 193? and 1934. Additionally, I would like any infor7ation used by the IRC when it listed Peach 80ttoli as one of 16 U.S. reactors with significant operating problems.

To avoid any ,isunderstanding of 1y reauest, I an enclosing a newspaper article that outlines the areas I al interested in.

! a, aware that the F0la provides that if only portions of a file are exewted fro, release, the reiainder aust be released. I there-fore recuest that I be provided with all non-exempt oortions which are reasonably segrega51e. I, of course, reserve ,y right to apaeal the withholding or deletion of any inforqation.

42 3 870401 MORIART87-185 PDR 1

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. . .. .s (YW-TV 3 INDEPENDENCE MALL EAST C PHILADELPHIA PA 19108 TELEPHONE 2384700 W

GROUP W TELEvt$10N.lNC.

Page 2 I a, ore,ared to oay reasonable costs for locating the recuested infor,ation and reproducing it. The a1 ended .sct does ,rovide, hosever, that you lust reduce or vario fees if it "is in the oublic interest because furnishing the infor ution can be con-sidered as3rimarily benefitting the au51ic." I believe this recuest ,leinly fits that category. I therefore ask you to w,1ve any fees. If you rule other'<ise, and if the feas '<ill exceed 553.30, I renuest oer,ission to review the records which are resaansive to this recuest and to select those which I want copied.

If you have any cuestions regarding this recuest, , lease telephone

,e at 215-2'0-4025.

As ,,rovided in the Freedoi of Infor1ation 3.ct, I will ex,ect to receive e realy within ten working days, fcerely 61 Paul Moriarty KW-TV 5th & Market St.

Philadelphia, ?a. 19106 i

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PE ordered to close plant PEACH BOTTOM. from 1.A tom's operation.

People are running plants, using doned" the behavior or Ihey "should last year, PE was fined $200,000 for drugs and falling asleep at the l have known.- a safety violation by one of the whccl" he said.

a Plant management above the su. plant's 12 licensed operators. The vi. An NRC sourec in Washington said pcrvisor level" knew or should have clation went undetected by three it was "a bit surprising" that it took known" what was going on and they separate safety systems. The com. the agency's on site inspectors so "either took no action or inadequate pany was fined a total of $t70.000 for long to detect the problem, given action to correct thi.t situation." Ilve violations in 1983 and 1981 that the agency has disciplined PE Stello said NRC regulations " pro. Last summer, NRC officials listed because of violations at the plant hibit sleeping or otherwise inatten. the reactors among 16 in the United before and that the problems were tive operators" and that Peach Bot. States with significant operating ' alleged to have been going or' for at tom's quality. assurance program prob: ems. In a report to a congres- least five months.

" failed to identify this condition ad. stonal subcommittee, the NRC sug- PE owns 42.49 percent of the plant, verse to safety." . gested that utiltty officials allowed as does Public Service Electric & Cas.

The shutdown began at 11:30 a.m. " poor practices and attitudes" to de-yesterday and must be complete in 36 VeloP at Peach Bottom because they Atlantic Electric and Delmarva Power each own 7.51 percent of the hours, according to the NRC order. It were preoccupied with getting its operation.

was not clear yesterday how long the new units at Limerick operating. Spokesmen for Atlantic Electric plant would be shut down. Private groups opposed to nuclear and Delmarva conceded that the "We have no idea right now. That power reacted quickly to yesterday's shutdown would increase their costs, all depends on what they do to fix shutdown, but they said it was too early tojudge the problem."said Karl Abraham,an "I think the fact they've been sleep. the effect.

NRC spokesman in King of Prussia. Ing on thejob is a clear sign of a lack Edward F. Anderson, a spokesman Before PE can restart the plant, the of respect for the Nuclear Regulatory for PSE&G, said the utility would company will have to file with the Commission," said Frances Skolnick, have " sufficient power" for its cus.

NRC "a detailed and comprehensive coordinator for the Susquehanna tomers without having to go to out.

plan and schedule" of what it in. Valley Alliance. side sources, tends to do to correct the problem, "I am glad that the plant has been PE Intends to buy power from he said. closed down because I really feel other regional utilities to replace the McDermott said PE began its own that with those kind of operators at a electricity lost in the Peach Bottom investigation of the charges yester. nuclear power plant, the public shutdown, McDermott said.The com.

day. " Philadelphia Electrte Co. is de. health and safety is most definitely pany will have to pay higher prices termined to get to the bottom of this being jeopardized," said Skolnick, for it than for electricity it gener.

so as to determine whether there is whose group was formed in the wake , stes, he said.

any truth to these allegations," he of the Three Mile Island accident in The price of PE's common stock said. 1979.

"The company is committed to take fell as much as $1.875 a share after Ken Bossong, director of the Pub. , the shutdown was announced. but it whatever measurrI are necessary to lic Citizen's Critical Mass Energy recovered from a low of $20.75 to assure that plant operations are con. Project in Washington, criticized the close at $21.875 a share, down 75 ducted with the highest degree of NRC. cents a share from the close of trad.

professionalism and excellence," he "It [Ilustrates the fact that the NRC ing on Monday.

said, has totally failed to implement any. Wall Street analysts expressed lit.

He declined to identify the employ. thingin the way of a worker. training tle alarm about the effect of the ces involved. He said that because program," he said. "It was required order on PE's finances.

the NRC's findings are " allegations," to do so by a 1982 law,"said Bossong, "I don't think it's an earth-shatter.

no disciplinary action has been whose organization, founded by ing or an unmanageable problem. I taken against any employce. Ralph Nader in 1971, had filed law, think it is more an embarrassment NRC spokesmen said yesterday suits to force compliance. than anything else," sold Dan Scotto, that the shutdown order was "the "The problem is endemic to the an analyst with LF. Rothschild Un.

first of its kind." But yesterday's or. Industry. There is no training of terberg Towbin Inc. In New York.

der was not the first time the agency - workers in any kind of fortnalized He said the implications were had disciplined PE over Peach Bot. way, and consequently unqualifed " pretty severe" for the other owners as well, although most of yesterday's

• attention was focused on PE, the 11 censee and operator.

Rodd Anderson, vice president of

, stock trading at Shearson lehman Dros., said the effect on PE and its payment of dividends would depend

. on how long the plant is closed.

He attributed the recovery of PE stock yesterday to its high dividend.

- At the current dividend of $2.20 a

, year, shareholders get a return of more than 10 pcreent a year.

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PE nuclear plant closed; operators found asleep l o At times during sarious Wif e' Oy Den stets According to Stello, the investiga- room problem. PE was ordered to file ny's feuer and that the shutdown its castotners, wt!! have to absorb the 160n so far has revealed that "one er a corrective plan withan seven days. woulJ result in hedher energy costs- costs. particularly during the Il p m -In' and Joyce Gcapertein  % htila:t ttp.w costs can be passed The NRC said its investigation be, a m. shaft members of itw ops ratin.;

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! au-===='= more" cperators and their suporvb The shutdown will have wide-

! De Nuclear Regulatory Commis, sors "have, at least for the past five spread impact on ultidies - state and Public po, onltility to consumers Commission,will he be up to the gan 94 arch 24 when P." received in. staff have been asicep soon yesterday ordtred Philadelphia months, periodically slept or have tentially on customers - throughout forma. tion

• that contfubroom opera. to operationsu Those t'nnised tr.

i been otherwise anattentive to Is- the reginn PF. built and operates the sand la t*k past the commissaon has go,, had been observed sleeping Cluded licensed opcf atort et r i Flectnc Co. to shut down the l\ach ceased dutses" ltach ik>ttom reactors, bus the plant refukd t.. all. w PE to pass along while on duty." NRC spokesmen de. ceased operators ansi shift su.e j Itnataan nuclear plant at Dstta. Vart The esder affects bnth nucicar is owned by inar companics - PF, costs for an sarlier Peach flottom cisned to say how the lederal agency sors. The NRC said & rators Inn i County, twauw plant crirators re. pi.wcr uvists at Isach Ikosm. mhuh Pubhc Service Fiestric & Gas Co. of shutdown it conssdered "impru' got that information, be alert to ensure int the pt ci' j peneesty haJ tun sound sissping in as along the Susquehanna Roer. One Newark, N J. Atlantic City Flectnc dent. $lello said that, as a result of the operatinst safety and riust ha v;at ah.

the control room s Victor 5aetto Jr, the NRC's execu- unit was ordered shut down The Ca and Delmarva Pnwer & Light Co - Daniel P Delaney. the PttC's chief tip, the NitC put inspectors in the of taking timi ty actrin in re punw i tive darector, said a wech of invests. coher unat, whicle was shut down of Wetmington.

counst, heed )csterday that af the plant around the clock. lie said the plant conditions?

PE spokesman Neil McDermott agency finds the NRCordered shut- savestigation, which as coattra ng, o 5 hits supervisnr3 and shift 5:

March t.l for refactinst, cannne be gation determined that Peach lint-noen *ts an nauwdiate threat to the restartad until the !WC approses a said the Peach Itottom facility sup* down to he 7mprudent"- the result so far has come up with three (see rPEAC14 lict- Perintendents DOTIOM te IMi citht- s r tw pubttc haetth and safety" Pl an fr'an IT to correct the control- phes up to 20 percent of the compa- of pnnt management - PF, and not yet findings:

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