ML20210B228
| ML20210B228 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | South Texas  |
| Issue date: | 01/26/1987 |
| From: | Goldberg J HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER CO. |
| To: | Garde B GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT |
| References | |
| CON-#187-2443 OL, NUDOCS 8702090106 | |
| Download: ML20210B228 (6) | |
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[ IOU 5lOl1 I.igkilkilg N EOhtr l$O.llO\\l700 IIOm!OH.'lCM%s#D0l 7llN 228-92ll January 26,.1987 GLv Ms Billie Garde Director Of The Midwest Office Government Accountability Project
- -,EL9 FEB 0 51987 3424 N. Marcos Lane DEN Appleton, Wisconsin 54911
Dear Ms Garde:
Articles in the Austin American-Statesman on January 20, 1987, and in the Houston Post on January 21, 1987, state that GAP has announced it will investigate safety issues at the South Texas Project after reviewing complaints "from about three dozen present or former employees at the project".
(Copies enclosed).
According to the articles, you have said that "several employees had told GAP they were harassed and intimidated by Ebasco Services, Inc., the project constructor and several subcontractors for raising safety questions".
Mr Condit, of GAP in Washington, has stated that "the safety allegations to be investigated included defects in instruments and controls, problems in the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems, poor soil compaction, failure to com-plete required quality assurance or quality control documents, and falsification of quality assurance or quality control documents".
Although Mr condit acknowledged that a number of l
these issues have been investigated at South Texas in the past, he remarked that "it appears from what we have been hearing that the problems have not been resolved".
The articles indicate you stated that "after a preliminary in-vestigation of the South Texas Project lasting three to six l
months, GAP will decide whether to continue with the inquiry or Just issue a report on its findings to that point".
1 As you may know, Houston Lighting & Power Company has taken extraordinary steps during the past few years to en-courage employees to come forward with any safety concerns so that they may be promptly investigated.
l 8702090106 B70126 i
PDR ADOCK 05000498
)50 2-
Houston Lighting & Power Comp 3ny.
1 Ms Billie Garde January 26, 1987 In addition to various investigations conducted by HL&P and Ebasco management, in 1984 we established a SAFETEAM i
program to actively solicit and investigate quality or safety-related allegations from former and existing employees, and provided an opportunity for such individuals to identify their concerns outside HL&P and Ebasco investigative programs.
Whenever an allegation investigation is conducted by HL&P, 1
Ebasco, or SAFETEAM, the anonymity of the alleger is protected at the alleger's request.
We believe that the program has been very successful in investigating and resolving every I
concern that has been brought to our attention by employees.
I We are also pleased that every employee who has come to SAFE-l TEAM in confidence has had his identity effectively protected from disclosure unless the employee chose to make his or her identity known to the public which has recently occurred in one situation.
l The principal reason that we undertook the SAFETEAM program is that we view with the utmost seriousness our res-ponsibilities as an NRC licensee and as the Project Manager on i
l behalf of the co-owners.
It is HL&P which has the ultimate l
responsibility for building a safe nuclear power plant, not i
the construction contractor or his subcontractors.
We are l
particularly proud that, although our program predates the Commission's adoption of a Statement of Policy concerning
" Handling of Late Allegations" (March 19, 1985), it fully implements the Commission's encouragement of "the establish-ment of programs by utilities for the purpose of identifying and resolving allegations affecting safety in a timely manner as design and construction of a nuclear facility proceeds".
In view of the steps we have taken to encourage employees I
to inform us of any safety concerns, we are very disappointed and concerned that any employees may have chosen to provide information to GAP, rather than to us.
But if, for whatever reason, they have done so, it is still important to us to obtain that information so that we can assure that appropriate concerns are addressed and the plant, accordingly, is com-pleted safely. Your action in apprising us of this information would be consistent with the provisions of the Commission's Statement of Policy which urges that:
"Any concerns bearing on the safety of a facility should be brought promptly to the attention of the applicant or licensee."
Timely identifica-tion of problems is often critical to effective corrective action.
e w,
I Houston Lighting & Power Company
-3_
4 Ms Billie Garde January 26, 1987 Moreover, if employees of Ebasco or any of its sub-contractors have harassed or intimidated other employees "for raising safety questions", it is critical that these matters I
be identified promptly so that we can assure they are fully resolved.
If any employees have been guilty of harassment or intimidation, which on this project is a clear violation of project policy and prescribed work practices, we need to investigate their period of employment at South Texas to assure that all instances of any such misconduct have been i
investigated, and, further, that such persons are not currently employed on the project.
We take effective steps to protect the identity of any individuals who provide this type of information to us and would do the same for persons who have provided such informa-tion to GAP.
If necessary, you may prefer to provide the relevant information to us without revealing the identity of l
your informants.
This may make it more difficult for us to I
investigate and resolve any questions they have raised, but we gladly assume that burden because of our overriding concern l
for the safety of this plant and in turn, the public.
Failing all else, we urge you to bring your information promptly to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission so that it can review these questions immediately and take such action as may be appropriate, including advising us of any corrective actions required.
Again, this would be consistent with the provisions of the Commission's Statement of Policy which, in instances where notification of the applicant or licensee is unsatisfactory, advises "any person to bring such concerns directly to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission".
I should emphasize that since I was placed in charge of the South Texas Project Electric Generating Station in 1980, I have personally taken an active interest in assuring that every safety concern raised - whether in the routine perform-ance of the construction of the South Texas Project or as information provided by employees through other available mechanisms - is fully and thoroughly explored and resolved.
Nevertheless, as Mr Condit acknowledges, safety issues of the types he mentions have occurred and have been investigated at the project in the past.
If, notwithstanding all of our efforts, you have information concerning existing or potential safety concerns of which we may not be aware, I urge you, as a matter of public responsibility, to provide that information now to us or to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
I I
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r Houston Lighting & Power Company Ms Billie Garde January 26, 1987 I further understand that you have sought to meet with a member of our Security Department on behalf of one of the i
employees you represent.
Mr James E Geiger, Manager of our Nuclear Assurance Department (telephone 512 972-8620) will be our contact with you on such matters and I have asked him to call ycu to set up a meeting immediately.
For the reasons described above, I hope you will provide him with any information GAP possesses concerning safety 2
related concerns at South Texas.
As you know, the Commission's Statement of Policy notes that persons with allegations of the type ascribed to you in I
the press have a duty to bring such matters to the Commis-sion's attention as promptly as possible, in part, to avoid unnecessary licensing delays.
While we share this concern, we also urge you to come forward now because of our moral and legal responsibility to assure the safety of the South Texas Project Electric Generating Station and, in turn, the public.
We hope you share this concern and therefore encourage you to cooperate with us and/or the Nuclear Regulatory Commission toward this end.
We would appreciate your earliest response.
j Sincerely, J H Goldberg Group Vice-President, Nuclear JHG/aks Enclosures l
cc Chairman L W Zech (NRC w/encls)
Commisioners K M Carr
(
)
T M Roberts
(
)
J K Asselstine
(
)
F M Bernthal
(
)
Exec. Dir.
V Stello
(
)
Reg. Admn.
R D Martin
(
)
Dir. I&E J M Taylor
(
)
Owners T V Shockley (CP&L
)
A vonRosenberg (CPSB
)
M B Lee (COA
)
l l
January 21,1987 IThe Neussen po e/weg,'Jenuary 21,19sy]
~ Watchdog groupilans probe of STNP HL&P spokesman sees investigation as delay tactic ry EABeda SCAREATT amar the conclusism of a project public laternet organisation to as-and several subcontractors for l
Post Bavireement Wrune and tries to delay the project hy sist whistle blowleg employees la raising safety questions. This.
raising issues that la maar cases government, envireemental and would be a violatice of federal A Cashlagten watchdog group have already been raised and re-auclear power John. Garde heads laws protecting nuclear plant said thesday at win inveedgate sched in the past."
its AGdwest reglemal eGice in Ap-workers, Garde said.
safety issues, labor practices and Palmour said the GAP investlan-platen, Wis.
Richard Condit, a GAP attorney crkstaalacts at the sous ties,in aset, could be viewed as a Garde said that afte eTreHad-la Wadington, sr.id um safe:y s1 Nuclear Project.
haeirknadad eo m to the anry invandgation of tim South legations to tw iavestigated laclud.
The Gewarmasat "W peeject amar Bay Thans Project lastlag three to sia es detects la instruments and con-said it decided to look lato "It's almeet the a construction mantha GAP will decide whether trels, probiens la the heating, the blHion== lane power preg-musetone to have anti-auclear to coatisme with the laquiry or just watDattag and. air conditioning ect after review 1ag compialats geress gree aromed the country issue a report en its fladings to systems, poor sou compaction, trean cheut three domen present er shour ap," he saht. "This means that potat.
tauure to complete quall-former suoployees at the project.
progrees is resur betag usade me said GAP, la letters belag ty assurance or ty control BRIls Garde, Midwest regional dews there and the projectis near. delivered Tseaday, was actitytag docmaests, and falsification of esteter of GAP, said the workers the NItc in Wasidagten and Texas quality assurance or quauty con-tog _ i et the anclear plaat is told of safety.telated dessetn is en-Umst Attorney General Jim Mattom of trol doemasats.
gineertag, barassamat of acheduled to load fuel anst sun-its lavestigation.
Condit said that although a een who==pa=I==d thefts ma-mer and golato counmercial oper.
Matten was belag notined, she number of these safety leeues may terials and price 4 sing scans bF stles by the end of the year.
said, because the reported thefts have beeninvestigated in the past, subcontractora.
Garde, however, said a shaDar of construction materials and "it appears trem what we have Se said GAP hopes to get ade-CAP laquiry late the hamehm price rigging schsunse by subcom-been hearing that the problems r
tional ineormation ny speaking to Peak project southwest of DaBas tractors would be violations of haw not been resolved."
meet workers la the mest couple of la 154 led to a relaspection of the state law.
But cert Konigsberg, an HLAP unseths.
by tim Nuclear Itagulatory Garde said several employees spokeswoman, said that with the Buta Houston ushting & Power
" and to Meenstag de-had told GAP they were baramed excepuos of thefts of materials, Os. ar*===== Graham Palater, lays that are stDI costlaulag.
and latiandated try Ebasco Serw the utuity dose not believe any of said, GAP traguently comes la GAP was founded in 1Ff5 as a vices Inc., the project c=nstructor, tlw GAP ausgaticas are walkt.
a N
Group to conduct inquiry on Xuke Investignition to sift employee complaints By John Harris ment at the site." The comelaints w,,,,,,,
also have centered on quallty as-
- surance and quality control leeues.
A Washington,D.C.. based group including defecta and lack of com-Involved in mnts that led to the p!!ance with federal regulations for eencellation of two nuclear power heating and ventilating systems, planta will conduct a preliminary said Richard Condit, the organisa-lavestigation into W South Teams tion's staff attorney and lavestisa-Nuclear Project, a spokesman amid tor. The group also will esamine
- Monday, claims that some portione of the Billie Garde.directorof the Mid. project had not been finished but west omes of the Government Ac. wm listed as completed.
countability Project, said the Cards said the group will pursue organisation will track down com-leads from workers and compare plaints of "three or four dosen" them with findings from Nuclear current and former employees of tions. %y Coun =f==lan inspee-Reguleur the plantbeing built near Bay City, enoup wm ha "make
[
De organlaation is a public in-some sened conclusioneabout b l
tercetlaw firm ercated 12 years ago estent to which there are unan-to represent whistleblowere m go-swored goality questiona about the verninent and industry.The group project and the entent to which became involved because of th*
hv han not been reedved," she
- large number of workers that have
,,id contacted us with fairly serious concerns." Carde said.
In Texas, the organisation hea The plans a wriu uday giwn the oonamission information to the Regulatory Com. rrom more than 100 workers at the misalon about ita investigattun into Comanche Peak pryo ect near Glen Rose, a mon that arde said ulti-sefety.related construction leeues andto theTexas attorney eral's sne 1od to rue woA at the offlee about allegatione of tNft and han%t ng built forTesas Utsties
. Extensiw reinopoetions how i
price irregularities, Garde esid.
Houston Lighting & Power Co. d"uMw*ay and some wod has is managingpartner of the project, whichis also owned by Austin, San The Zimmer plant near Cincia-1 Antonio and Central Power & nati was 99 percent when Light Co. of Corpus Christl.
GAP etarted lavestisa worker HL&P spokesmen Croham complaints. By the time workers' Painter sold he would be skaptacal conmns wat to the commission, about the lavestigation because the cost estimate of the plant had project officials have a program en-nearlydoubled,andthep wee coureging outgoing wo-kers to air cancelegi in January 1964.
or.
,,,,,,,,,,,,y,,,,,3y, ganisatan alsogadrompted the com-mission to construction he o anisation typically will P oblems at a plant in Midland, r
" walt un this shes of construc-tion to start trotting out" com, Mich., which was *hamianed la plainta, Painter said. He sold 1884-MLaP would weleone the inweti-
% South Texas carry-sation ifit reises mate issues, ing a price of $8.8 ~
lanearing "butif OAP is co in and blow-completion after years of delays.
ing some smoke, we n4 appreci-Projoet ofneials said Unit lie amore ate it "
than 97 finished and due Garde sold some six: for co late this year, and
" haw besonw familiar and have Unit 2 70 percent com-personal knowledge of thefts of nu-plate and se led abr :c xz' +_
clear 8 redi eteel and other equip. In 199.
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