ML20212G530

Responds to to Chairman Re Newspaper Article & Ltr to NRC on 970825,re Potential Chilling Effect That May Have Resulted from Recent Dismissal of Two Contractors Working at Millstone Station

ML20212G530
Person / Time
Site:	Millstone
Issue date:	10/24/1997
From:	Collins S NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned)
To:	Bassilakis R, Katz D CITIZENS AWARENESS NETWORK
Shared Package
ML20212G536	List: ML20212G530 ML20212G556
References
NUDOCS 9711060217
Download: ML20212G530 (6)

Text

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,j NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D C. 20556-0001 October 24, 1997 k.....[#

Ms. Rosemary Bassilakis, Research Director Ms. Deborah Katz, President

Citizens Awareness Network

Box 83 Shelbume Falls, MA 01370

Dear Ms. Bassilakis and Ms. Katz:

I am responding to your letter to the Chairman of September 8,1997, which enclosed a newspaper article dated September 5,1997, from The Day, a New London, Connecticut, newspaper, and a letter dated August 25,1997, from Little Harbor Consultants, Inc. (LHC) to tho NRC regarding a potential" chilling effect" that may have resulted from the recent dismissal of two contractors working at the Millstone station.

The newspaper article refers to the results of an investigation conducted by Northeast Utilities (the licensee) that determined that retaliatory action had indeed taken place against two contractors who worked in the motor-operated valve (MOV) group. The NRC considers retaliatory action by any supervisor at the Millstone station a very serious matter, and we are closaly following and evaluating the licensee's actions and plans. In addition to the licensee's investigation, LHC investigated the circumstances surrounding the disciplinary actions taken against the MOV contractors and also concluded that retaliatory action had taken place. The licensee is conducting further investigations into the circumstances of these disciplinary actions. On September 22,1997, LHC issued an assessment of the licensee's response to allegations of retaliation and the potential chilling effect within the MOV group. The NRC

, staff will review the results of these investigations, and, on the basis of these reviews and other available information, will determine what further actions may be necessary, We recognize and are concemed about the potentialimpact of this event on the willingness of employees to raise safety issues without fear of retaliation. LHC's letter of August 25, 1997, identifies the potential chilling effect of this event on other members of the MO It 's, therefore, important that licensee programs address this issue and that the licensee and LHC assess the success of these measures. In its September 22,1997, report, LHC concluded that the licensee took appropriate and timely action in response to allegations of 4

retahation and the potential chilling effect in the MOV grcup. However, the LHC report ident.fies deficiencies in the handling of the issue by licensee's senior management, including the timeliness in recognizing and responding to indications of retaliation and the chilling effect h[

from the employees and the employee safety concems program. Once senior management recognized the potential for retaliation in connection with the terminations and the effect the terminations had on the MOV group, LHC concluded th st the licensee's management IS C M E C EffER M PV 9711060217 971024 PDR H

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R. Bassilakis and D. Katz October 24, 1997 demonstrated the ability to promptly respond and took appropriate actions to counter tia chilling effect in the MOV group. LHC has also concluded a review of the current status of employee attitudes in the MOV group and found no evidence of a lingering chilling effect within the group. The NRC will continue to assess the progress of the licensee's efforts to improve the overall safety-conscious environment at Millstone. It is the Commission's expectation that licensees establish and maintain an environment in which employees may raise safety concems without the fear of retaliation.

In the quarterly summary status of July 29,1997, to the Commission, the staff stated that on the basis of the current schedule and provided that the licensee has implemented all necessary corrective actions to have the plant and personnel ready for power operations, a Commission briefing for a Unit 3 restart decision could occur in December 1997. As announced in a September 22,1997, press release, the licensee projects that, based on its estimates to complete necessary corrective actions, the planning date for a Commission meeting on restart of Unit 3 will need to be extended to January 1998. Final scheduling of

. the Commission briefing will be based on the licensee's completion of necessary corrective actions and the staff's assessment that the facility is ready for restart. The next routine

' Commission meeting to track progress is currently scheduled for December 11,1997. The

. NRC staff is assessing the impact of these recent events in the context of our overall ass'essment of the licensee's progress in improving processes for handling issues raised by

. employees and fostering a safety-conscious work environment.

Sincerely, s

1 SamuelJ.Comns

~

Samuel J. Collins, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 2 DISTRIBUTION:

See next page DOCUMENT NAME: G:\GT970662.GRN (*see previous concurrence)

Ts receive a copy of this document. Indicate in the tra: "C" = Copy without attachment / enclosure "E" = Copy with attachment / enclosure 'N' = No copy 0FFICE SPO-L:PM l SPO-L:LA l SPO-L:DD l TECH ED l SP0:DD l NAME HPastis* LBerry + PMcKee

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DATE 10/2 /97 10/t/97 10/3 /97 09/18/97* 10/G/97 E

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d 2-demonstrated the ability to promptly respond and took appropriate actions to counter the chilling effect in the MOV group. LHC has also concluded a review of the current status of employee attitudes in the MOV group and found no evidence of a lingering chilling effect within the group. The NRC will continue to assess the progress of the licensee's efforts to improve the overall safety--conscious environment at Millstone. It is the Commission's expectation that licensees establish and maintain an environment in which employees may raise safety concems without the fear of retaliation.

In the quarterly summary status of July 29,1997, to the Commission, the staff stated that on the basis of the current schedule and provided that the licensee has implemented all necessary corrective actions to have the plant and personnel ready for power operations, a Commission briefing for a Unit 3 restart decision could occur in December 1997. As announced in a September 22,1997, press release, the licensee projects that, based on its estimates to complete necessary corrective actions, the planning date for a Commission meeting on restart of Unit 3 will need to be extended to January 1998. Final scheduling of the Commission briefing will be based on the licensee's completion of necessary corrective actions and the staff's assessment that the facility is ready for restart. The next routine Commission meeting to track progress is currently scheduled for December 11,1997. The NRC stafils assessing the impact of these recent events in the context of our overall assessment of the licensee's progress in improving processes for handling issues raised by employees and fostering a safety-conscious work environment.

Sincerely, Y r Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

s DISTRIBUT0N FOR GREEN -TICKET #970662 DATED October 24, 1997 DISTRIBUTION:

Docket File -(50-423) -(w/ original incoming):

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ED0 #970662 ED0 Reading

{ LCallan HThompson i

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SCollins/fMiraglia RZimmerman SPO-L Reading (w/ incoming) i SP0 Reading WTravers PMcKee JAndersen MThadani 4 SBurns GCaputo, 01 JLieberman, OE KCyr, 0GC BSheron JRoe MBoyle (e-mail only MLB4) ,

, OGC  ;

4 OPA

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SECY # CRC-97-0917 i NRR Mail Room (EDO #970662 w/ incoming) (0-12G-18)  !

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4 LBerry JDurr, RI HMiller, RI

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ACTION EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROM: DUE: 09/26/97 EDO CONTROL: G970662 DOC DT: 09/08/97 Rostmtry Bassilakis FINAL nEPLY:

DIbby Katz CitizSns Awarersess Network TO:

Chairman Jackson

-FOR SIGNATURE OF : ** PRI **

CRC NO: 97-0917 Chairman

.DESC:

ROUTING: s RETAILIATION AT MILLSTONE UNIT 3 Callan-Thadani

-Thompson Norry Blaha

-DATE: 09/16/97 Burns Lieberman, OE Caputo, OI ASSIGNED TO: CONTACT: Miller, RI Cyr, OGC NRR Collins ,

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:

NRR RECEIVED: SEPTEMBER 17, 1997 NRR ACTION: SP0: TRAVERS _-

NRR ROUTING: COLLINS MIRAGLIA r ACTt0ti

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. l' ZIMMERMAN SHERON ggE TO J4,RR D1RECmR'S O ROE B0HRER

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' OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET PAPER NUMBER: CRC-97-0917 LOGGING DATE: Sep 15 97 ACTION OFFICE: EDO AUTHOR: BASSILAKIS & KATZ AFFILIATION: MASSACHUSETTS ADDRESSEE: CHAIRMAN JACKSON LETTER DATE: Sep 8 97 FILE CODE: IDR S MILLSTONE

SUBJECT:

RETAILIATION AT MILLSTONE UNIT 3 ACTION: Signature of Chairman i

DISTRIBUTION: CHAIRMAN, DSB/ RAS, COMRS, OGC SPECIAL HANDLING: SECY TO ACK CONSTITUENT:

NOTES:

DATE DUE: Sep 30 97 SIGNATURE: .

DATE SIGNED:

AFFILIATION:

i EDO -- G970662

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