ML20213G727
| ML20213G727 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Monticello  |
| Issue date: | 03/30/1987 |
| From: | Durenberger D SENATE |
| To: | NRC |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20213G693 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8705180420 | |
| Download: ML20213G727 (5) | |
Text
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'2Cnifeb States Senale W ASHINGTON, D.C.
208t0 March 30s 1987 Case No.: 6314360005 Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington D.C.
20555
Dear Director:
Attached is a letter from one of my constituents concerning a matter in which I believe you can be of assistance.
I would appreciate your looking into this matter for me.
In responding to mes please return the attached correspondence along with your reply in duplicate to the attention of my assistant:
Mrs. Julia N. Cherry 1020 Plymouth Building 12 South bth Street Minneapolis, MN 55402 Thank you for your, coo ion and assistance.
b' Shncer y,
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Un ted States Senator DD/jc Cnclosure 87 hUj5180420$50h$$63 ADOCM PDR i/
e SEN. DAVE DURENBERGER 353 RUSSELL OFFICE BLDG.
Oct.25, 198' WASHINGTON,D.C. 20510 DEAR SEN. DURENBERGER, I would like to report on a morale problem at the Monticello Nuclear Power Plant.
First some history of the plant and the operating crew.
1969.
Since thit The operating crew started shift work in oct.
there has been an AM-FM radio in the control room.
It
- date, has had the blessing of the utility, Northern States Power Co NSP has regulated what is listened to, but has not totally restricted the use of the radio.
The plant went into commerical operation in July of 1971. The But it wasn't plant had it's share of bugs to work out.
long before the Atomic Energy Commission, (now the NRC ),
realized that Monti was going to be one of the best nuclear plants in the country.
We have one of the best operating records in the entire nuclear industry.
General Electric designed the plant.
We have recieved several awards from GE.
The Institute of Nuclear Power Operations ( INPO ), has also cited us as one of the best run plants in the country.
We have operated thi9 plant for the last 15 years with a radio in the control room.
Jt has never been a distraction, even during the times when the operators were required to be extra alert during plant transients such as automatic shutdowns.
In July of 1985, the NRC decided that any thing that could distract the operators should not be allowed in the control room.
Therefore, the radio was removed by the order of NSP.
The 1,ocal union filed a grievanc' against NSP for removing the radio.
The matter went to binding arbitration.
On Oct. 6, 1986, the arbitrator decided that the company could not show any good reason why the radio was removed and ordered that the radio be replaced forthwith.
The NRC, now largely made up of retired admirals from Rickove s Navy, does not like to be disobeyed.
They told NSP that if the radio was not removed from the control room, the operating license for the Monti plant would be ammended to prohibit the use of radios, tapes, TV's or other audible entertainment devices.
The radio was removed for a second time on Oct. 22, 1986.
5
s Tt The operators now get to listen to the hum of many electric relays and the very loud heating and ventilation system.
The radio did provide a soothing background noise that routine work.
It also helped with some of the monotonous, helped the midnight shift go quicker.
The NRC does serve a function.
But some of its members have too much navy time.
Those of us in the private nuclear plant:
can eventually see the NRC insisting that operators wear uniforms.
If Monticello were one of the worst plants that the NRC then I would say they have a concern about the regulates, Monticello is one of the best plants in the radio.
- BUT, nation.
Recently, the NRC stopped inspecting Monti as often as they were just for the above reason.
It The operators are really upset about the radio issue.
has been with us for along time and never caused a problem.
NSP has been in favor of the radio, and even made positive
~
comments about it during the binding arbitration proceedings.
Those of us who work in operations at the Monticello Nuclear Power Plant would appreciate any help you can give us.
Respectfully yours,
/
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J g./. ;(/,../n ivi/
,/,
Robert J. Rdhland Shift Supervisor Monticello Nuclear Power Plant
. 81~ 13 W
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'g, UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REOULATORY COMMISSION :
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I WASHINGTON, D. C. 20566
"~.....!
AC gy EDO PRINCIPAL CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL
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FROM:
DUE: 04/22/87 EDO CON OL: 002713 DOC DT: 03/30/87
,SEN. DAVE'DURENBERGER FINAL REPLY:
TO:
NRC FOR SIGNATURE OF:
GREEN SECY NO: 87-338 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DESC:
ROUTINO:
ENCLOSES LETTER FROM ROBERT J. ROHLAND RE RADIOS MURRAY IN CONTROL ROOM AT MONTICELLO NUCLEAR POWER PLANT BDAVIS DATE: 04/07/87 ASSIONED TO: IE CONTACT: TAYLOR SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:
RETURN INCOMINO WITH REPLY.
MARK ENVELOPE ATTN: MRS. JULIA M.
CHERRY.
t i
4 s
_,,,----.-+_-,,.__---__._-_--.vm mm d
e
,s
.g..,.-
-OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY-CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET CRC-87-0338 IDGGING DATE: Apr 6 87
~ PAPER NUMBER:
. ACTION OFFICE:
EDO AUTHOR:
D. DURENBERGER-AFFILIATION:
LETTER DATE:
Mar 30 87 FILE CODE:
SUBJECT:
Constituent's concerns re morale at.Monticello ACTION:
Appropriate DISTRIBUTION:
SPECIAL HANDLING: OCA to Ack.
NOTES:
Robert J. Rohland' DATE DUE:
Apr 20.87 SIGNATURE:
DATE SIGNED:
AFFILIATION:
Rec'd 0ff. ED0 Date LF 8 7 Dme JaAOD V
l EDO --- 00271J I
v
'2Cnifeb States Senale WAS MINGTON, D.C.
30810 March 30, 1987 Case No.: 6314360005 Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington D.C.
20555
Dear Director:
Attached is a letter from one of my constituents concerning a matter in which I believe you can be of assistance.
I would appreciate your looking into this matter for me.
In responding to me, please return the attached correspondence along with your reply in duplicate to the attention of my assistant:
Mrs. Julia M..
Cherry 1020 Plymouth Building 12 South 6th Street Minne'apolis, MN 55402 Thank you for your/ coo ion and assistance.
S: ncer y,
l 1
M ted States Sen\\
Un ator DD/jc k
Enclosure
-, ~ -
aym
- 4. 4 /
v
, u- ~ ",
't SEN. DAVE DURENBERGER-353' RUSSELL OFFICE BLDG.
WASHINGTON,D.C. 20510 Oct.25, 198' DEAR SEN. DURENBERGER, I would like to report on a morale problem at the Monticello Nuclear Power Plant.
First some history of the plant and the operating crew.
The operating crew started shift work in Oct. 1969.
Since that date, there has been an AM-FM radio in the control room.
It has had the blessing of the utility, Northern States Power Co NSP has regulated what is listened to, but has not totally restricted the use of the radio.
The plant went into commerical operation in July of 1971. The plant had it's. share of bugs to work out.
But it wasn't long before the Atomic Energy Commission, (now the NRC ),
realized that Monti was going to be one of the best nuclear plants in the country.
We have one of the best operating records in the entire nuclear industry.
General Electric designed the plant.
We have recieved several awards from GE.
The Institute of Nuclear Power Operations ( INPO ), has also cited us as one of the best run plants in the country.
We have operated this plant for the last 15 years with a radio in the control room.
dt has never been a distraction, even during the times when the operators were required to
~
be extra alert during plant transients such as automatic shutdowns.
In July of 1985, the NRC decided that any thing that could distract the operators should not be allowed in the control room.
Therefore, the radio was removed by the order of NSP.
The local union filed a grievance against NSP for removing the radio.
The matter went to binding arbitration.
On
~
Oct. 6, 1986, the arbitrator decided that the company could not show any good reason why the radio was removed and ordered that the radio be replaced forthwith.
The NRC, now largely made up of retired admirals from RickcVe s Navy, does not like to be disobeyed.
They told NSP that if the radio was not removed'from the control room, the operatitg license for the Monti plant would be ammended to prohibit the use of radios, tapes, TV's or other audible entertainment devices.
The radio was removed for a second time on Oct. 22, 1986.
.a.
n.
~
'~
?
The operators now get to listen to the hum of many electric relays and the very loud heating and ventilation system.
The radio did provide a soothing background noise that helped with some of the monotonous, routine work.
It also helped the midnight shift go quicker.
The NRC does serve a function.
But some of its members have too much navy time.
Those of us in the private nuclear plant:
can eventually see the NRC insisting that operators wear uniforms.
If Monticello were one of the worst plants that the NRC regulates, then I would say they have a concern about the radio.
BUT, Monticello is one of the best plants in the nation.
Recently, the NRC stopped inspecting Monti as often as they were just for the above reason.
i The operators are really upset about the radio issue.
It has been with us for along time and never caused a problem.
NSP has been in favor of the radio, and even made positive comments about it during the binding arbitration proceedings.
Those of us who work in operations at the Monticello Nuclear Power Plant would appreciate any help you can give us.
Respectfully yours,
.q
/
k'],. J', f h gO' sY
~
~-
Robert J. Rdhiand Shift Supervisor Monticello Nuclear Power Plant 4
- _. - - _ _ _ - _ - - - -