ML20216J032

Discusses Investigation Rept 4-97-028 & Forwards Nov. NRC Concluded That Rl Rumley Knowingly Violated Various Procedural Requirements on 970413,when Air Sample Filter Head Was Covered W/Latex Glove & Combined W/U Powder

ML20216J032
Person / Time
Site:	Framatome ANP Richland
Issue date:	09/12/1997
From:	Merschoff E NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
To:	Rumley R AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
Shared Package
ML20216J038	List: ML20216J032 ML20216J085
References
IA-97-071, IA-97-71, NUDOCS 9709170142
Download: ML20216J032 (3)

Text

- . .. . - .- - - .

/4% UNIT E D STATES ,

E 4 4.e NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REoloN iv

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1. Gil RYAN PLAZA DRIVE, SulTE 400 (t, * . . . /

AR LINoToN, T E XAS 76011-8064 September 12, 1997 IA 97 071 Mr. Randall L. Rumley g. -pf (Home Address Deleted Pursuant to 10 CFR 2.7901

SUBJECT:

NOTICE OF VIOLATION (NRC INVESTIGATION REPORT 4 97-028)

Dear Mr. Rumley:

-This refers to an investigation conducted by the NRC's Office of Investigations (01), which

.was completed on July 31,1997. The investigation consisted primarily of a review of an investigation conducted by your employer, Siemens Power Corporation (Siemens),

Richland, Washington You were interviewed by O! on July 2,1997. The purpose of the NRC's investigation was to determine whether you engaged in deliberate misconduct as .

defined by NRC regulations (10 CFR 70.10).

Based on the information developed during the investigation and the information that you provided during the interview, the NRC has determined that a violation of NRC requirements occurred. This violation is cited h. the enclosed Notice of Violation.

Specifically, the NRC has concluded that ou knowingly violated various procedural requirements on April 13,1997, when yo.1 covered an air sampler filter head with a latex glove and combined the contents of two ontainers of uranium powder without knowing the quantities involved, and did so in an ut. ventilated area.

While not resulting in any significant safety consequences, your actions were in direct violation of Siemens procedures requiring continuous sampling for airborne particulate radioactivity, requiring that the contents of each container be known prior to transferring material, requiring that such transfers take place only in a ventilated area, and requiring that tasks be performed with no shortcuts or work-arounds. When interviewed by 01, you stated that you were not feeling well, had decided to go home sick, and "just took a shortcut." However, you admitted that you knew when you covered the air sampler and transferred uranium powder in this manner that you were violating procedures. _ As a result of your employer's investigation of your actions, you were given time off without pay, ,

were removed from your lead operator position, were required to submit a letter describing -l actions to prevent a recurrence, and were required to undergo retraining.

- The intentional disabling of safety equipment and intentional noncompliance with other safety requirements are serious infractions. Therefore, this violation has been categorized in accordance with the " General Statement of Policy and Procedure for NRC Enforcement Actions" (Enforcement Policy), NUREG-1600 at Severity Levellit. The NRC considered issuing you an order prohibiting your involvement in NRC-licensed activitii.s, but, af ter reviewing all of the circumstances of this incident, determined to issue the enclosed Notice of Violation. In making this decision, we considered the disciplinary action taken by 9709170142 970912 PDR ADOCK 07001257 C PDR

1 Mr. Randall L. Rumley ,

. Siemens, your work history, which does not indicate a pattern of misconduct or violations ,

or requirements on your part, and the remedial actions required by Siemens before you were permitted to return to work. l

~

However, you should be awarc that similar failures on your part in the future may result in more significant NRC enforcement action against you, and that violations of the NRC's rule on deliberate misconduct also rnay result in criminal prosecution.

You are required to respond to the enclosed Notice of Violation, and should follow the instructions in the Notice in doing so. In addition, the NRC requests that you include in your response a statement as to why the NRC should have confidence that you will abide by all requirements in the future. The NRC will use your response, in part, to determine whether further enforcement action is necessary to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

Should you have any questions about this Notice of Violation, or about how to respond, pleas'e contact Gary Sanborn, regional Enforcement Officer, at (800)952 9677, or (817)860-8222.. In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter with your home address deleted, its enclosure, and your response will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room (PDR).

Sincerely, f

/

/ lll Ellis W. Merse ff Regional Administrator

Enclosure:

Notice of Violation cc w/

Enclosure:

Siemens Power Corporation State of Washington r n , - . , . , - . - , - --,,,.n m. , ..-m , , . , , - . - - , > . 4- -eu e -

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Mr. Randall L. Rumley 3-bec w/

Enclosure:

PDR ELIE 07hO LPDR NUDOCS SECY EC's: Rl,Rll,Rlll CA .PA (0 2G4)

EDO (017G21) OlG (T 5D28)

DEDO (017G21) 01 (0 3E4)

OE (0 7H5) OE:EAFile (0 7H5)

OGC (015B18) OGC (015B18) -

NMSS (T 8A23) NMSS (T 8FS)

OC/DAF (T 9E10) OC/LFDCB (T 9E10)

NMamish (NLM)

RA Reading File GSanborn-EAFile RWise Allegation File RIV Files MIS Coordinator LWilli.amson, 01 DNMS Files 4 FWenslawski WCFO Files E-Mall DISTRIBUTION:

OEMAll JDyer (JED2)

WBrown (WLB)

GSanborn (GFS) GMVasquez (GMV)

BHenderson (BWH) MHammond (MFH2)

CHackney (CAH) DKunihiro (DMK1)

RScarano (RAS 1) CCain (CLC)

LHowell (LLH) FWenslawski (FAW)

DSpitzberg (DBS) Cilooker (CAH6)

DOCUMENT NAME: G:\EA\ DRAFT \EA9]400.DFT To receive cog gument, indecate in box: "C", = Copy without enclosures "E" = Copy yit) enclosures "N" = No copy EO /M C:MB/WC If D:DNMS  ?/ RC hh1g D:OE M fr GSANB68NT M FWENSLAW3, _RSCAR Q& WLBROWN ~ JLIEBERMA,N e ,

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