ML20234E271

Responds to Re Constituent Dr Lighter Request Concerning Termination from Plant for Refusal to Take Drug Screening Test.Min Plant fitness-for-duty Program Should Include Drug Tests

ML20234E271
Person / Time
Site:	South Texas
Issue date:	12/29/1987
From:	Stello V NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:	Delay T HOUSE OF REP.
Shared Package
ML20234E274	List: ML20234E271 ML20234E275
References
NUDOCS 8801080003
Download: ML20234E271 (11)

Text

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ce-997 DEC 2 91987 9 - l The' Honorable Tom Delay Member, United States House of Representatives 500 North Chenango Street, Suite 312 Angleton, Texas 77515

Dear Congressman Delay:

Thikis in response to your letter of November 25, 1987,' in regard to a . y request,fromfr., Daniel.R. Lighter concerning his termination from the,;Southh Texastfluclear: Project -(STNP) for refusing to take a drug screening' test.

In August-1986, the Commission published a Policy Statement on Fitness for Duty of Nuclear Power Plant Personnel. That statement expresses the Commission's expectations that operating reactor licensees will take all reasonable precautions to ensure that drug use does not adversely impact the safe operation of nuclear power plants and the public safety. All utilities-which operate nuclear power plants have committed to the establishment of fitness-for-duty programs which meet standaras developed for the industry by the Edison Electric Institute. At a minimum, an acceptable fitness-for-duty program at a nuclear power plant should include effective drug monitoring and testing procedures to provide reasonable assurance that personnel with access to vital areas of the plant'are fit for duty. .

I encourage the use of effective drug testing niethods. that are consistent with Constitutional safeguards, as an element of comprehensive fitness-for-duty programs, to make sure that nuclear pcwer plant personnel are and remain free from the effects of drug use. Licensees may choose to establish and administer proper and effective pre-employment, annual, for cause, accident, random, and other drug testing programs for their employees and contractors with unescorted access to their. nuclear power plants.

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Sincerely.

Originni signo4 W Victor Stello.

Victor Stello, Jr.

Executive Director for Operations 8801000003 871229-PDR ADOCK 05000498 P PDR l

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The Honorable Tom Delay Member, United States House of Representatives '7 500 North Chenango Street, Suite 312 Angleton, Texas 77515

Dear Congressman Delay:

This is in response to your letter of November 5, 1987, in regard to a request from Mr. Daniel R. Lighter concernin his termination from the South Texas Nuclear Project (STNP) for refusing take a drug screening test.

In August 1986, the Commission publis d a Policy Statement on Fitness for Duty of Nuclear Power Plant Personne . That statement expresses the -

Commission's expectations that ope ting reactor licensees will take all reasonable precautions to ensur hat drug use does not adversely impact the safe operation of nuclear powe lants and the public safety. All utilities which operate nuclear power pl nts have committed to the establishment of fitness-for-duty programs which meet standards developed for the industry by the Edison Electric Institdte. At a minimum, an acceptable fitness-for-duty program at a nuclear powdr plant should include effective drug monitoring and testing procedures /to provide reasonable assurance that personnel with access to vital areaf of the plant are fit for duty.

I encourage the use/ of effective drug testing methods that are consistent with Constitution'al safeguards, as an element of comprehensive fitness-for-duty programs,,to make sure that nuclear power plant personnel are and remain free fr'om the effects of drug use. Licensees may choose to establish ,

and administer proper and effective pre-employment, annual, for cause, accident, 7andom, and other drug testing programs for their employees and contract es with unescorted access to their nuclear power plants.

I ho this brief description of fitness-for-duty programs in the nuclear ind6stry is responsive to your request and addresses Mr. Lighter's concern.

Sincerely, Victor Stello, Jr.

Execut.ive Director for Operations

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The Honorable Tom Delay Member, United States House of Representatives 500 N. Chenango Suite 312 Angleton, Texas 77515

Dear Congressman Delay:

This is in response to your letter of November 25, 1987, in regard to a request from Mr. Daniel R. Lighter concerning his texinination from the South Texas Nuclear Project (STNP) for refusing to take,a' drug screening test.

In August 1986, the Commission published a Poljc/y Statement on Fitness for Duty of Nuclear Power Plant Personnel. That, statement expresses the Commission's expectations that operating rea'ctor licensees will take all reasonable precautions to ensure that drug'use does not adversely impact the safe operation of nuclear power plants arid the public safety. All utilities which operate nuclear power plants have' committed to the establishment of t<ttandards developed for the industry by fitnessfordutyprogramswhichmee/

the Edison Electric Institute.

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The industry programs include drdg testing as a condition for employment, i.e., refusal to take a test is' grounds for denial or termination of employment. Tests are administered before employment and in cases where there is cause to indicate the pos'sibility of drug involvement. In addition, some utilities have established' programs which include periodic or randomly scheduled testing, as don'e at SINP.

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On December 1, 1987,,the Commission requested that the staff prepare a proposed rule that would require all licensees to conduct random testing for drugs. Such testing is regarded as an effective means of detecting and preventing drug ab'use, which is particularly important to assure public safety by the nuclear n'dustry.

I hope this b,rlef description of fitness for duty programs in the nuclear industry isf esponsive to your request and addresses Mr. Lighter's concern.

Sincerely, Victor Stello, Jr.

Executive Director for Operations i

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The Honorable Tom Delay Member, United States House of Represp 500 N/,Ch'ptatives enangofS uitegytdC 312 Angleton, Texas 77515

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Dear Congressman Delay:

This is in response to your letter of November 25, 1987; in regard to a request from Mr. Daniel R. Lighter concerning his termination from the South Texas Nuclear Project (STNP) for refusing to take a drug screening test.

In August 1986, the Commission published a Policy Statement on Fitness for Duty of Nuclear Power Plant Personnel. That statement expresses the Commission's expectations that operating reactor licensees will take all reasonable precautions to ensure that drug.use does not adversely impact the safe operation of nuclear power plants and the public safety. All utilities which operate nuclear power plants have committed to the establishment of fitness for duty prograrcs which meet standards develo df the industry by the Edison Electric Institute. + 44 T-> L -0 -

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s l The industry. programs include drug testing as a condition for employment, 6  !

i.e., refusal t6~take a.~ test is grounds for denial or termination.of ' h,t/

Tests are administered before employment and in cases where there 9

, j' employment.is cause to indicate the possibility of drug involvement. ' In addition,~ /

some

[ utilities have established programs which fnclude; periodic or randomly  !

scheduled testing, as done'at STNP. '

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~s OnDecember1,1987,theCommissionrequestedthatthestaffpredarea proposed rule that would require all licensees to conduct random testing for ,

drugs. .5uch. testing is regarded as an effective means of detecting and i f

preventing drug abuse, which is particularly important to assure public safety

[ by the nuclear industry. j w.~.,....- -

I hope this brief description of fitness for duty programs in the nuclear industry is responsive to your request and addresses Mr. Lighter's concern.

Sincerely, Victor Stello, Jr.

Executive Director for Operations

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drug testing methods % as an element of comp l are and remain free programs, to make sure that nuclear powercident, plant personne1.icensees random, and from the effects of drug use.

• proper and effective pre-employment, annual, for cause, acd contr '

i other drug testing programs for their employees an4 their nuclear power f, access to citM ra" di the: n: identification and-stiEport'7 It is_noted that-yottr-currt!rit7esting ~ s~ to ili tIO aresprograms

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tmm Southernlalifortif 6 iv a..E;dison!,5 efforts /progFam~jo~b7 re expectaf.Jo,ns.

Sincerely,

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1ctor Stello r.

Executive Director for Operations

Enclosure:

Policy Statement t

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The Honorable Tom Delay Member, United' States House of Representative 500 N FEhenango Ihe'312 Angleton,. Texas 77515

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Dear Congressman Delay':

This~is in response to your letter of November 25, 1987, in regard'to a

, request from Mr. Daniel R. Lighter concerning his termination from the South Texas Nuclear Project (STNP) for refusing to take a drug screening test.

j In August 1986, the Commission published a Policy Statement on Fitness for l Duty of Nuclear Power Plant Personnel. That statement :xpresses the Commission's. expectations that operating reactor licennos will take all reasonable precautions to ensure that drug use does not adversely impact the safe operation of nuclear. power plants and the public~ safety. All utilities which operate nuclear power plants have committed to the establishment of fitness-for-duty programs which meet standards developed for the industry by the Edison Electric Institute.

'4The industry programs include drug testing as a condition for employment,-

. gd gL evy refusal to take a test is grounds for denial or termination of employment. Tests are administered before employment and in cases where there is cause to indicate the possibility of drug. involvement. In addition, some utilities have established programs which include periodic or randomly scheduled testing, as done at STNP.

On December 1, 1987, the Commission requested that the staff prepare a l proposed rule that would require all licensees to conduct random testing for l drugs. Such testing is regarded as an effective means.of detecting and preventing drug abuse, which is particularly important to q#'sure public safety; by-the nut 9 ear-industry, g/;

I hope this brief description of fitness-for duty programs in the nuclear

-industry is responsive to your request and addresses Mr. Lighter's concern.

Sincerely, Victor Stello, Jr.

Executive Director for Operations

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The Honorable Tom Delay Member, United States House of Representatives 500 North Chenango Street, Suite 312 Angleton, Texas 77515

Dear Congressman Delay:

1 This is in response to your letter of November 25, 1987, in regard to a i request from Mr. Daniel R. Lighter concerning his termination frota the South l Texas Nuclear Project (STNP) for refusing to take a drug screening test. ,

1 In August 1986, the Commission published a Policy Statement on Fitness for (

Duty of Nuclear Power Plant Personnel. That statement expresses the l Commission's expectations that operating reactor licensees will take all reasonable precautions to ensure that drug use does not adversely impact the ,

safe operation of nuclear power plants and the public safety. All utilities l which operate nuclear power plants have committed to the establishment of fitness-for-duty programs which meet standards developed for the industry by the Edison Electric Institute. At a minimum, an acceptable fitness-for-duty ,

program at a nuclear power plant should include effective drug monitoring I and testing procedures to provide reasonable assurance that personnel with access to vital areas of the plant are fit for duty.

I encourage the use of effective drug testing methods that are consistent with Constitutional safeguards, as an element of comprehensive fitness-for-duty programs, to make sure that nuclear power plant personnel are and remain free from the effects of drug use. Licensees may choose to establish and administer proper and effective pre employment, annual, for cause, accident, random, and other drug testing programs for their employees and contractors with unescorted access to their nuclear power plants.

h hope t)i b ief desc io of fitn or duty pr s n the nuclear ih, fus is r pon ' e to yot- r d est and a es Mr. Li hter's ern.

Sincerely, Victor Stello, Jr.

Executive Director for Operations

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EDO PRINCIPAL CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL 1

FROM: 'DUE: 12/22/87 EDO CONTROL: 003345 DOC DT 11/25/87'

~ REP. TOM-DELAY FINAL REPLY:

TO:

OCA FOR SIGNATURE OF ** GREEN ** SECY NO: 1387 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ,

DESC: ROUTING:

ENCLOSES LETTER FROM DANIEL R. LIGHTER CONCERNING RMARTIN TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT FROM STNP DATE: 12/08/87 ASSIGNED TO: NRR CONTACT: MURLEY_

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:

REPLY TO ANGLETON,. TEXAS OFFICE. S h

V \0 -

R& V NRR RECEIVED: DECEMBER 8, 1987 ACTION: g;1;DLPQ:.ROEl* Y[I # $N k

NRR' ROUTING: MURLEY/SNIEZEK ,

MIRAGLIA ACTION ADT SM3/ DUE TO NRR DIRECTOR'S OFFlce BLAHA M SSBURG BY bMAB12=

-a.- 2 12l/lf67 AECh $6(70 //:00 ant . W .

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET PAPER NUMBER: CRC-87-1387 LOGGING DATE: Dec 4 87 ACTION OFFICE: EDO q AUTHOR: T. Delay--Const Ref AFFILIATION: U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES LETTER DATE: Dec 4 87 FILE CODE: ID&R-5 So Tx

SUBJECT:

Termination of employment from South Tex Nuc Plant ACTION: Direct Reply DISTRIBUTION: OCA to Ack SPECIAL HANDLING: None NOTES: Daniel R. Lighter DATE DUE: Dec 18 87 SIGNATURE: . DATE SIGNED: l AFFILIATION:

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