ML20235B746

Package Consisting of Statement by G Campbell Re Complaints Filed by Two Former Employees & Five Related News Articles

ML20235B746
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Site:	Arkansas Nuclear
Issue date:	01/05/1987
From:	ARKANSAS POWER & LIGHT CO.
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ML20235A890	List: ML20235A888 ML20235B746
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FOIA-87-193 NUDOCS 8707090178
Download: ML20235B746 (6)

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January 5, 15 J/t i

ARKANSAS POWER & LIGHT COMPANY POST OFFICE BOX 551 UTTLE ROCK. ARKANSAS 72203 (501)3714000

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j Statement by Gene Campbell, Vice President of Nuclear opera tions, Arkansas Power & Light Company The United States Department of Labor Area Director at Little Rock has issued a letter notifying Arkansas Power & Light Company of findings and proposed remedial action in labor complaints filed by two former contract employees.

They worked as quality control inspectors at Arkansas Nuclear One under a short-term contract to provide services during the recent refueling outages.

Following submittal of the compiaints with the Department of Labor, the Area Director's office conducted an initial investigation.

His determination was that a violation had occurred, but that no remedy was due one of the individuals and

$7,300 was due the other.

AP&L believ'es that the complaints are without merit.

j Accordingly, we sent a telegram to the Chief Administrative Law Judge of the Department of Labor at Washington requesting a formal hearing.

The Area Director's determination has no effect in that hearing.

An evidentiary hearing record will be developed upon which an Administrative Law Judge will base a decision.

We expect a hearing within 90 days.

It should be pointed out that the Area Director's investigation only covered labor issues and not safety issues.

Separate investigations by AP&L management have found that there were no unsafe conditions at ANO as alleged by these individuals.

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Arkansos Democrci ! -

o TUESDAY, JANUARY 6,1987 Fed.eral inquiry concludes AP&L muzzled workers BY PAUL BARTON ggggyggldghg Department of Labor A federal labor omelal has that he was told by ruled that two Arkansas Power supervisors 'not to

& Light Co. employees were make waves.'

pressured not to report safety

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problems they thought existed ruling would have no effect on at the company's nucicar plant the hearing, which is expected in Russellville.

to be held within 90 days.

A copy of a letter sent by J.

Dean Speer, area director for

'No unsafe conditions' the U.S. Department of Labor's The AP&L executive also omee in Little Rock, to Jerry said:"It should be pointed out L.

Maulden, president of that (Speer's) investigation AP&L, was released Monday only covered labor issues and by the Arkansas Alliance,a co-not safety issues. Separate In-alltion of groups involved in vestigations by AP&L manage-energy and environmental is-ment have found that there sues.

were no unsafe conditions at The letter from Speer said ANO as alleged by these indi-that a " fact finding investiga-viduals."

tion" found that Richard Couty Couty, who worked at the and David Williams, former plant from July to October, had safety engineers at the Arkan-told the department that be sas Nuclear One plant near was told by supervisors "not to Russellville, "were pressured make waves."

not to write non conformance Williams had complained reports."

that he was pressured not to Non conformance reports file reports about welding are documents filed with the flaws, improper documenta-federal Nuclear Regulatory tion of welding and inade-Commission by workers who quate quality control inspec-feel they have spotted safety tions.

violations at a nuclear plant.

Williams also said he was Orders action threatened and coerced and was forced to work in contaal-Although Speer said both nated areas of the plant. He men were pressured not to also said he was confined

. write non-conformance re-against his wl!! on one occa-ports, he ordered AP&L to act sion.

only on Couty's case. The labor ofncial said Couty, of Missis-Calls forinvestigatloa sippi, was entitled to $7,300 in Little Rock activist Bob wages.

Bland, spokesman for the Ar-About Williams, of Fort kansas Alliance, said in a Gaines, Ga., Speer said, "No statement released Monday remedy is deemed necessary."

that the findings about the dis-In a statement released late missals of Williams and Couty Monday afte rnoo n, Gene raised "such grave questions hQ l k ~ hI7- %

Campbell, director of AP&L's about safety conditions at Ar-nuclear operations, said, kansas Nuclear One that it 's h k[

"AP&L believes the com-imperative we seek an emer-plaints are without merit."

gency investigation by Con-The utility has requested gress into this matter.".. O

.,y formal hearing on the, mat,ter The alliance has asked Rep.

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. ARKANSAS GAZETTE Tuesday, January 6,1987 g

Acency says ins 3ectors harassec'

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w Back pay proposed for one alleging defects; AP'&L asks formal hearin'g:

1 AP and L president, J. Dean Speer against his will by a supervisor.

By Michael Haddigan of Little Rock, the Department's Williams also alleged that be.,

GAztTTE ST Arr area director, said "the weight of cause of his reports he was " laid An initial investigation by the the evidence to date" indicated

• off" before his work atthe nuclear:

federal Labor Department has Williams and Couty were " pro. plant was completed.

Couty said supervisors told him, found that two former inspectors tected employes engaging in a pro.

"not to make waves" and that he;.

.[

t Arkansas Power and Light Com. tected activity" within the scope tany's nuclear plant at Russell-of the act.

would be fired if he did not accept'_

5ille were pressured to ignore Speer also said in the letter that defective workmanship.

safety violations and were sub- " discrimination as defined and Couty's complaint said AP and L,,

jected to reprisals when they in-prohibited by the statute was a contended he was later fired bed cause his mustache was too long to, sisted on reporting the violations, The Department proposed that allow him to properly wear a face BOth men contended mask. But the complaint said one of the men be paid $7,300 in Couty actualty was fired because.-

back wages. No remedy was pro-theY were threatened he ins,sted on reporting the safety

• i pmed for the other inspector.

AP and L has asked for a formal with " blacklisting" from problems.

Both, men contended they werr hearing on the complaints before a the nuclear Industry.

threatened.with " blacklisting",

federal administrative law judge, from the nuclear industry. They, Gene Campbell, AP and L vice president of nuclear operations, factor in the' actions" constituting are seeking back pay, damages forf.'

said Monday.

the complaint. The letter proposed mental and emotional distress and,

that Couty be paid $7,300 in back other compensation; Complaints filed last mooth wages as a remedy for the viola-

'Without merit, David A.

Williams of Fort tion. No remedy was deemed nec, Gaines, Ga., and I ichard Couty of essary for the violation alleged by Campbell said in a statement Mississippi filed complaints De-Williams, Speer's letter said.

Monday that AP and L believed the" cember 8 with the Department at Speer declined to comment on complaints were "without merit" and had asked for a formal hearing,l Little Rock against AP and L and S the case Monday, supervisors ' on the complaints.

and W Technical Services of Zach-Williams alleged ery, La., alleging the companies vi-pressured him not to file reports He also said, "The area direc

• olated the employe protection pro-concerning welding flaws,"inade. tor's investigation only covered la a vision of the Energy quate or nonexistent" quality con. bor issues and not safety issues. I Reorganization Act of 1974.

trol at a warehouse, improper doc.~

Separate investigations by AP and j i

The provision of the law, known umentation of welding, improperly L management have found that }

as the " whistle-blower bill," pro-trained welders and other defi-there were no unsafe conditions as j tects certain nuclear workers from ciencies, alleged by these individuals."

e firing or harassment for identify-lie said in his complaint that, be.

Speer said in the letter that a E.

ing safety concerns.

cause he attempted to report the hearing before a federal adminis ~

Both men were employed by S deficiencies, he was forced to work trative law judge " allows the parQ and W,'a firm hired to provide sup-in contaminated areas longer than ties a new action, and it will not be.

plemental quality control inspec-other inspectors, that he was affected by the investigation find-l tors during reactor refueling out-threatened and coerced by con.

ings."

,l ages.

struction personnel and that he Campbell said AP and L ex.*

In a letter to Jerry Maulden, the was on one occasion confiried pected a heating within 90 days.

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S Ai ItStG ARKANSAS GAZETTE Saturday, December 13,1986 -

2 allege coercion at nuclear plant,:.e LT'.

file Labor Department complaints ;

Ex workers at Russellville contend they were threatened with blacklisting ". '-

control at a warehouac, improper but she declined to disclose the lo-T By Michael Haddigan documentation of welding, im-cations.

CA2tTTE STAFF properly tramed wcldcrs and She said the Energy Reorganiza-Two quality control inspectors other deficiencica.

tlan Act of 1974, which was a. re.,

who worked at Arkansas Power Because he attempted to report form of the Atomic Energy Act, and l Light Company's nuclear the defleiencies, the complaint governa the dealgn, construciton power plant at Russellville have anid, Williams was:

and operation of nuclear power '.

• Forced to work in contaml* plants. Garde said the employe

• filed complaints with the federal Labor Department alleging they nated areas of the plantto an protection provision of the Act.;'

were pressured not to report plant extent out of proportion with 'known as the "whistleblower bilt." " '

safety problems.

what was required of other in-says nuclear workers cannot 'be "

David A. Williams of Fort *Dector8 "

terminated or harrassed foridenti '

Gaines, Ga., and Richard Coty of

• Threatened and coerced by fying nafety concerna.

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blississippi s!!eged they were construction personnel.

She said the Labor Department" threatened with blacklisting from

• Confined against his will on will likely begin an investigation " '

the nuclear industry if they filed one occasion by a supervisor.

Inta the complainta next week.

the complaints.

The comp'lairt said Williams She said the Winconsin organisa'. 5 The complaints, filed with the was " laid off," but after he left, tion is a public interest law firm 5 '

Labor Department office at Little other inspectorm performed the representing nuclear and environ " '*

Rock December 8 agalnst AP and L jobs he had previously been as-mental "whistleblowers." She aald'"

and 8 and W Technical Settices, al-signed to perform

• the firm takes no position on thets

• leged the companies violated the Coty's complaint said he worked sue of nurlear power, but seeks to employe protection provision of at the plant from July to October ensure nuclear workers can repo,rt,,,

the Energy Reorganization Act of concerns about tafety.

1974.

Campben sad AP and L Jerol Gamson, an AP and L ' "

The complaints said the inspec-spokesmen, said S and W was u

• tors voteed their concerns about Conducted tWO Zachery, La., firm contracted.to "

ggg g gg provide AP and L with supplemen j, j

violations of nuclear safety re-tal quality control inspectors dur.

quirements through their supervi.

sors, to corporate security officers there was no plant safety ina reactor refueling outases. " ". '

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and the Nuclear Regulatory Com-The Arkansas Alliance, an ehl ' '

minolon.

Pro h.

. ronmental sroup that obtained

Gene Campbell, AP and L vice ropies of the complulnts, Friday.'

president of nuclear operations, and was told by his supervisors called for an investigst.lon of con -

astd in a statement Friday that "not to make waves" and he would dicions at the plant. Dob pland of "

company officials had just re-be fired if he did not accept defee. Littic Hock, a spokeaman for the '

cetved copies of the labor com. tive work.mannhlp. The complaint group, said copies of the com-plainta and had not yet evaluated said Coty was fired by AP and L plaints were delivered Friday to '

them.

because the company said his members of the state Congren-lie said both men had signed moustache was too long to allow nional delegation, Governor Bill.

i statements saying they had no him to properly wear a face maak. Clinton and the state Ilealth De.

safety concerna. Campbell said, But, the complaint said, Coty was partment. Bland sold the group" however, that one of the men later actually fired because he insisted wmild also ask for NRC hearings told AP and L his statement was on reporting safety problems, on the complainta.

incorrect and he actually did have Billie Pirner Garde of the Enyt.

Williams and Coty are necking safety concerns. Campbell said A.P ronmental Whistleblower Protee-back pay, damages for mental and '

and L conducted two investigs-tion Project of Appleton, Win., who emotional distreas, reimburwement, '

tions and found there was no plant la representing the men, said both of expennes incurred in aceking safety problem.

are in their mid 40s and " veteran" new employment and ether rom-WLillame said in his complaint nuclear workers with "long and pensation to be paid.If they are that he was pressured by his su.

credible records in the nuclear in. blacklinted.Coty is also seeking an 1

pervisors not to file reports con.

dustry,"

apology from AP and L and from cerning welding flawn, "inade-Garde said both men are now Dechtel Corporation, an AP and L p

ounte er nnnevntent" nuelity workine at other nuclear planta cont rartor.

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'd OP'80 98/Gl/21 IN30153d ONU WOdd

'o ARKANSAS ~ DEMOCRAT

• ATU DAY, DECEMBER 13,1966 e 510 Group urges investigation at Nuclear One BY PAUL BARTON I

o moorets w w m <

An environmental and labor organization on Friday called for an urgent and immediate" federal. state investigation of L

the safety conditions at the nu.

clear power plant operated by Arkansas Power & Light Co.

near Russellville.

The Arkansas Alliance, a coalition of environment, 1 ! abor and peace groups, said i

at least 12 quality control in.

spectors at Arkansan Nuclear I

One have been fired in the i

past 90 days for f1!!ng repotR with the Nuclear Regulatory

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Commission that alleged expo-sure of workers to dangerous levels of radiation, improper welding, poor engineering I

practices and improperly f,l trained people performing high riskwork.

The alliance said conditions at the plant should be investi-gated by the NRC, Congress, Gov, Bill Clinton and the Ar-kansas Department of Health.

AP&L, in a statement issued

'I late Friday afternoon, said a management committee has recently reviewed operations at the plant "and concluded there were no unsafe condi-tions at ANO."

Clinton will not comment on a possible investigation until he gets a chance to review a re-cent NRC report about the'su.

t pervision of nuclear plants in i

this part of the country, said k

Susan Whitacre, the governor's assistant press secretary.

Also Friday, the Arkansas Alliance released copies of complaints filed at the U.S.

Department of Labor by David,s, Williams and Richard Coty, former safety engineers at the

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plant.

l The complaints are sgainst i

AP&L and S&W Technical Ser-vices of Zachary, La.

Williams said in his com-

{ gy(g g p g 3 plaint that he was forced to

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work in contaminated parts of g kL the plant more than other

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safety engineers because he insisted on identifying viola-i s u..

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'd 19880 98/51/21 1N301538 ONU WO63 e

Safety Edinnplaints a

filed against AP&L

'$ j Twoformeremployeesof Arkansas told AP&L his statement was in-Nuclear One at RussellvGle allege in correct and that he had safety con.

complaints fued with the IJ.S. Labor cerns. Campbell sold AP&L in-Depariment in Little Rock that they vestigated twice and found no safety j

were pressured not to report safety problems.

W11 Hams saidin his complaint that

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problaros.

Arkansas Power &Ught Co.,which his supervisors ed him not to among other o>erstestheplant,hasn'thadtimeto ' file reports a things, welding flaws, "inadegoate or review the complaints, Gene Comp-beu, AP&Lvice president of nuclear nonexistent" queHty control at a operations,saidFriday.

warehouse, improper documentation

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David A. Wullams of Fort Gaines, to welding and improperty trained

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Ga., and Richard Coty of Mississippi welders.

filed -

WLulams said that because he tded

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aDeged in the complaints Monday at the Labor Department. to file the reports, he was forced to l

office in Utue Rock that AP&L and work la contaminated areas o i

S&W Technical Services violated the plant more often than other in-employee protection provision of the spectors, was thmatened by con-Energy Reorganlastion Act of1974.

struction workers and convined j

The employee p.-M.cn provision, against his wiR en one occasion by a j

known as the "whistleblower bul." supervisor.

says nuclear workers can't be fired or he comp 1alat said Williams was harsased for identifying safety laid off, but that other laspectors partormedbledutiesafterheleft.

concerns.

Jerol Garrison, an AP&L Coty said his supervisors told him spokesman, aald S&W was a Zachery, "not to make waves" and that be La., firm contracted to provide AP&L would be fired if he rejocted defective with supplemental quality control wortunanship. Se complaint said inspectors during reactor retoenns Cotywasfiredbecause AP&Lsaidhis i

outages,,,,,..,,..,.o,,,.........Ilame and jmoustactaq longTo aBow hiin Sp..

"* said Wl to wear'& face propedy. The

,,,,,.. :.s Coty, quauty control inspeeters, complakat he was fired voiced their concerns about nuclear because.he insisted on reporting safety. :._'+T

'- through their safety problema.

, to corporata security Bulle Pirner Garde of the F.n-and the Nuclear Reguistory vironmental Whistleblower Protection Project of Appletoa, Wis.,

Commission.

r==ph nsaidbothmenhadsigned is.

.- Mbothmen.Shesoldthe statements saying they haino safety Labor Department is ukely to,,begin concerns.But,he said,one of the men aninvestigation within a week..*

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