ML20237L270

Requests Response to Allegation 4-87-A-005 Re Dismissal of Jr Bryant for Raising Safety Concerns While Performing QC Insp Duties.Reply Requested within 30 Days of Ltr Date

ML20237L270
Person / Time
Site:	South Texas
Issue date:	08/24/1987
From:	Martin R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
To:	Goldberg J HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER CO.
References
EA-87-169, NUDOCS 8708280031
Download: ML20237L270 (2)

Text

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% UNITED STATES

[x. b NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

. REGloN IV S 611 RYAN PLAZA DRIVE, SUITE 1000

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ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76011 i ale 241987 Docket Nos. 50-498 and 50-499 I License Nos. CPPR-128 and CPPR-129 Allegation No. 4-87-A-0005 EA 87-169 i

Houston Lighting and Power Company ATTN: J. H. Goldberg '

Group Vice President i P. O. Box 1700 l Houston, Texas 77001 Gentlemen:

)

On January 20, 1987, the U. S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division in i Houston received a complaint (enclosed) from Mr. Johnny R. Bryant, a former i employee of EBASCO: a contractor at the South Texas Nuclear Project site. The former employee alleged that he was dismissed from his employment because he j had raised safety concerns while performing his quality control inspection i duties at STNP. In response to that complaint, the Wage and Hour Division  !

commenced an investigation. During the course of the investigation, a f settlement was reached between EBASCO and the complainant prior to the issuance j of a D0L decision on the merits of the complaint.

The NRC is concerned that a violation of the employee prctection provisions set l forth in 10 CFR 50.7 may have occurred and requires your assessment of this matter to determine what regulatory actions are appropriate. The NRC also needs assurance that the actions taken against the former employee, if in violation of 10 CFR 50.7, have not had any " chilling" effect on other licensee or contractor personnel.

Therefore, you are requested to provide this office, within 30 days of the date ,

of this letter, a response which:

1. Provides the basis for the employment actions regarding the former j employee and Mr. Ernie Wilson, a QC inspector laid off concurrently  !

with Mr. Bryant, and includes a copy of any investigation report you have regarding the circumstances of these actions; and

2. Describes the actions, if any, taken or planned to assure that these employment actions do not have a " chilling" effect in discouraging l other licensee or contractor employees from raising perceived safety '

Concerns.

After reviewing your response, the NRC will determine whether enforcement action is necessary to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

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R ADOCK 05000498 IQ '

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< v i Houston Lighting & Power Company l In accordance with Section 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," Part 2, )'

Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, a copy of this letter will be placed in the NRC Public Document room.

The response requested by this letter is not subject to the clearance procedures of the Office of Management and Budget as required by the .

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, Pub. L. No.96-511. {

I Sincerely, l ORIGINAL $1dNED BY o ert D.

Regional Administrator }

i cc w/o encl: ) I Houston Lighting & Power Company ATTN: M. Wisenberg, Manager Nuclear Licensing P. O. Box 1700 Houston, Texas 77001 1 1

Houston Lighting & Power Company ATTN: Gerald E. Vaughn, Vice President Nuclear Operations P. O. Box 1700 Houston, Texas 77001 PDR Texas Radiation Control Program Director  !

bec:

J. Taylor, DED0 J. Lieberman, OE S. Sohinki, 0GC ,

D. Powers, RIV  !

R. Hall, RIV l J. Gagliardo, RIV 1 i

M. Emerson, RIV L. Constable, RIV RIV Files  ;

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