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UNITED STATES
!*, e. g' j NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION g'
y WASHINGTON. D C. 20%5 (i
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w January 17, 1985 MEMORANDUM FOR: Sheron R. Concelly, Director Office of Inspector and Auditor THRU:
Hollis Bowers, Acting Assistant Director for Investigations, 01A FROM:
Henry S. Blumenthal, Investigator I
Office of Inspector end Auditor
SUBJECT:
INVESTIGATIVE ANALYSIS OF WATERFORD 3 ALLEGATIONS PECEIVED FROM REGION IV ON JANUARY 4, 1985 This is in response to a recuest I received from Mr. Hollis Bowers on January 9,1985, to perform an investigative analysis en the materials for-werded to you f rom Mr. Robert D. flartin, Region IV Administrator. The materials, now found in File Inq. 85-11, concern miscellaneous information dealing with the Oualitj Assurence/Ouality Control (QA/0C) problems at the Waterford 3 Nuclear Power Facility (Waterford 3) and NRC oversight of the QA/QC program. The key allegations contained in these materials that would be of OIA interest are as follows:
1.
The NRC (Regior IV) was bought and paic' for by Louisiana Power ard Light (LP&L). Thir. is partially responsible for the poor state of construction and lack of quality at Waterford 3. (A-343)follows, if confirmed, would support (Thealle 2.
The ineffectiveness of NRC Reaion IV inspections tc-timely and adequately r'etect, document, and follow up on improper 0A/0C practices
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The numbers in parentheses are allegations identified in the Waterford SSEP No. 7, deted Septenher 1984 01 file 4-84-010 may have additional specifics relating to the ineffectiveness of Region IV inspectiers, but as of 1/9/85 was s
incorplete and unavailable for review.
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8905050197 890425 PDR FOIA BAUNANB7-535 PDR ATTACHMENT 2 Y o
I and procedures. exercised by the licensee (L&PL), its prime contracter
'O (Ebasco) and at least two subcontractors (Mercury of Norwood, Inc., and Torrpkins-Beckwith) ( A-46, A-47, A-118, A-119), i.e., the NRC:
2.1 Narrowly defined issues raised by infoments and failed to M
inspect beyond hardware examples the informant was able to specifically identify.
p 2.2 Failed to record interviews or take affidavits, particularly on the most significant issues being raised by informants.
f 2.3 Failed to include affidavits in the public reports when the statements contradicted the NRC's official position on the problems at nuclear plants.
2.4 Failed to keen pace with new allegations in a timely manner.
2.5 Conducted closed-door neetings with utility and contractor executives when investigating infoments' allegations.
1 2.6 Provided advance warnina to utilities about where and when Region IV was going to inspect hardware.
2.7 Relied on industry's technical conclusions without disclosure l
o' supporting data and calculations for evaluation of infomant
_1 allegations.
2.8 Reviewed and informally approved licensee practices before approved by corporate officials with OA responsibilities, l
thereby undercutting employees who tried to carry cut their l
duties objectively despite the pressure of manaaenent urgings l
that "it's all right with Region IV, so why are you holding things up?"
2.9 Attempted to discredit critics, e.g.,'infomants, anti-nuclear organizations, or interested and concerned citizens, by questioning their motivations, patriotism, integrity, and technical competence to raise ouestions about public health and safety.
2.10 Destroyed drafts of reports, significant tape records, created secret files, failed to admit the existence of documents requested under the Freedom of Information Act (F0IA).
2.11 Gave confidentiality to utility executives in order to prevent the public from learning how inspection findings were covered s,
up.
2.12 Turned over to LP&L and Ebasco all allegations fostering a 4
cover up and exposina the allegers. (A-342) 2.13 Was " set up" (the Construction Appraisal Team (CAT)) by being given packages that were " groomed." This was the reason for so few findings. (A-344)
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?.14 Ignored findinos (the CAT) that were not in their area of
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inspection; (A-345) f Allegations 2.1 through 2.11 ebove were included within a " Statement of Billie g
Perner Garde, Citizens for Accountable Government on the Veterford 3 Nuclear Power Plant" dated April 11, 1984 As these allegations are somewhat generalized, more specific information is needed from the Government Accountability Project (GAP) or other sources before a decision can be nade whether to commence en inquiry.
f~
Allegations 2.12 through 2.14 above are also considered generalized in nature.
Specifics dealing with these allegations may be gleaned from further informa-tion that ray be available fron GAP.
I will now await guidance on appropriate follow up action.
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.According toiLP&L officials, esg the piani st.rf has been ready
^I since May to load fuel and start p A-21
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. testing.
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But the Nucle'er Regulatory Tart. Afler he arrived at 8:20 Commission had something else p.m two teams el LP&L officials in mind.
3 pored over the bound license and
(',rd hedg
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wo to check for errors.
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With tk formality of a states. 350 allegations about the' plant, man's visit, a copy of the beense ranging. from shoddy workman.
-was walked over to the control 6 hip to impmper record keeping.
, mo'm and accepted by the shift ' The NRC also raised questions
' supervisor. The supervisor, in ' about dozens of cracks in the l
. contact with workers throughout ' P ant's 12 foot thick, foundation.
'.the aita who are poised to pro.
ceed, asked if everyone was As a result, the NRC ' on.,
c
' rady.
ducted an unpre,cedented review of Waterford 3's construction his.
. By Sunday, if all goes accord. tory. Their engineers and consul.
. ing to schdule. 51.212 risconium tants cheched welds, pored
- fuel rods. each 12 feet long and through documenta in the plant's
+ the width of a pencil, will rest library and interviewed workers.
'near the bottom of the reactor The agency asked LP&L to avessel, surrounded in lattice fash. resolve 23 major'NRC concerne lion by rods that contain neutron. that cast dot.bt on the plant's absorbing. material. The boren, safety.
. packed rodsi like the boron.
s
. Tens of thousands of aman.
.tr6sted water bathing the fuel,. hours and $150 million' later g g,, e LP&L's work finally convinced 6.1 LP&L expects fission to begin the NRC that Waterford 3' was 5in 30 to 45 days.
ready to generate electricity.,.
\\ Nuke cargo det ' g,,,_
to rollinto city n__.m-.
w rzormAI. efacinas are sus spenessman said.
E7 YC0K, U.Y, prepadag the Bret shep.
Each esmanimer 'ema threegt m%e sety sapee head as fusa rods and POST mean e
==87
- paperwerk" as DEC EVENING 318, me.
desertag inest arrival es The move comes do. Breethoven where ses 631.104 spita nast.disch ersorta to rees rede nave piled up TEEMEND - 412,106 estead a ham en such during the shipptag baa.
shipments that espires Diayer Mach.
Rep.
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1 Starte Biaggt and othere Two gletst conta4aars wGl be sent to laag is. what the Deg4., of Energy land withna the next few go delay the shipments six months while a new weeks to remove ass e
study on water.reate al.
j spent fuel rods gn,esa.v.
w.t.from ternadven is revi o o. u, u or,s. e,ewed by T,.u d \\ e m,a s e e,,.,
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Y-Watgrford,3 fuel loaded with kid gloves 4
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commerelal o.'.,peratio;n' June 8,
,3, SyLYppW CUffel8NestAaB$--[5 %.; The license allows technicias
.Mrf,.en a + L T hf..Ys.(.. ' run~ the plant at'Up to 5 per., 1985.lj.y
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ihbfcotton,e It. - Fuel' red $, 4 sa ety about-
.,, iis', paper "and shosi enables tec,hnicians to conduct covers are loading uranium fusi enuclear refactiens for the first h. P tn.
,w w n g
t, into the reactor at the Waterford *.~fiine' 4
sauce spnng 1983, was hoisted by
't s ma.=e plant, e %; 0./h ethe st*23 billio'n' plant on the - crane,eWed boptzonW on a Nucibar began after t$e federal. west behk df St. Charles Parish is,.
' in=A b
e nyeyor and ferned under water t
lat~v Commr irm */the state's first beensed nuclear t ee er bunnge granted Waterford Ts Jow-power l' plant,Waterford 3, announced 14.,,..Once inside, the bundle of rods..
testing license.
't i 2,e
< years ago,~ is scheduled to begin is turned on end, moved laterally S. A. 0.. 22. \\, L.
into position. then slowly lowered peering often into the pool of At 1:30 '.p.m., plant mahaget' into the vessel-chemiestly treated water that Ross Barkhurst announced over.
. 'The process wil14 continue keeps the fuel from starting a ' the public address system a(4he""
aromia the clock for three 'more,
chain reaction.
plant that the NRC had grantad i
-daysc#
In the control r'ocm nea'rby, the license' tohtiaiana' Pow'et F*
l As the loadmg goes'on., super. technicians listen on radio receiv. ~ Light Co., Waterford 3's ownerMa visors watch on television from a ers to track the progress of each An LP&L messenger hadJiepaJ bridge.
bundle of rods as it moves from to NRC headquarters'in I ithm8"
' Nearby, radiation specialists storage into the vessel.
~ 'esda, Md., to psch up the con wearing bright-yellow plastic gear Tuesday marked a turning 15
- Ltf, monitorthe atmnaphere The.two..,
oint,in,the troubled.. life ok. +page license and take I,-
men stand close to the vessel,
'aterford 3.
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, J MORNING EDmON TIMES - PICAYUNE
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..i Be sure to let us know how to repon resutts back to you and how we may ge: back to you to clear up any questions that may anse.
All concerns brought to the at:ention of Quahty 1st Team will be pursued. The Quality 1st Team will make every effort to resolve issues as Quickly and thoroughly as possible.
1 Remember. If you have a cuahty or safety i
j concern, do not ignore rt. Tell your supervisor or tell your foreman Then,if the problem you've founc is sti!! not reso!vec, call:
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Station. Nothing is more important than quality and safety. Nothing gets more attention or a higher priority from those in charge of the project.
Wolf Creek.is going to take the quality effort of.
a lot of people to bring it to completion. Should you have a concern about the way a job has been done. Think it through - and if you're still concerned, use the chain of command to let your concern be known.
First, let your supervisor or foreman know during working hours. On weekends or about your concern. If you are not satisfied after hours, your call will be recorded, t' hen-call the Quality 1st Hot Line. Explain your a follow up to obtain additional information, concern. Your cancerns will be heard and they will be heeded A Quality 1st Coordinator will report back to you on how your concern was resolved. If -
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Let us know:
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Date and time Construction or operations 1
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Whether you've already notified your supervisor or foreman
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