ML20246F157
| ML20246F157 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 07/06/1989 |
| From: | Crutchfield D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Ceschini B AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20246F161 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8907130136 | |
| Download: ML20246F157 (2) | |
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UNITED STATES I
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION e
WASMNGTON, D. C. 20555
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July 6, 1989 l
Mr. Bruno Ceschini 159 Miller Place Road Miller Place. New York 11764
Dear Mr. Ceschini:
Your letter of May 14, 1989 totheNuclearRegulatoryCommission(NRC),has been referred to me for response. You expressed concerns regarding the NRC's i
L regulation of nuclear power plants.
I want to state at the outset that the NRC takes its responsibility to protect public health and safety seriously, and is most concerned about the potential adverse effects of poor workmanship at the power plants.
I do not know specifically what Dan Rather reported on CBS on May 5, 1989. Nevertheless, in that timeframe, a number of media sources reported on a meeting of the Subcommittee on Nuclear Regulation of the Senate.
Environment and Public Works Comittee on May 4,1989. One of the topics discussed with the Subcommittee was the existence of clauses in settlement agreements between a worker at a nuclear power plant and his or her employer.
Such settlement agreements are entered into from time to time, to resolve discrimination cases filed by employees under Section 210 of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, as amended.
We have recently learned that some of these settlement agreements contain language that could have the potential to restrict the employee from bringing safety issues to the attention of the NRC. Upon discovery of the existence of such language in one of these agreements, the NRC sent letters to all nuclear utilities, major vendors, architect-engineering firms, and mejor fuel cycle facility licensees on April 27, 1989, reminding them of the NRC's position that public health and safety requires that employees be free to raise safety issues to licensee management and to the NRC without fear of retaliation by their employer (such as job termination, demotion, etc.).
Failure of licensees to permit employees to report concerns may violate provisions of the Commission's regulations with respect to employee protection and may subject the licensee to significant enforcement action.
Employees can and have brought forth allegations of substandard work at a number of plants which have resulted in rework and in a few cases substantial modifications to plants.
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Mr. Bruno Ceschini July 6, 1989 In suninary, the NRC's regulation of the nuclear power industry requires that workers feel free to bring safety issues to the attention of the agency and workers identifying safety issues be afforded protection against reprisal from their employer.
Sincerely, Dragical signed 4.
Detmis M. Crutehttold Dennis M. Crutchfield, Associate Director for Special Projects Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation DISTRIBUTION:
Central File NRC PDR (w/ copy of incoming) )
local PDR (w/ copy of incoming ADSP Reading D. Crutchfield T. Quay (w/ copy of incoming)
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