ML20247R863
| ML20247R863 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 02/28/1989 |
| From: | Zech L NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Geoffrey Miller HOUSE OF REP., INTERIOR & INSULAR AFFAIRS |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20247R796 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-89-256 NUDOCS 8910020090 | |
| Download: ML20247R863 (1) | |
Text
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9[o UNITED STATES l
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION l
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' WASHINGTON. D. C. 20555 rpe eff- :
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February 28, 1989 g*s y
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CHAIRMAN The Honorable George Miller, Member i
House Subcommittee on Energy.and the Environment i
Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs Washington, D.C.
20515 1
Dear Congressman Miller:
I am responding to your letter of February 27, 1989, regarding the proposed termination of a Nuclear Regulatory Comission (NRC) employee. This personnel action is related to investigations of the Office of Investigations (01) conducted by the Office of Inspector and Auditor (OIA).
In my letter to Chairman Udall of February 27, 1989, I infonned him that Judge Rosenthal has agreed to the Comission's request to assume the supervisory responsibility for all pending OIA investigative matters pertaining to 01. This request was made to assure public confidence in the results of the investigation.
Judge Rosenthal will have complete inde-pendence in this assignment, and the Comission will provide the necesscry support to assist him.
In discussions regarding 01, Congress has stressed as a fundamental principle that investigators should be free from outside influence in order that they may independently perform their investigative functions. The Comission believes that this principle is equally applicable to OIA investigations of NRC employees.
The Comission also believes that any interference with, or compromise of, an ongoing investigation, either in fact or in appearance, should be avoided.
Although the J4RC has made concerted efforts to be fully responsive to Congressional requests for information, we are concerned about maintaining the integrity of our investigative processes.
In this regard, premature disclosure of the specifics of investigations may jeopardize their outcome.
Furthermore, we believe Judge Rosenthal, having only just assumed super-visory responsibility for this matter, should be provided with the opportunity to review the OIA investigative materials before they receive wide distribution.
Accordingly, the Comission respectfully requests that the Comittee defer its requests for information on any ongoing investigation pending comple-tion of the investigations. Once these activities are completed, the Comission will make the appropriate individuals available to discuss this matter.
Sincerely, fu V 8 Ho 89o928 M w.
AIROZOB9-256 PDR Lando W. Ze
, Jr.
1
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cc: Rep. Morris K. Udall y
Rep. James V. Hansen d
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