ML20248B611
| ML20248B611 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Wolf Creek  |
| Issue date: | 05/27/1998 |
| From: | Merschoff E NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | Buehne S AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20248B615 | List: |
| References | |
| 4-96-065, 4-96-65, IA-98-034, IA-98-34, NUDOCS 9806010349 | |
| Download: ML20248B611 (3) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES
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h NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
- E RE GION IV
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S 611 HYAN PLAZA DRIVE. SUITE 400 ARUNG10N. TEX AS 76011-8064 May 27, 1998 IA 98-034 Steve Buehne
[HOME ADDRESS DELETED FROM COPIES PURSUANT TO 10 CFR 2.790]
SUBJECT:
NOTICE OF VIOLATION (NRC INVESTIGATION REPORT 4-96-065)
Dear Mr. Buehne:
This is in reference to an investigation conducted by the NRC's Office of Investigations (01) from December 24,1996 through February 6,1998. The investigation was initiated after your former employer, Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation (WCNOC), informed the NRC that it had terminated your employment for forging a welding engineer's signature on a field weld material requisition (FWMR) form. WCNOC informed us that on December 11,1996, you returned unused welding rods to the tool room but did not have the required pink welding ticket, the FWMR. The tool room attendant could not contact the welding engineer and, in accordance with WCNOC procedures, would not allow the unused welding rods to be returned without the correct FWMR. You left the tool room for a few minutes and then returned with a new FWMR with the
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welding engineer's signature. WCNOC conducted an investigation into this incident and j
subsequently terminated your employment on December 12,1996.
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On February 12,1997, O1 conducted a transcribed interview with you. In summary, you stated i
that after you lost the pink copy of the FWMR and could not find a supervisor to fill out a new FWMR, you filled out a new rod slip and signed the welding engineer's name on it. This action l/
placed the licensee in violation of 10 CFR 50.9, which requires that information required to be maintained by the licensee be complete and accurate in all material respects.
This intentional falsification of information required by the NRC constitutes a violation of the NRC's rule prohibiting deliberate misconduct,10 CFR 50.5. Your actions were unacceptable because they were intended to circumvent the licensee's program that ensures weld material used on equipment important to safety and safety-related equipment is of sufficient quality. In this case, the safety consequences of the violation are low since WCNOC discovered the violation and took appropriate corrective actions. Nonetheless, the NRC must be able to rely on the integrity of employees involved in licensed activities to comply with licensee procedures.
This violation is described in the enclosed Notice of Violation, and has been categorized at l
I Severity Level IV in accordance with the General Statement of Policy and Procedure for NRC Enforcement Actions, NUREG-1600.
While the NRC has decided to issue the enclosed Notice of Violation in this case, you should be aware that the NRC's regulations allow the issuance of orders to an individual to prevent his or her engaging in licensed activities at all NRC licensed facilities. A violation of this regulation, as 9806010349 980527 PDR ADOCK 05000482 G
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Mr. Steve Buchne i set forth in 10 CFR 50.5, may also lead to criminal prosecution. Should you be involved in NRC-licensed activities in the future, similar violations on your part may result in additional sanctions.
As indicated above, your actions caused WCNOC to be in violation of 10 CFR 50.9. We are enclosing a copy of the NRC's inspection report in which this violation was dispositioned.
You are requireu.'.o respond to this letter and Notice and should follow the instructions specified in the enclosed Notice when preparing your response. In your response, you should document the specific actions taken and any additional actions planned to prevent recurrence. The NRC will use your resir -nse, in part, to determine whether further enforcement action is necessary to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
In accordance with Sectic ; 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," Part 2, Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, records or documents compiled for enforcement purposes are placed in the NRC Public Document Room (PDR). A copy of this letter with your address removed, and your response will be placed in the PDR, and a copy sent to your former employer.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact Michael Vasquez, Regional Enforcement Specialist, at (817) 860-8222 or (800) 952-9677.
Sincerely, Ellis W. Merschof/
Regional Administrator i
Enclosures:
- 1. Notice of Violation, IA 98-034
- 2. NRC Inspection Report 50-482/97-13 and Notice of Violation issued April 23,1998 cc w/ enclosures:
Otto L. Maynard, President and Chief Executive Officer Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation P.O. Box 411 Burlington, Kansas 66839 I
I L______.___
Mr. Steve Buchne bec w/ Enclosure 1:
PDR lE 14 LPDR NUDOCS SECY EC's: Rl, Ril, Rill CA PA (0-2G4)
EDO (0-17G21)
OlG (T-5D28)
DEDO (0-17G21)
LIEBERMAN, OE (0-7H5)
OE:EAFile (0-7H5) 01 (0-3E4)
CHANDLER, OGC (0-15B18)
GOLDBERG, OGC (0-15818)
NRR (0-12G18)
BOGER,- NRR/ADP (0-12G18)
NRR PROJECT MANAGER OC/DAF (T-9E10)
AEOD (T-4D18)
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DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\EA\\ CASES \\ WOLF-WEL\\BUEHNE.NOV To receivepopy of document, indicate inpox:"C" = Copy without enclosures *E" = Copy with enclosures "N" = No copy ES[)Vd l
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