ML20248E783
| ML20248E783 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Callaway  |
| Issue date: | 02/09/1989 |
| From: | Coleman E HOUSE OF REP. |
| To: | NRC |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20248B613 | List: |
| References | |
| FRN-53FR52716, RULE-PR-50, RULE-PR-55 NUDOCS 8904120367 | |
| Download: ML20248E783 (2) | |
Text
-
Congress of the Enttch 9tates Eause of Erprescittattuts numaan, s.c.
Feby,uary,9,,,,,,,,,,,,, 3 9,,8 g,
office of Congressional Affairs Nuclear Regulatory Commission NW 1717 H Street, 20555 Washington, D.c.
Sir:
The attached communication is sent for your consideration. Please investigate the statements contained therein and forward me the necessary information for reply, return-ing the enclosed correspondence with your answer.
Yours truly, M.C.
E. Thomas Coleman 2468 Rayburn Building Debra Nesbitt Attn:
20515 Washington, D.C.
i i
l 1
s904120367 890314
)
ChAEkh0NbENbhPDC f
~~-
v 1
3cnEO7 Weston Baruth 311 North 5th Street Tarkio, Missourl 64491 (816) 736-5733 Dear Congressman Coleman I am writing you because there is a potential decision pending at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission which will affect not only myself (a Licensed Senior Reactor Operator) but also, the operational safety level of Missouri's Callaway Nuclear Power Plant.
Despite objections from every part of the Nuclear Industry, and numerous statements of a potentially very larce decrease in Reactor Safety, the NRC Head Commissioner Lando Zech (among others) is insisting that Senior Operators such as nyself should obtain Engineering Darrees so as to have added " engineering expertise on shift."
If this proposed requirement becomes a reality, I feel many experienced operators will seek other jobs before they are required to go to school, will get different jobs after they get their degree, or will be replaced by people who meet the NRC's degree requirement but who will have vastly less experience. The net result will, I believe, be a decrease in overall operating expertise of the people l
who are directly in control of the plant. This means an increase in the possibility of an accident which could result in Reactor core damage, since operators with less experience afe apt to make more errors under both normal and abnormal plant conditions.
The NRC insists that the degree requirement will enhance public health and safety. Yet they have not been able to produce a shred l
of evidence to prove this, and in fact, most industry people believe the opposite will occur.
I don't know if you can (or wish to) stop 1.he NRC from making this ruling. But I thought the situation should be brought to your attention. Enclosed is the information I received from our Management concerning the proposed ruling, and a copy of a letter which I have sent to the NRC. I invite you cnd your staff members to read the naterial and f orm your own opinions.
The NRC seems to have discounted the simcle fact that there is always at least one Engineer available at every plant site 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br />
{
a day (including Callaway) as well as an entire engineering and j
management staff just a phone call away.
)
I hope you can help sway the NRC from their decision by using j
whatever means you have available. To be truthful, I don't know if anyone, justified or not, can get them to change their minds.
l Apparently they do not have to answer to anyone for their actions.
l Thats what I personally find so frustrating about the whole situation.
I I
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely Yours, 7
Wes Baruth l
Senior Reactor Operator Cooper Nuclear Station I
Brownville, Nebraska l