ML22272A325

Licensed Operator Positive Fitness-For-Duty Test Request for Additional Information

ML22272A325
Person / Time
Site:	Palo Verde
Issue date:	09/29/2022
From:	Heather Gepford NRC/RGN-IV/DORS/OB
To:	Heflin A Arizona Public Service Co
Gepford H
References
Download: ML22272A325 (4)

Text

September 29, 2022 Mr. Adam C. Heflin Executive Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer Arizona Public Service Company P.O. Box 52034, MS 7602 Phoenix, AZ 85072-2034

SUBJECT:

PALO VERDE GENERATING STATION - LICENSED OPERATOR POSITIVE FITNESS-FOR-DUTY TEST REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Dear Mr. Heflin:

On September 26, 2022, in accordance with 10 CFR 26.719, your facility reported that a U.S.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)-licensed operator tested positive following a random fitness-for-duty test administered on September 26, 2022 (Event Report 56127). Although we have obtained preliminary information, this letter is a formal request for information pertaining to this occurrence. Within 30 days of the date of this letter, please provide a response to the questions listed in the enclosure. In addition, please provide other records and information on this operator's fitness-for-duty that are relevant to this occurrence. If you are unable to meet this deadline, please notify us no later than 15 days from the date of this letter, with the reasons for the delay and a proposed date of submittal.

We request that any personal, proprietary, or Safeguards Information in your response be contained in a separate enclosure and appropriately marked. The affidavit required by 10 CFR 2.390(b) must accompany your response, where applicable.

You should determine whether the operator meets the requirements of 10 CFR 55.33(a)(1).

You should ensure that: (1) the operator meets the general health requirements of ANSI/ANS-3.4-1983 (2) the operator does not have a disqualifying condition under Section 5.3 of that standard; and (3) documentation describing the designated physician's conclusion that the operator meets the requirements of ANSI/ANS-3.4-1983 is available for review by the NRC.

If a conditional license is requested per 10 CFR 55.25, that condition should be documented on NRC Form 396, "Certification of Medical Examination by Facility Licensee," and sent to the U.S.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission, ATTN: Regional Administrator, Region IV, 1600 East Lamar Blvd., Arlington, TX 76011-4511.

If you determine that the operator no longer meets the medical qualifications described in 10 CFR 55.33(a)(1), then, in accordance with 10 CFR 55.25, you must notify the NRC, in writing, of the operator's permanent incapacitation. For example, you must notify the NRC, if you determine based on your employee assistance program in consultation with your designated physician, that the operator can no longer meet the medical criteria of ANSI/ANS-3.4-1983.

A. Heflin 2 The NRC will evaluate the information in your response to this letter to determine if further action is warranted pursuant to 10 CFR Part 50 or Part 55. The information supplied will be maintained in NRC Privacy Systems of Records-16 and will be subject to the Privacy Act.

Please provide a copy of this letter, as well as your response to this letter, to the operator. If you are unwilling to provide this information to the operator for any reason, the NRC will provide the information to the operator when it is available as part of the operators docket file.

If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact Dr. Heather Gepford, Chief, Operations Branch, at 817-200-1159. The requested information should be sent to Dr. Gepford at: NRC Region IV, 1600 East Lamar Blvd., Arlington, TX 76011-4511. Your cooperation is appreciated.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter and its enclosure will be available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records (PARS) component of NRC's Agencywide Documents Access Management System (ADAMS). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html.

Sincerely, Signed by Gepford, Heather on 09/29/22 Heather J. Gepford, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket Nos. 05000528, 05000529, 05000530 Licensee Nos. NPF-41, NPF-51, NPF-74

Enclosure:

Fitness-for-Duty Request for Additional Information

ML22272A325 X SUNSI Review ADAMS: Non-Publicly Available X Non-Sensitive Keyword:

By: RCW X Yes No X Publicly Available Sensitive OFFICE OB: OE OB: BC NAME Williams, R. Gepford, H.

SIGNATURE RCW HJG DATE 9-29-2022 9/29/22 Licensed Operator Fitness-for-Duty Request for Additional Information Palo Verde Generating Station is requested to provide the following information concerning the fitness-for-duty occurrence (10 CFR Part 26.719) reported on September 26, 2022, regarding the involved licensed operator:

1. Name, Docket Number, and responsibilities of the operator.

2. A summary of the operator's entire fitness-for-duty testing history. Please include the dates and times the operator was tested, the reasons for the tests (i.e., random, for-cause, or follow-up), the results of the tests, including quantification (both initial and confirmatory), and the dates that any tests were confirmed positive.

3. Whether the operator has used, sold, or possessed illegal drugs. Please provide the details of the circumstances surrounding such use, sale, or possession.

4. Whether the operator consumed alcoholic beverages or used illegal drugs within the protected area. If so, please provide the details of the circumstances surrounding such consumption or use.

5. Whether the operator was at the controls or supervising licensed activities while under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol. If so, please provide the details of the operator's performance of licensed duties while under the influence.

6. Whether the operator fulfilled a position that was required to meet minimum licensed operating staffing requirements (fire brigade, emergency plan operations, etc.) while under the influence.

7. Whether the operator was involved in procedural errors related to this occurrence. If so, please provide the details of the procedural errors and the consequences of the errors.

8. The extent to which you reviewed the operator's past work history, both on the day of the occurrence and prior to September 26, 2022.

9. Your intentions with regard to the operator's resumption of duties under the 10 CFR Part 50 and Part 55 licenses, including your plans for follow-up testing.

Include an estimated timeline, if applicable, for any planned treatment, training, and requalification.

10. What specific substance or substances were determined to have been present in the operators system based on the testing results and in what concentration.

11. Provide details as to whether the results of the testing have been analyzed or reviewed by one or more medical or lab professionals.

12. Provide details as to whether the operator has filed or has indicated an intent to file any appeals pertaining to the results of the testing and any relevant information regarding the stations appeal process, if applicable.

Enclosure