ML20235P315

Responds to & Clarifies NRC Position Re Termination of Jc Robinson for Possession of Handgun Found During 870408 Routine Entrance Search & Ltr from Robinson Regional Ofcs to Review Matter & Rept to NRC

ML20235P315
Person / Time
Site:	Braidwood
Issue date:	07/10/1987
From:	Stello V NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:	Jason Wright HOUSE OF REP.
Shared Package
ML20235P316	List: ML20235P315 ML20235P347
References
NUDOCS 8707200443
Download: ML20235P315 (10)

Text

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(.....,/ AR.101997 The Honorable Jim Wright Member, United States House of Representatives 9A10 Federal Building )

819 Taylor Street Fort Worth, Texas 76102-6197

Dear Congressman Wright:

i This is in response to your letter of May 27, 1987, concerning a letter to you l from Mr. Jack C. Robinson, whose employment at the graidwood Nuclear Power '

Station was terminated after he was found in possession of a' handgun during i a routine entrance search at that facility on April 8,1987.

NRC securf ty regulations are' aimed at ensuring the trustworthiness of those persons with access to nuclear power plants. One provision of these regulations requires licensees to search persons for firearms, explosives, and incendiary devices before allowing them access to the protected area of a nuclear power plant. When events occur or information is gained raising questions about an employee's trustworthiness, the electric utility must decide whether er not to continue to allow that person access to their nuclear power plant. NRC does-not nonnally enter into such decisions unless they involve issues of intimidation or harassment resulting from the reporting of safety issues to the NRC. Decisions regarding personnel access and employment are the responsibility of the electric utility.

Since specific action by the NRC is implied in Mr. Robinson's lettar, I directed our regional offices which administer regulatory programs at the Braidwood and TVA facilities to review this matter and to report on the nature of any NRC involvement. These offices have reported to me that, while they were aware of the-case involving Mr. Robinson, the NRC did not become involved in this matter )

and did not take any actions to influence the decisions made by the two utilities.

I hope this letter has sufficiently clarified the matter for you. Please contact us if you have any further questions.

Sincerely.

Orig;inra sipg g 2101or Sto14cip ,-a Victor Stello, Jr.

Executive Director for Operations

Enclosure:

Incoming Letter dtd. 5/27/87 w/ enclosure )

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. l The Honorable Jim Wright DISTRIBUTION:

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S.

4 WASHINGTON. D.C.

N Ma,y ,2 7, ,1,9,8,7, , , , , , , , , , , , 39,,,,,,,

Director, Congressional Affairs f Nuclear Regulatory Commission {

Matomic Building 1717 H Street N. W.

Washington, D.C. 20555 l The attached communication is submit-ted for your consideration, and to ask that the request made therein be complied with, '

if possible, if you will advise me of your action in this matter and have the letter returned to me with your reply, I will appreciate it. *'

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Jack C ~ Robinson 1209 Hillside Drive Keller, Texas 76248

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Please reply'to my District Office t ,

9A10 Federal Bldg 819 Taylor Street .

Ft. Worth, Texas 76102-6197  ; j 1 i i

Very Truly yours, >

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l J ' ight M.C.

e Speaker-12th of Texas

... . . .. . . ... .... .. District.

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MAY 2 0 _.3 Jack C. Robinson i c/o Mike Robinson 1209 Hillside Dr.

\ Keller, Texas 76248 j May 14, 1987 l \

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l L 1 l Congressman Jim Wright )

Room 9A10 Federal Building 819 Taylor Street Fort Worth,_ Texas 76102 '

l Dear Congressman Wright.

Sir, I will attempt to be brief, but in order to explain the depth of my problem, some background preceding the event seems to be in order.

I joined the Navy in January, 1967 after having been born and raised in Texas. The rest of my family have lived here their entire lives. ,

I went to several Navy schools, including Navy Nuclear Powar School. Served time on three nuclear submarines and accom-plished a three year tour of duty as a recruiter in Cleburne, Texas. I opened that office and it was closed when I departed because no one else could accomplish recruit goal after I left.

During my Navy time I attained the rate of Chief Petty Officer j and was awarded six ribbons.

In late 1978, I had a seizure end was placed under medical observation. In the first quarter of 1979, I had another seizure and was placed on medication.

Proceedings were begun to medically discharge me. My intentions i were to stay for twenty year retirement, so every avenue of .

appeal was exhausted prior to the final medical board. My l service related disabilities are as follows:  !

1. Seizure Disorder (Epilepsy)

2. 15 Degree compression fracture of vertibre T-12

3. High Blood Pressure A, minimum of 30% disability is required for retirement benefits I and the board only saw fit to award 20%. A man with a badly twisted knee was awarded 40% that same day. After almost exactly thirteen years, I was medically discharged. I held a Secret Security Clearance for most of that time.

/

.

• Congressman Jim _ Wright Page 2. Jack C. Robinson I

Jobs and insurance aren't easy to come by for a man with hidden disabilities. After several months,.I w as offered employment as a nuclear sub-contractor. The work isn't steady, but it J pays well. It also allowed me to have health and life insur- i ance under a group plan. I had grown accustomed to moving, '

l but after twelve years of marriage, my wife left me, taking my two children. She said she juat wasn't going to move any more. I didn't have much choice.

Each time I move to a new nuclear power site, even if I've been there before, a complete background check is performed; )

personal references are contacted; a psychological exam is administered; and, even periods of unemployment are checked.

I I have sub-contracted at the following nuclear power genera-ting stations:

1. Three Mile Island - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania ,

1 2. Oyster Creek - Wharton, New Jersey

3. Marketing Coordinator for Energy, Inc. - Idaho Falls, Idaho

h. Salem Nuclear Power Station - Salem, New Jersey

5. Hope Creek - Salem, New Jersey

6. Braidwood - Braidwood, Illinois )

After almost twenty years of being checked and re-checked at.

every turn, I made a stupid mistake. I had resigned from .

Braidwood to accept a better sub-contracting job under i l

General Technical Services (GTS) for TVA at Browns Ferry in Athens, Alabama. I was into my two weeks notice and was perparing to move. I sold my old work car to a friend, and would be driving my pickup to work fort he duration of my stay. While my friend was still there, I remembered a pistol ,

I had in the pickup, a small derringer; so, I took it out of the pickup and put it in my coat pocket so I would not have it in the truck. We had a warm spell for about two days, so I didn't wear a coat.

On Wednesday, the 8th of April, I wore my coat to work and it set off the metal detector. I was frisked and the gun was found. A small investigation was held that morning; some quest ions were asked; I was scared silly. The Security Chief asked if I would take a lie detector test and I agreed. All this took from 7 a.m. ti1L about noon.

The lie detector test was yet for 4:30 P.M.. I was told to go home and report downtown for the test. I talked it over with my wife and paced and waited.

Tne three questions of significance I was asked were:

1. Have I ever lied to an authority figure to stay j out of serious trouble?

Congressman Jim Wright Page 3. Jack C. Robinson 4

2. Did I intentionally bring a gun onto Braidwood property?

3. Did I know I had a gun on me when I entered the search line at Braidwood?

These questions were asked several times. I indicated "No" on all three.

The technician reviewed the results with me. He said the answers to questions 1. and 2. indicated 'trueT but 3. indi-cated ' false'. I told him that that didn't make any sense.

He said it wasn't his job to interpret.

I got a call from my Utility boss at the plant and found -

that I was fired before any results were reported.

After several calls over several days, the Security Chief told me that a report was filed with the NRC indicating that questions 2. and 3. indicated ' false'. Which still doesn't make sense to me. If 1. is 'true'; how can I be lying on 2 and 3?

I called my future employer and explained things to him; and he said to eme on and report, that mistakes eventually happen.

GTS was obligated to pay a large portion of the move. After loading my belongings on a moving van, I went to Alabama.

When I was checking in with TVA, I was informed that their Security had received a phone call (later, was told probably from the NRC) and that by agreement between several utilities and NRC, I could not be hired. Then GTS refused to pay their share of the move.

I can't get my belonginga back. I'm ruined in my business.

I wrote and phoned Braidwood, asking for consideration of 20 years clean record. They say they can't, due to NRC involvement.

Unless you, Congressman Wright, can help, I'm ruined again at 38 -- no clearances, no belongings, no prospects, no future. I am literally at the end of my rope.

I hate to sound bitter, but I desperately need help from someone in the Federal Government.

Sincerely, L- _

}p %q'o UNITED STATES

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._________________ rc FROM: DUE: 07/01/87 EDO CONTROL: 002947 DOC DT: 05/27/87 REP. JIM WRIGHT FINAL REPLY: i TO:

OCA FOR SIGNATURE OF: ** GREEN ** SECY NO: 87-710 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DESC: ROUTING:

ENCLOSES LETTER FROM JACK C. ROBINSON CONCERNING GRACE HIS SECURITY PROBLEM AT BRAIDWOOD FACILITY ,

DATE: 06/17/87 ASSIGNED TO: NRR _ CONTACT: MURLEY SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:

REPLY TO FT. WORTH, TEXAS OFFICE.

RETURN INCOMING WITH REPLY.

l NRR RECEIVED: 6/18/87 ACTION: TDRIS:PARTLOW ,

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET PAPER NUMBER: CRC-87-0710 LOGGING DATE: Jun 16 87 ACTION OFFICE: EDO-7 Wr;SY AUTHOR: LT-chm es--Const Ref AFFILIATION: U.S. SBN# RTE 6 p.

LETTER DATE: Jun 5 87 FILE CODE: Sec-16

SUBJECT:

Security infraction at the Braidwood facility etc; ACTION: Direct Reply DISTRIBUTION: OCA to Ack SPECIAL HANDLING: None l NOTES: J C Robinson 1

I DATE DUE: Jun 30 87 SIGNATURE: . DATE SIGNED:

AFFILIATION:

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------__ --- ----- V FROM DUE: 07/01/87 EDO CONTROL: 002947 DOC DT: 05/27/87 REP. JIM WRIGHT FINAL REPLY:

TO:

OCA FOR SIGNATURE OF: ** GREEN ** SECY NO: 87-710 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DESC: ROUTING:

ENCLOSES LETTER FROM JACK C. ROBINSON CONCERNING GRACE HIS SECURITY PROBLEM AT BRAIDWOOD FACILITY DATE: 06/17/87 ASSIGNED TO: NRR CONTACT: MURLEY -

-- ~_ s SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:

REPLY TO FT. WORTH, TEXAS OFFICE.

RETURN INCOMING WITH REPLY.

t NRR RECEIVED: 6/18/87 ACTION: @NMJ l NRR ROUTING: MURLEY/SNIEZEK ACTION ,

h MIRAGLIA EI"S*" "' DUE TO NRR DIRECTOR'S OFFICE I FUNCHES l t

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET PAPER NUMBER: CRC-87-0710 LOGGING DATE: Jun 16 87 ACTION OFFICE: EDO AUTHOR:

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r. ...;;-;;--Const Ref AFFILIATION: U.S. 99tNtGE Op .

LETTER DATE: Jun 5 87 FILE CODE: Sec-16 1

SUBJECT:

Security infraction at the Braidwood facility etc; ACTION: Direct Reply DISTRIBUTION: OCA to Ack SPECIAL HANDLING: None A

NOTES:- J C Robinson DATE DUE: Jun 30 87 SIGNATURE: . DATE SIGNED:

AFFILIATION:

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