ML20205E864

Responds to to Dk Rathbun,Which Was Forwarding Ltr from Burke Re Situation Involving Spouse,P Burke in .Forwards Response to Burke Ltr

ML20205E864
Person / Time
Site:	Millstone
Issue date:	03/26/1999
From:	Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
To:	Dodd C SENATE
Shared Package
ML20205E868	List: ML20205E864 ML20205E915
References
NUDOCS 9904060043
Download: ML20205E864 (1)

Text

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/ March 26, 1999 CHAIRMAN l

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l The Honorable Christopher J. Dodd United States Senate Washingten, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Dodd:

l l am responding to your letter to Dennis K. Rathbun of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), dated January 26,1999, in which you forwarded a letter from one of your  !

constituents, Sandra Burke. Ms. Burke discussed the situation involving her husband, Patrick i Burke, in her letter of January 14,1999. Mr. Burke lost his job at Millstone Nuclear Power Station during its January 1996 employee layoffs, and his subsequent attempts to regain employment at Millstone have thus far proved unsuccessful.

I have enclosed my response to Ms. Burke, who also sent the same letter directly to me. While it is not within the NRC's purview to address labor relations issues, we have advised Ms. Burke that her concerns regarding unfair employment practices should be referred to the Department of Labor which has the authority in these matters and may help them better address these concerns.

Sincerely, i

/A L Shirley Ann Jackson  !

Enclosure:

As stated

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.m. March 26, 1999 CHAIRMAN

'Ms. Sandra Burke 17 Town Farm Road Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

Dear Ms. Burke:

I am responding to your letter of January 14,1999, in which you discussed the situation involving your husband Patrick Burke and his employment at Millstone Nuclear Power Station.

Personnel actions taken at nuclear facilities are not under the purview of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) unless they involve discrimination against an employee for engaging in certain protected activities. Although several individuals claimed that they were laid off in January 1996 due to their past involvement in protected activities, this does not appear to be the case with Mr. Burke based on the information provided in your letter. If you have more information that indicates your husband may have been discriminated against due to his involvement in protected activities, please provide us that information.

Based on recent discussions between the NRC staff and Northeast Nuclear Energy Corporation, it is our understanding that the utility has hired back a number of individuals who were laid off in January 1996. Further, Bruce Kenyon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Northeast Nuclear Energy Corporation, is on record as stating that individuals who were laid off are encouraged to apply for current job openings and that they would be appropriately considered for employment assuming they meet the job qualifications, if you continue to feel that your husband is being unfairly treated by Northeast Nuclear Energy Corporation in this regard, the NRC would encourage you to file a complaint with the Department of Labor, which has authority in these matters.

Sincerely, bL Shirley Ann Jackson i

ENCLOSURE ON0h003.94 //