ML18331A348

NRC Forms 3, Notice to Employees

ML18331A348
Person / Time
Site:	Palo Verde
Issue date:	11/27/2018
From:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
Lingam S P
References
LTR-18-0281-1
Download: ML18331A348 (1)

Text

REGIONAL OFFICES REGION ADDRESS TELEPHONE U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Region I 2100 Renaissance Boulevard, Suite 100 King of Prussia, PA 19406-2713 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Region II 245 Peachtree Center Avenue ,NE., Suite 1200 Atlanta, GA 30303-1257 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Region III 2443 Warrenville Road, Suite 210 Lisle, IL 60532-4352 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region, IV 1600 East Lamar Boulevard Arlington, Texas 76011-4511UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Washington, DC 20555-0001 NRC FORM 3 (8-2017)UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGIONAL OFFICE LOCATIONSA representative of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission can be contacted by employees who wish to register complaints or concerns about radiological working conditions or other matters associated with NRC-regulated activities at the following addresses and telephone numbers.To report incidents involving fraud, waste, or abuse by an NRC employeeor NRC contractor, telephone:

OFFICE OF THEINSPECTOR GENERAL HOTLINE 1-800-233-3497 I II III IV(800) 432-1156 (800) 577-8510 (800) 522-3025 (800) 952-9677WHAT IS THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION?

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is an independent Federal regula

-tory agency responsible for licensing and inspecting nuclear power plants and other commercial uses of radioactive materials.WHAT DOES THE NRC DO?protected from unnecessary or excessive exposure to radiation and that nuclear facilities, including power plants, are constructed to high quality standards and operated in a safe and secure manner. The NRC does this by establishing requirements in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) and in licenses issued to nuclear users.WHAT RESPONSIBILITY DOES MY EMPLOYER HAVE?Any company that conducts activities licensed by the NRC must comply with Your employer must tell you which NRC radiation requirements apply to your work and must post NRC Notices of Violation involving radiological working conditions.WHAT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY?For your own protection and the protection of your co-workers, you should know how NRC requirements relate to your work and should follow them.

If you observe violations of the requirements or have a safety concern, you should report them.WHAT IF I CAUSE A VIOLATION?If you engaged in deliberate misconduct that may cause a violation of the NRC requirements, or would have caused a violation if it had not been detected, or deliberately provided inaccurate or incomplete information to either the NRC or to your employer, you may be subject to enforcement action. If you report such a violation, the NRC will consider the circumstances surrounding your reporting in determining the appropriate enforcement action, if any.HOW DO I REPORT VIOLATIONS AND SAFETY CONCERNS?If you believe that violations of NRC rules or the terms of the license have occurred, or if you have a safety concern, you should report them imme

-diately to your supervisor. You may report violations or safety concerns directly to the NRC. However, the NRC encourages you to raise your con

-cerns with the licensee since the licensee has the primary responsibility for, and is most able to ensure, safe operation of nuclear facilities. If you choose to report your concern directly to the NRC, you may report it to an NRC in

-send your concern in writing, it will assist the NRC in protecting your identity if you clearly indicate that you would like your concern to be considered by porting safety concerns is listed below. The addresses for the NRC Regional also e-mail safety concerns to NRC.Allegation@nrc.gov.WHAT IF I WORK WITH RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL OR IN THE VICINITY OF A RADIOACTIVE SOURCE?If you work with radioactive materials or near a radiation source, the amount of radiation exposure that you are permitted to receive may be limited by NRC regulations. The limits on exposure for workers at NRC licensed facilities whose duties involve exposure to radiation are contained in sections 20.1201, 20.1207, and 20.1208 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR 20) depending on the part of the regulations to which your employer is subject. While these are the maximum allowable limits, your employer should also keep your radiation exposure as far below those limits as is "reasonably achievable."MAY I GET A RECORD OF MY RADIATION EXPOSURE?Yes. Your employer is required to make available to you the information in your dose records (as maintained under the provisions of 10 CFR 20.2106). In addition your employer is required to provide you with an annual report of the dose you received in that monitoring year if the dose exceeds 100 millirem, or if you request an annual report.HOW ARE VIOLATIONS OF NRC REQUIREMENTS IDENTIFIED?NRC conducts regular inspections at licensed facilities to assure compliance with NRC requirements. In addition, your employer and site contractors may conduct their own inspections to assure compliance. All inspectors are pro

-tected by Federal law. Interference with them may result in criminal prosecu-tion for a Federal offense.MAY I TALK WITH AN NRC INSPECTOR?Yes. NRC inspectors want to talk to you if you are worried about radiation safety or have other safety concerns about licensed activities, such as the quality of construction or operations at your facility. Your employer may not prevent you from talking with an inspector. The NRC will make all reasonable efforts to protect your identity where appropriate and possible.MAY I REQUEST AN INSPECTION?Yes. If you believe that your employer has not corrected violations involving radiological working conditions, you may request an inspection. Your request the alleged violation in detail. It must be signed by you or your representative.HOW DO I CONTACT THE NRC?Talk to an NRC inspector on-site or call or write to the nearest NRC Regional free SAFETY HOTLINE during normal business hours, your call will automati

- normal business hours by the regional staff, your call will be directed to day. Calls to the Headquarters Operations Center are recorded. You can also e-mail safety concerns to NRC.Allegation@nrc.gov.CAN I BE FIRED FOR RAISING A SAFETY CONCERN?you for bringing safety concerns to the attention of your employer or the NRC. protected activities, including but not limited to,* asking the NRC to enforce its rules against your employer;

• refusing to engage in activities which violate NRC requirements;

• providing information or preparing to provide information to the NRC or your employer about violations of requirements or safety concerns; or

• asking for, or testifying, helping, or taking part in an NRC, Congressional, or any Federal or State proceeding. WHAT FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION ARE PROHIBITED? raise a safety issue or otherwise engage in protected activities. Violations of Section 211 of the Energy Reorganization Act (ERA) of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5851) include actions such as harassment, blacklisting, and intimidation by employ-ers of (i) employees who bring safety concerns directly to their employers or to the NRC; (ii) employees who have refused to engage in an unlawful practice, Federal or State proceeding regarding any provision (or proposed provision) of the ERA or the Atomic Energy Act (AEA) of 1954; or (iv) employees who have commenced or caused to be commenced a proceeding for the administration or enforcement of any requirement imposed under the ERA or AEA or who have, or are about to, testify, assist, or participate in such a proceeding.HOW DO I FILE A DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT?If you believe that you have been discriminated against for bringing violations or safety U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), or appropriate state entities. If you desire a person

-or with appropriate state entities. Your complaint to the DOL must describe in detail the basis for your belief that the employer discriminated against you on the basis of 180 days of the date of the alleged discriminatory action or the date you re

-ceived any notice, in writing or otherwise, of an adverse personnel action, at www.osha.gov. Filing an allegation, complaint, or request for action with within 180 days. To do so, you may contact the Allegation Coordinator in the appropriate NRC Region, as listed below, who will provide you with your complaint. You may also check your local telephone directory under the U.S. Government listings for the address and telephone number of the appropriate WHAT CAN THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR DO?If your complaint involves a violation of Section 211 of the ERA by your employer, the DOL provides a process for obtaining a personal remedy. The DOL will notify order that you be reinstated, receive back pay, or be compensated for any injury Relief will not be awarded to employees who engage in deliberate violations of the Energy Reorganization Act or the Atomic Energy Act.WHAT WILL THE NRC DO?The NRC will evaluate each allegation of harassment, intimidation, or discrimi-Investigations (IO) may interview you and gather any applicable documentation in your possesion. If the NRC determines that the allegation falls within its purview, prior to the initiation of such investigation, you choose to engage in mediation with your employer in an attempt to settle your allegation of discrimination. If a settlement is reached and the NRC is provided such agreement for review and not perform an investigation. However, any settlement agreement between you and your employer on your discrimination claim will not impact, in any way, the resolution of the underlying technical issues or any other allegation you may NOTICE TO EMPLOYEESSTANDARDS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST RADIATION (PART 20); NOTICES, INSTRUCTIONS AND REPORTS TO WORKERS; INSPECTIONS (PART 19); EMPLOYEE PROTECTIONTo report safety concerns or violations of NRC requirementsby your employer, telephone:

NRCSAFETY HOTLINE 1-800-695-7403 Nuclear Power Plants

• plants in its region-except for the Callaway plant in Missouri, which Region IV oversees.

Materials Licensees

• Region I oversees licensees and Federal facilities located geographically in Region I and Region II.

• Region III oversees licensees and Federal facilities located geographically in Region III.

• Region IV oversees licensees and Federal facilities located geographically in Region IV.

Nuclear Fuel Processing Facilities

• Region II oversees all the fuel processing facilities in all regions.

• Region II also handles all construction inspection activities for new nuclear power plants and fuel cycle facilities in all regions.