Press Release-IV-97-067, NRC Proposes $10,000 Fine Against Mattingly for Firing Whistleblower
| ML003707040 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/04/1997 |
| From: | Henderson B Office of Public Affairs Region IV |
| To: | |
| Category:Press Release | |
| References | |
| Press Release-IV-97-067 | |
| Download: ML003707040 (3) | |
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U.S.NuclearRegulatoryCommissionOfficeofPublicAffairs,RegionIV611RyanPlazaDrive-Suite400Arlington,Texas76011-8064RIV:97-67FORIMMEDIATERELEASECONTACT:BreckHendersonNovember4,1997 OFFICE:817/860-8128NRCPROPOSES$10,000FINEAGAINSTMATTINGLYFORFIRINGWHISTLEBLOWERTheNuclearRegulatoryCommissionstaffhasproposeda$10,000fineagainstMattinglyTestingServicesInc.ofGreatFalls,Montana,forfiringaradiographerwho hadreportedsafetyviolationstotheNRC.MattinglyTesting,asmallcompanylicensedbytheNRCtoperformradiography,dismissedtheemployeeinApril1995afterhereportedtotheNRCthatMattingly TestinghadviolatedanumberofNRCrequirementsgoverningtheuseofradiographic cameras.Thecamerasusesealedradioactivesourcestodetectflawsinmetalsand othermaterials.AnNRCinspectionsubstantiatedtheemployee'sallegations.TheagencycitedMattinglyTestingforsignificantviolations,includingallowinginadequatelytrained employeestoworkinradiographyandfailuretoproperlysecureradiographiccameras, andfinedit$15,500inMay1995.AnorderwasalsoissuedrequiringMattinglytohave periodicauditsperformedbyanindependentauditor.Afterhisdismissal,theindividualchargedthatMattinglyTestinghadfiredhiminretaliationforraisingsafetyconcerns.UnderfederallawandNRCrequirements, employeeswhoraisesafetyconcernsareprotectedfromdiscriminationbytheir employers.HisclaimswereheardbeforeaU.S.DepartmentofLaboradministrativelawjudgeandwereinvestigatedbytheNRC'sOfficeofInvestigations.InMarch1997,the administrativelawjudgeconcludedthatMattinglyTestingdiscriminatedagainstthe employeewhenitfiredhim,reversinganearlierdecisioninfavorofMattinglyTesting.TheNRCOfficeofInvestigationsreachedthesameconclusioninaninquiryconcludedonApril16,1997.OnApril18,aDepartmentofLaborAdministrative ReviewBoardapprovedasettlementbetweenMattinglyTestingandtheindividual,thus endingtheDepartmentofLaborproceedingspriortoitsreachingafinaldecision.DuringDepartmentofLaborproceedingsandaconferencewithNRCstaff, MattinglyTestingsaidthatithadfiredtheindividualbecausehehadperformedapoorinspectionandhadmissedasignificantnumberofweldingdefectsongirdersintended foruseonabridgeproject.InalettertoMattinglyTesting,NRCRegionIVRegionalAdministratorEllisW.Merschoffsaid,``Notwithstandingthisargument,theNRChasdeterminedthat (MattinglyTesting)hasnotshownthatitwouldhaveterminatedtheformeremployee solelyforhavingconductedapoorinspection,absenthishavingbroughtsafety concernstotheNRC."TheNRCcategorizedtheviolationasSeverityLevelIIIunderitsfour-levelenforcementsystem.LevelIVistheleastserious.TheNRCdoubledthefinefromthe baseminimumof$5,000becauseMattinglyTestingdidnotidentifytheviolation,and becauseithasnotprovidedtoNRCinformationonspecificactionsithastakento ensurethattheindividual'sfiringdoesnothaveachillingeffectonotheremployees raisingsafetyconcernstoNRC.MattinglyTestinghas30daystopaythefineorfileaprotest.Iftheprotestisdenied,thecompanymayrequestahearing.