ML20199K970
| ML20199K970 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant |
| Issue date: | 01/29/1998 |
| From: | Beach A NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Timbers W UNITED STATES ENRICHMENT CORP. (USEC) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9802090064 | |
| Download: ML20199K970 (13) | |
Text
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January 29, 1998 Mr. William H. Timbers President and CEO U.S. Enrichment Corporation Two Democracy Center 6903 Rockledge Drive Bethesda, MD 20817
SUBJECT:
MEETING ON CHILLING EFFECTS AND REQUEST FOR 120-DAY EXTENSION OF RESPONSE TIME
Dear Mr. Timbers:
A publicly noticed meeting between the United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC) and the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) was held on January 15,1998, to discuss the basis for the NRC's concem regarding the potential for a " chilled environment" at the Portsmouth and Paducah gaseous diffusion plants. The NRC initially informed you of the subject concern in our December 8,1997, correspondence " Recognition of Issues Related to Chilling Effects" which required a response within 45 days. Your December 17,1997, letter (GDP 97-0210) iequested a 120-day extension in order for you to conduct a thorough and
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independent investigation into the potential for a chilled environment at the gaseous diffusion plants. We understand that this investigation will include site-wide surveys of plant employees.
As discussed with USEC Executive Vice President, Mr. George Rifakes, at the January 15, 1998, meeting, your request for an extension of the response time is granted. Specifically, the response required by our December 8,1997, correspondence " Recognition of Issues Related to Chilling Effects," is extended to June 1,1998, to allow you sufficient time to complete your site survey.
The Jan 15,1998, meeting presentation slides and the meeting attendance sheets are enclose.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's.c%s of Practice," a copy of this letter and your response will be placed in the NRC Pubhc Document Room.
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9802090064 900129 PDR ADOCK 07007001 C
W. H. Timbers Please contact Mr. Patrick Hiland, Chief, Fuel Cycle Branch, at (630) 829-9603 If you or your staff have any questions. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely, Original Signed'by A. Bill Beach Regional Administrator Docket Nos: 70-7001;70-7002 Certificate Nos: GDP-1; GDP-2
Enclosures:
As stated cc w/encis:
S. Polston, Paducah General Manager W. Skyes, Paducah Regulatory Affairs Manager S. Toelle, Manager, Nuclear Regulatory Assurance and Policy, USEC J. Hodges, Paducah Site Manager, DOE J. Morgan, Portsmouth Acting General Manager R. Gaston, Portsmouth Regulatory Affairs Manager E. W. Gillespie, Portsmouth Site Manager, DOE Paducah Resident inspector Office Portsmouth Resident inspector Office Distribution w/encis:
PUBLICM J. Lieberman, OE Y. Faraz, Portsmouth PM, NMSS A. B. Beach, Rlli E. Baker, NRR R. Bellamy, RI J. L. Caldwell, Rill E. Q. Ten Eyck, NMSS E. McAlpine, Ril C. D. Pederson, Rlli R. Pierson, NMSS F. Wenslawski, RIV/WCFO R. J. Caniano, Riil P. Ting, NMSS Rlll Enf. Coordinator P. Harich, NMSS B. A. Berson, Rlli M. Horn, Paducah PM, NMSS DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\SEC\\CHILLMTG.END To receive a co py of this document, Indic te in the box *C" = Copy w/o attach /enci "E" = Cooy w/ attach / erd "N" = No copy OFFICE Rill:DNMS E
Rlil:DNMSV l Rlli:EICS 6
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NAME Hiland/kic /u//
PedersorO Clayton
/4 Lieberman DATE 01/2 t/98 01/% /98 01/28 unummun/98 01/Ei/98 v/n F.ek muummumumm-muumsummmmmmmmmmeunum unumpumamuss ummu OFFICE HQ:NRR HQ:NMSS Rill:RC fy Rlll:.,
i NAME Baker vs4 r-/nnst Ten Eyck viar/m Berson ""
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DATE 01/M/98 01/2f/98 016 S/98 01/19/98 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
AGENDA CHILLING EFFECTS MEETING JANUARY 15,1998 l.
OPENING REMARKS
- A. BILL BEACH, REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR, Rill ll.
CHILLING EFFECTS PRESENTATION PERCEPTIONS OR ASSERTIONS RECEIVED BY NRC INSPECTION RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS
- PAT HILAND, BRANCH CHIEF, Rill 4
~
111.
DISCUSSION f
IV.
CLOSING REMARKS
- A. BILL BEACH, REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR, Rill t
IDENTIFICATION AND RESOLUTION OF PROBLEMS NRC'S DECEMBER 8,1997, LETTER IDENTIFIED 3 AREAS:
-QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM-PROBLEM REPORTING PROGRAM EMPLOYEE CONCERNS PROGRAM i
FOCUS OF PRESENTATION 3
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CONCERNS OR ASSERTIONS EXPRESSED TO THE NRC-INSPECTION RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS
%,5 2
PERCEPTIONS RECEIVED BY NRC RELATED TO QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM 4
QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM NOT BEING IMPLEMENTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH 10 CFR 76.93 PROBLEM REPORT RESPONSES ARE INADEQUATE CHILLED ENVIRONMENT FROM REACTIONS TO PROBLEM REPCRTS NEED TO SUr> PORT MANAGEMENT REGARDLESS HARASSMENT OF PERSONNEL CONTAINED IN A NUMBER OF SITE MEMORANDA WHICH OFFERED DIFFERING OPINIONS 3
lNSPECTION RESULTS RELATED TO QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM PADUCAH IR 97009:
RECORD STORAGE NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH QUALITY ASSURANCE PLAN EXCEPTION RECORDS MANAGEMENT STAFF-NOT AWARE OF EXCEPTION QA PLAN DISCREPANCIES IDENTIFIED AS SITE :SSUE FOR LONG PERIOD OF TIME WITHOUT RESOLUTION
REFERENCES:
USEC MEMO DATED AUGUST 19,1996 USEC MEMO DATED JULY 11,1997 USEC MEMO DATED AUGUST 4,1997 PROBLEM REPORT 97-3501 CLOSED TO 97-3499 PADUCAH IR 97011:
SURVEILLANCE FINDING IDENTIFIED USE OF MEMORANDA IN LIEU OF PROCEDURES FOR MATERIAL RECEIPT INSPECTION WESTERMAN IR 71-0832/97214:
INADEQUATE USEC OVERSIGHT OF AUDIT 4
PERCEPTIONS EXPRESSED TO NRC RELATED TO PROBLEM REPORTING SYSTEM PROBLEM REPORT SYSTEM IS '7NORED NEGATIVE REACTION FROM SUPERVISORS TO EMPLOYEES WHO INITIATE PROBLEM REPORTS BELIEF THAT PROBLEM REPORTS MUST GO THROUGH SUPERVISORS PERSONNEL IN OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT RELUCTANT TO WRITE PROBLEM REPORTS, FEARING MANAGEMENT HARASSMENT
- PROBLEMS ARE NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY, AND ANSWERS DO NOT MATCH PROBLEMS PROCEDURES JUST GUIDANCE; DO NOT HAVE TO BE FOLLOWED PROBLEM REPORTS ARE DISMISSED AS UNION GRIEVANCE 5
INSPECTION RESULTS RELATED TO PROBLEM REPORTING SYSTEM l
PORTS IR 97008:
BACKLOG OF PROBLEM REPORTS HIGH IN OCTOBER 1996 AT 880; PROBLEM REPORTS OF LOW PRIORITY WERE CANCELED MANAGEMENT DID NOT ALWAYS COMMUNICATE WHY PROBLEM REPORTS CANCELED PORTS IR 97011:
OPERATORS BELIEVED THAT SOME ANSWERS TO PROBLEM REPORTS DO NOT MATCH PROBLEM SOME PROBLEM REPORTS WERE FOUND TO CONTAIN LIMITED RESPONSES; LACK OF COMMUNICATION PADUCAH IR 97008:
HEALTH PHYSICS TECHNICIANS NOT CLEAR WHEN TO INITIATE PROBLEM REPORTS OBSERVED PLANT DEFICIENCIES WERE NOT DOCUMENTED IN PROBLEM REPORTS BY END OF SHIFT n
USEC INVESTIGATION RELATED TO PROBLEM REPORTING SYSTEM USEC LETTER GDP 97-0173:
PERCEPTIONS:
HARASSED WHEN TOLD TO DELIVER PROBLEM REPORT TO PLANT SHIFT SUPERINTENDENT USE ONE PR FOR ALL IDENTIFIED PROCEDURE ERRORS NOT PAID TO WRITE PROBLEM REPORTS; PAID TO RECORD READINGS USEC CONCLUSION:
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS IN PROGRESS FOR CONCERN
.THAT PROBLEM REPORTS ARE NOT BEING INITIATED DUE TO TIMELINESS AND EFFECTIVENESS 7
PERCEPTIONS EXPRESSED TO NRC RELATED TO EMPLOYEE CONCERNS PROGRAM NO-ONE TRUSTS EMPLOYEE CONCERNS PROGRAM NEGATIVE REACTION AFTER CONTACTING EMPLOYEE CONCERNS PROGRAM LACK OF EMPLOYEE JONCERNS PROGRAM EMPLOYEE CONCERNS PROGRAM DOES NOT RECOGNIZE INDICATORS FOR HARASSMENT
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-lNSPECTION RESULTS RELATED TO EMPLOYEE CONCERNS PROGRAM PORTS IR 97005:
EMPLOYEE TRAINING INADEQUATE REGARDING THE CONTENT OF NRC FORM-3 " NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES" PORTS 1R 97008:
DECEMBER 1996 SITE EMPLOYEE SURVEY IDENTIFIED PERCEPTION THAT MAJORITY OF RESPONDENTS BEL IEVED RETALIATION OR RETRIBUTION OCCURRED DECEMBER 1996 SITE EMPLOYEE SURVEY IDENTIFIED PERCEPTION THAT MAJORITY OF RESPONDENTS WOULD NOT REPORT SUSPECTED RETALIATION OR RETRIBUTION FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE CONCERNS PROGRAM MANAGER APPOINTED IN AUGUST 1996
- USEC LETTER 97-0137:
THE EMPLOYEE CONCERNS PROGRAM INVESTIGATES CONCERNS RELATED TO HARASSMENT; NO SPECIFIC INDICATORS 9
MEETING OF U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION AND UNITES STATES ENRICHMENT CORPORATION January 15,1998 Topic: Chilling Effects Name Affiliation Phone Pat Hiland NRC/Rlll 630/829-9603 Elizabeth Ten Eyck NRC/FCSS 301/415-7212 Merri Hom NRC/SPB 301/415-8126 Stanley Rothstein NRC/OE 301/415-3055 Yawar Faraz NRC/NMSS/SPB 301/415-8113 Dennis Scott USEC 301/564-3352 Elizabeth Stuckle USEC - Media Comm. Mgr.
301/564-3399 George Rifakes USEC 301/564-3301 Jim Miller USEC 301/564-3309 Steve Routh USEC 301/564-3251 S. Toelle USEC 301/564-3250 Dan Martin NRC/NMSS/FSPB 301/415-7254 Bill Brach NRC/NMSS/FCSS 301/415-7213 l
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Jim Lieberman NRC/OE 301/415-2741 Carl J. Paperiello NRC/NMSS 301/415-7800 Robert Krsek NRC/ Rill 630/829-9843 Priya Patel NRC/NMSS/FCSS/SPB 301/415-5757 William Troskoski NRC/NMSS/FCSS/FCOB 301/415-8076 Philip Ting NRC/NMSS/FCSS/FCOB 301/415-6045 Tom Hiltz NRC/OEDO 301/415-1727 R.K.Dann DOE /HQ/LLNL 301/916-7734 Nader L. Mamish NRC/OE 301/415-2740 Charles Cox NRC/NMSS/FCSS/SPB 301/415-6755 Robert Pierson NRC/NMSS/FCSS/SPB 301/415-7192 Edward Baker NRC/NRR/ Agency Allegation Advisor 301/415-8529
e MEETING OF U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION AND UNITES STATES ENRICHMENT CORPORATION January 15,1998 -
Topic: Chilling Effects Name Affiliation Phone-J. Keith Everly NRC/ADM/DFS 301/415-7048 Greg Baker Lockheed Martin Utility Services 301/610-7396 A. B. Beach NRC/ Rill / Regional Administrator
- 630/829-9657 l-C. D. Pederson NRC/ Rill / Director DNMS
- 630/829-9800 l
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- via telephone b
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