ML20216C591

FOIA Handbook Regional Ofc Instruction (ROI) 0350, Rev 5. W/Newspaper Articles & 980227

ML20216C591
Person / Time
Issue date:	02/27/1998
From:	NRC
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ML20216C557	List: IA-98-111, FOIA Handbook Regional Ofc Instruction (ROI) 0350, Rev 5. W/Newspaper Articles & 980227 ML20216C551 ML20216C565 ML20216C580 ML20216C591
References
FOIA-98-111 ROI-0350, ROI-350, NUDOCS 9805190342
Download: ML20216C591 (42)

Text

Freedom ofInformation Act (FOIX A

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Handbook ROI O350 Table of Contents PARTI General............

1 Introduction.

.1 l

Roles and Responsibilities..

1 Employee 1

FOIA Coordinator and Alternate I

FOIA Request Reviewer

.2 Regional Senior FOIA Management Official

.2 PART II Processing FOIA Requests

.3 FOIA Request Received Directly in Region II

.3 FOIA Request Received From Headquarters

.3

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Initial Search

.4 Retrieval and Processing of Records

.5 i

Denial of Documents

.8 Records Containing Classified, Proprietary or Safeguards Information

.8 Records Containing Allegation Information.

.8 Office ofinvestigations Records

.9 EXIIIBITS

1. References 10

2. FOIA Appendices I1 Records Already Available in the PDR I1 Records Being Released in Their Entirety.

12 Records Being Withheld in Pan

.13 Records Being Withheld in Their Entirety 14 Records To Be Referred to Other Offices / Agencies / Companies.

15

3. NRC Form 496 " Report of Staff Resources for Processing FOIA".

16

4. Reviewand Certification Memo.

17 February 27,1998 5

Freedom ofInformation Act Handbook ROI 0350 Part I General 4

Introduction

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This handbook is intended to provide intemal procedures for processing Freedom ofInformation Act (FOIA) requests received in the Region II office. These instructions supplement Management Directive (MD) 3.1 and other FOIA directives.

It is the policy of the NRC to implement the provisions of the FOIA, by responding to requests for records in accordance with the objectives, responsibilities, requirements and procedures established by Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 9, and MD 3.1. Any employee who receives, processes, or responds to FOIA requests for records shall adhere to the policies and procedures of the above mentioned directives.

i Roles and Responsibilities Regional Office Instruction No. 0170 identifies the individuals with collateral duties of:

FOIA Coordinator; Alternate FOIA Coordinator; FOIA Request Reviewer, and l

Regional Senior FOIA Management Official.

Employee l

j It is each employee's responsibi!ity to identify and retain agency records, including drafts, that are in existence on the date a FOIA request is received and records that are within the scope of the subject matter of the request.

Once an agency record has been captured by a FOIA request, an employee may not

- destroy or remove the record from the NRC's possession and control.

FOIA Coordinator and Alternate Coordinate FOIA requests for the Regional office.

Organize records provided in response to the FOIA request, and prepare necessary appendices required for submission to-Headquarters.

Assure that all significant FOIA packages are reviewed and concurred in prior to dispatch from the Region.

February 27,1998 1

Freedom ofInformation Act Handbook ROI 0350 f

r Notify the Regional Senior FOIA Management Official of any problems that could cause a delay in responding to FOIA.

FOIA Request Reviewer Review the scope of all FOIA requests sent to the respective Division to determine the availability of records.

Review and concur in the release or withholding ofinformation submitted by the respective Divisions.

Regional Senior FOIA Management Official Review the scope of FOIA requests for the Region.

Review all FOIA packages involving allegation related information; release of investigative records; records to be referred to other offices and other sensitive records, prior to their being sent to Headquarters.

Review the FOIA Tracking System Report to ensure that Region 11 FOIA actions are receiving appropriate attention.

1 February 27,1998 2

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l Freedom ofInformation Act Handbook ROIO350 l

l Part II Processing FOIA Requests

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Any request for access to records under the FOIA must be in writing from the requester and clearly state that it is a FOIA request. The NRC is deemed to have receives a FOIA request

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when the FOIA/PA Section (FOIS), Information Services Branch (ISB), Intormation Management Division (IMD), Office of the ChiefInformation Officer (OCIO) actually receives it.

The FOIA requires that an agency respond to a request within 20 working days. In certain situaticns, this response time can be extended by no more than 10 additional working days.

I FOIA Requests Received Directly in Region II Any NRC employee who receives a written request for access to or copies of records under the FOIA shall immediately send it to the Regional FOIA Coordinator.

The Regional FOIA Coordinator or alternate, will fax the request under memorandum to the FOIS.

The requester will be notified by letter from the Region II office that his/her FOIA request has been ferwarded to Headquarters for action.

FOIA Requests Received frorn Headquarters (OCIO/IMD/ISB/FOIS)

FOIS, which reviews each request to detennine its scope and to determine the NRC offices that might reasonably be expected to have pertinent records, will j

forward the request under memorandum to the appropriate Office / Regional FOIA Coordinators. Upon receipt, mailroom personnel will hand carry the request to the FOIA Coordinator or altemate.

l The Region II FOIA Coordinator will enter the FOIA request into the Regional

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FOIA Tracking System using the unique tracking number issued by FOIS.

The Region Il FOIA Coordinator will establish a file for each specific FOIA request that is maintained by the Information Resource Branch.

February 27,1998 3

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l Freedom ofInformation Act Handbook ROI O350 The Region II FOIA Coordinator will forward the request under memorandum to the Division Directors. A copy is also provided to the Senior FOIA Management Official and the Regional Counsel. (This process is considered part of the INITIAL SEARCH for responsive records.)

Initial Search The following considerations should be addressed as part of the incial search:

Whether or not records relating to the request are available in the Regional Office.

If not, whether records may be available at another location and what that location might be.

If records are available, the estimated times required for search and review of responsive records should be provided to FOIS. An estimate of the number of pages (or volume in inches) of releasable records should also be provided. This information is to be provided on the form memorandum requesting the initial search.

Whether the Region is unable to respond because the request is unclear, vague or too broad.

If the request is unclear, vague, too broad, etc., or if additional information is required prior to responding to the request, it will be the responsibility of the FOIS FOIA Officer to notify the requester and obtain any additional information.

All communications with the requester will be through the FOIS and under no circumstances will Region Il staff members contact the requester directly.

Within three (3) working days after receipt of the request in the Region, the Region II FOIA Coordinator will notify the FOIS FOIA Officer by Electronic l

Mail (E-Mail) of the following:

1 Whether or not the Region has any of the requested information. (If not, i

the location (if known) where any such records may be available.)

The estimated number of pages (or volume in inches) involved.

The estimated time required to search and review all available, relevant records.

Whether it is expected that any of the infonnation may be exempt from disclosure.

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i Freedom ofInformation Act i

Handbook ROI 0350 Any problems which may delay action on the request or other anticipated problems which may be involved.

The search for records should not begin until the FOIS FOIA Officer notifies Region II to do so. It will be the responsibility of the FOIS FOIA Officer to notify the regnester that fees will be assessed. Based upon the information fumished by the requester, FOIS will make a final decision whether the request is to be processed and advise Region II accordingly.

l Retrieval And Processing of Records The FOIS FOIA Officer will inform the Region 11 FOIA Coordinator by E-Mail or phone to begin processing the FOIA request. The Region II FOIA Coordinator will inform all persons who indicated that they possessed relevant material in response to the initial request to provide the relevant records in their possession. (The region has 8 working days from the date NRC received the request to provide the records.)

In conducting a search for records, all records located that are captured by the request must be identified, whether originated by the search office, another NRC 0 ice, another Federal agency, licensee, private organization, or an individual.

0 E-Mail is considered a Federal record and is subject to the same criteria used to determine record material of any other media. If one conducts business by E-Mail, he/she generally creates E-Mail records. When providing E-Mail as a record in response to a FO!A request, also provide the "information" section of the E-Mail (recipient's name, the time delivered, the date delivered, the date received, and the date opened). The full name and affiliation of the author and recipient (s) must be included on the E-Mail.

If records are located that originated in another office, the record must be identified; however, the Region need not make a disclosure determination for such records except in the following situation:

1 If the region independently assembles records from another office as part of a file such as that for a task force, enforcement, an investigation, a grievance, or a labor relations case, the region will provide the records and provide disclosure determinations. If the determination is to release the records, FOIS will ask the originating office wheth'er it approves the release determination.

l February 27,1998 5

Freedom ofInformation Act Handbook ROI4350 Records must be listed and segregated under the categories listed below. (See e

Exhibit 2 for examples). For purposes ofidentification, the categories are captured as appendices and are submitted along with the records to the FOI1.

The appendices are released to the requester; therefore, when identifying r: cords to be withheld in part or in their entirety (as described below), names and c ther specifics that are exempt from disclosure in the actual record must also be protected in the appendix list (e.g., replace the actual name with the word

" Individual")

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Records are segregated into the following categories:

Records Already Availablein the PDR i

For records already in the PDR, either the record or the accessioa number, l

date, to, from, and subject must be provided.

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l Records Being Released in Their Entirety For records being released in their entirety the FOIS will make the determination whether the records are to be placed in the PDR orjust j

provided to the requester.-

l Records Being Withheld In Part For records being withheld in part, enclose in pencil bracket s, the information proposed to be withheld in each record. Do no: " strike-out",

or" white-out" the information to be withheld. For each record that contains bracketed information, indicate in pencil on the sa me page, the exemption that applies and on a separate sheet of paper the "hann statement", if applicable. This review process should be p:rformed by an l

individual familiar with FOIA disclosure policies. (See N D 3.1, Part II l

for a list of exemptions. Refer to the Department ofJustir e FOIA Guide l

and Privacy Act Overview in the Region II FOIA Coordir ator's office for

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a detail description of the exemptions.)'

l Records Being Withheld in Their Entirety For records being withheld in their entirety, indicate in pencil on the first page ofeach record the exemption that applies and on a separate sheet of paper the " harm statement", if applicable. Harm staten ents must be supplied when Exemptions 2,4, and 5 are claimed. He rm statements are not necessary for other exemptions unless the reason for withholding the February 27,1998 6

I-Freedom ofInformation Act Handbook ROIO350 I

l information is not obvious (e.g., home addresses, social security numbers, ongoing eaforcement action, etc.) Harm statements do not have to be elaborate or lengthy, but must provide enough information for FOIS and OGC to understand the harm involved.

Records To Be Referred To Other Offices, Agencies or Companies Identify all records originated by or containing information that originated j

in another Federal agency, NRC office, or company for referral. When records are being referred to another entity, the office, agency or company l

and contact (if known) should be indicated. If a company is involved, the address of the company also should be included.

After the records are placed into the various categories and bracketed, where

. necessary, the records are forwarded to the Region II FOIA Coordinator along with the FOIA Reviewer's concurrence (See Exhibit 4). The FOIA Coordinator will prepare the appendices in the standardized format required by FOIS. The FOIA Ccordinator will also review the records to determine if the required information is provided (e.g., exemptions, when applicable, " harm statement,"

bracketing, and accountability for all records identified). The appendices will be j

forwarded to the FOIA Request Reviewer or his/her designee, for final review and j

concurrence. (See Exhibit 4) l Copies of the records, appendices (list of each record, categorized) and the "Repart of Staff Rescurces for Processing FOIA Requests"(NRC Form 496; Exhi'oit 3) will be forwarded (via Express Mail) under memorandum to the FOIS.

The appendices also will be E-Mailed to the FOIS FOIA Officer. The Region Il FOIA Coordinator will file all applicable documentation, correspondence and communication notes in the appropriate intemal FOIA file.

The FOIS will:

I prepare the response to the requester, using the appendices (list of records) from the searching office, and obtain necessary concurrences.

make the appropriate deletions of the bracketed information.

ensure that the head of each office or other designated official who denies

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any requested records will be noted in the response to the requester as the denying official.

ensure that records being made available to the PDR are forwarded for entry into NUDOCS.

February 7/.1998 7

L Freedom ofInformation Act Handbook ROI O350 prepare the necessary letters referring records to other agencies or companies.

I Denial of Documents FOIS and OGC must see any record proposed to be withheld.

e Any records proposed to be withheld will be forwarded to FOIS urider e

j memorandum from the Region II FOIA Coordinator stating the reasons for nondisclosure.

Records Containing Classified, Proprietary or Safeguards Information Refer to MD 3.1, Part III for specifi: information on processing a FOIA containing l

classified, proprietary or safeguards information.

Records Containing Allegation Information Records containing allegation information must be coordinated with the e

Enforcement and Investigation Coordination Staff (EICS). EICS will perform all reviews relating to allegation information and will make the determination as to what records are releasable, non-releasable and partially-releasable and provide this information to the Region II FOIA Coordinator.

Allegation records provided in response to the FOIA request should have all exempt information bracketed and appropriate exemptions ident fied. This i

bracketing also should be applied to electronic records created by the region which are responsive to a FOIA request (e.g., database reports). In redacting allegation related documentation the following types ofinformation must be considered in the deletion process:

Specific identifiers and personal privacy infonnation such as allegers' names, addresses and telephone numbers; Indirect identifiers such as work crew, position, title, and job function; l

Descriptive information which is specific enough in circumstance such that it could lead a knowledgeabie individual to infer who the alleger is (i.e., fingerprinting information). Examples include:

Alleger notification of management February 27,1998 8

l Freedom ofInformation Act Handbook ROI 0350 l

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References to Condition Reports or other trackable reports generated by the alleger References to specific work activities, procedure usage, or other infonnation which could narrow the pool ofindividuals who could be the alleger Personal privacy information ofindividuals accused of wrongdoing.

Appendices created to support the records submitted by EICS will not contain any information being withheld in the actual records (e.g., allegers' names will be i

substituted with the word " alleger" or "i dividual").

Prior to the release of the records or appendices to the FOIS, the Region 11 FOI A Coordinator will ensure that the appendices and provided documents are reviewed and that the supporting concurrences have been obtained from the Director, EICS, Regional Counsel, and the Regional Senior FOIA Management Official. (See Exhibit 4)

Any disagreements on the level of redaction between the FOIS and Region II will be resolved by the Agency Allegation Coordinator.

Office of Investigations Records 01 Headquarters handles FOIA requests relative to investigation records. Regional files containing 01 documents should be referred to the Regional 01 Director for releasibility and redaction.

February 27,1998 9

l

1 Freedom ofInformation Act l

Handbook ROI 0350 l

l EXHIBIT 1 i

References l

10 CFR Part 9 MD 3.1," Freedom ofInformation Act"

• E-Mail, Russell Powell to FOIA Coordinators, dated 11/1/96 -

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" Standard Formats For Office FOIA Response Submissions"

• FOIA Training Package, dated 10/31/96

• E-Mail, Mary Pat Siemen, "E-Mail FOIA Responses"

• Documents available from FOIA Coordinator i

February 27,1998 10

Freedom ofInformation Act Handbook ROIO350 I

i EXHIBIT 2 Re: FOIA-96-123 APPENDIX l

RECORDS ALREADY AVAILABLE IN THE PDR l

l ACCESSION l

NO.

DATE NUMBER DESCRIPTION /(PAGE COUNT) 1.

10/14/94 9411040082 Enforcement Notification to Commissioners f

from Office of Enforcement,

Subject:

Proposed Imposition of Civil Penalty - S8,000 (1 page) l 2.

01/02/96 9600342901 Letter to J. Callen from W. Axd3on,

Subject:

i Confirmatory Action Letter (2 pages) l 3.

03/0J/96 9608100026 NRC Inspection Report No. 030-02104/94001 l

(20 pages) l l

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i Feoruary 27,1998 11

Freedom ofInformation Act j

Har.dbook ROI O350 EXHIBIT 2 Re: FOIA-96-123 APPENDIX RECORDS BEING RELEASED IN THEIR ENTIRETY (If copyrighted identify with *)

NO.

DATE DESCRIPTION /(PAGE COUNT) 4 1.

Undated A list of Corrective Actions provided by St. Joseph Mercy Hospital during the enforcement conference (1 page) 2.

12/18/90 Letter to II. Ray from S. Richards,

Subject:

Notice of Violation on IWI (5 pages) 3.

02/28/94 Letter to S. Richards from R. Rosenblum with enclosed 02/01/94 letter to R. Rosenblum from S. Richards (7 pages) 4.

05/18/95

• Inside NRC (4 pages) e z

February 27,1998 12

Freedom ofInformation Act l

Handbook ROI 0350 EXHIBIT 2 Re: FOIA-96-123 APPENDIX RECORDS BEING WITHHELD IN PART NO.

DATE DESCRIPTION /(PAGE COUNT)/ EXEMPTIONS 1.

08/26/94 Memo to G. Beveridge from J. Grobe,

Subject:

Voucher for Professional Services (3 pages) EX 6 2.

09/09/94 Letter fn an individual from C. Caputo (1 page) EX. 7C 3.

10/25/95 Meme to J. Lieberman from J. Martin,

Subject:

St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Proposed Notice of Violation and Proposed l

Imposition of Civil Penalty (3 pages) EX. 5 with attachments 1 and 2 Undated : Escalation and mitigation factors (2 pages)

EX.5 08/19/94 : NRC Inspection Report No. 030.

02104/94001(DRSS) (19 pages) ANO 9408240029 4.

09/18/96 Letter to T. Pearson from S. Smith,

Subject:

Notice of Violation (9 pages) EX. 5 l

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l February 27,1998 13

Freedom ofInformation.Act Handbook ROIO350 l

EXHIBIT 2 Re: FOIA-96-123 APPENDIX RECORDS BEING WITHHELD IN THEIR ENTIRETY l

l NO.

DATE DESCRIPTION /(PAGE COUNT)/ EXEMPTIONS l

1.

09/02/93 Office of Investigation's Case File and associated records l

(100 pages) EX. 7A 2.

10/13/94 OGC markup of draft Notice of Violation and Proposed 3

l Imposition of Civil Penalty (9 pages) EX. 5 l

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February 27.1998 14

Freedom ofInformation Act Handbook ROI 0350 l

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EXHIBIT 2 Re: FOIA-96-123 APPENDIX l

RECORDS TO BE REFERRED TO OTHER OFFICE / AGENCY / COMPANY l

NO.

DATE ENTITY DESCRIPTION (PAGE COUNT) l 1.

09/02/96 OE Memo to L. Chandler from J. Lieberman,

Subject:

Notice of.

Violation with attached draft Notice of Violation (4 pages) 2.

10/22/96 Licensee Letter to J. Smith frcen M. Jones,

Subject:

corrosion issues (25 pages)

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February 27,1998 15 l

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l Freedom ofInformation Act Handbook ROI 0350 l

EXHIBIT 3 i

NRC Form 496, " Report of Staff Resources for Processing l

FOIA Requests" 88 A.C. 90

e. 484 U.S. GeUCLE.R REGULATORY CO se.ss.O*s si FOI A.-

REPORT OF STAFF RESOURCES FOR OmCE PROCESSING FOIA REQUESTS

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SE ARCH AND REVIEW REVIEW j

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Freedom ofInformation Act Handbook ROI 0350 EXHIBIT 4 MEMORANDUM TO:

FOlA Coordinator FROM:

FOIA Request Reviewer l

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SUBJECT:

FOIA Review I

The subject FOIA records have been segregated into the categories identified in ROI 0350.

Each record has been reviewed to identify exempt information and the appropriate exemptions have been applied, where necessary.

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THIS SECTION TO BE COMPLETED FO, Request Revie t - Signature

• WHEN RECORDS ARE RELEASED TO R!I FOIA COORDINATOR 1

Senior FOIA Management Official" The subject FOIA Appendices have been reviewed to assure that no withholddable information is included.

THis SECTION TO BE COMPLETED FOIA Request Reviewer Signature

• AFTER THE APPENDICES HAVE BEEN COMPLETED BY THE FOIA COORDINATOR Senior FOIA Management Official"

• A separate form is required for each FOIA Request Reviewer provided records.

• • Required for significant FOlA request or those involving allegation material.

February 27,1998 17

l HISCELLANEOUS DOCUMENTS t

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National Litigation Consultants l

uuciear wwseeuowerspect nar, j

6230 W. Indiantown Rd., # 7-355, Jupiter, FL 33458 l

c Voice: (561) 622-1667 FAX- (561) 744-6615 j

e Intemet Email: saporito@mallexcite.com

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I Febmary 09,1998 Hon. William Jefferson Clinton 1

President of the United States

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President's Office of Professional Responsibility 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, D.C. 20500 l

RE:

Request for Investigation ofthe U.S.

uclear Regulatory Commission i

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The undersigned and National Litigation Consultants ("NLC"), (herein-%r " Petitioners"),

hereby respectfully request that the President's OfBee of Professional ResponsmW initiate j

j actions to cause an investigation of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ("NRC") Br an j

apparent breach of conduct and failure to comply with federal regulations under Title 10 of tne Code of Federal Regulations and other federal regulations and requirements mandated by the

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United States Congress for the proper regulation of commercial nuclear power generation stations in the United States of America.

I i

i BASIS AND JUSTIFK'ATION FOR REOUEST l

j On February 06,1998, the undersigned was contacted by telephone by6 %

.an employee at the St. Lucie Nuclear Power Station owned and operated by the Florida Power &

Light Company ("FPL' with corporate ofHees located at 700 Universe Boulevard, Juno Beach, e

Florida 33408 stated that Ms. Ann Boland, the NRC's Director of Allegations for 3

j Region IIin At anta, Georgia contacted him at approximately 6:00 p.at on February 06,1998 and i

informed him of the following-(1) that a representative of the Port St. Lucie Newspaper had filed a Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA") requestmg certain m' formation and that the NRC released CONFIDENTIAL safety concerns to the newspaper which identified 6y name as. the source of the safety concerns which had been provided to the NRC about operations at the FPL i

St. Lucie Nuclear Station; and THIS DOCUMEN'HDENTIRES-

-ANfuswwas o mncac a

l (1) 4 1

(2) that the licensee FPL notified Ms. Boland that safety concems were 7b found at the local Public Document Room ("PDR") bearing ame.

seriously concerned that his future emplo;:.ient at FPL may now be in jeopar y due to the NRC's improper conduct in releasing his identity and his CONFIDENTIAL b

q communications," safety concerns" that he gave in tmst to the government. Indeed, the U.S.

Department of Labor (" DOL") has found FPL to have illegally violated the law under 42 U.S.C.

5851 with respect to other employees who have raised safety concerns to the NRC in the past about operations at FPL's nuclear stations.

Clear'ly, the statutory and regulatory scheme enacted ty Congress was meant to protect the ic from the hazards of nuclear contamination and radiation by protecting employees, like j

om retaliation for raising safety concems to the NRC. Moreover, NRC regulations express y provide that employees and the NRC may communicate privately without interference.

See, e.g.,10 C.F.R. Part 19.15 which states, in part, relevant hereto that:

(a) Commission inspectors may consult privately with workers concerning matters of occupational radiation protection and other matiers related to applicable provisions of' Commission regulations and licenses to the extent the inspectors deem necessary for the conduct of an effective and thorough inspection.

(b)

Durmg the course of an inspection any worker may bring private to the attention of the inspectors, either orally or in writing, any past or present condition which he has reason to believe may have contributed to or caused any violation of the act, the regulations in this chapter, orlicense condition.

Furthermore, NRC Form 3 informs employees that they may contact the NRC directly without first reporting safety concems to their employers. See also,10 C.F.R.19.12 (c). The NRC recogruzes that employees have a right to communicate directly with the govemment as follows:

(i)

Providing the Commission information about possible violations of requirements imposed under [the Energy Reorganization Act " ERA" or the Atomic Energy ~ Act]';

(ii)

Requesting the Commission to institute action against his or her employer for the admmistration or enforcement ofthese requirements; (iii)

Testifying in any Commission proceeding.

See,10 C.F.R. 50.7 (a); and 55 Fed. Reg. 10397,10402, " Preserving the Flow ofInformation to l

the Commission"(March 21,1990).

l f

THIS DOCUMENT IDENTIFIES

-AN-ALLEGER (2)

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Thus, in order to insure that public health and safety is protected from the adverse affects of an accident caused at a commercial nuclear power station, the President's Office of I

Professional Responsibility is compelled to investigate the NRC with respect to the circumstances 7b surrounding this incident resulting in the improper release of 6 identity and safety

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concerns by the government.

Momover, the government should initiate actions to insure that the NRC's misconduct has not instilled a " chilling effect" at FPL's nuclear stations &= ding other employees from CONFIDENTIALLY raising safety concerns to the NRC. Finally, the government sh licensee FPL on notice that no adverse employment actions are to be taken against ut the q C for his engagerhent in protected activities at the St. Lucie nuclear station and C

encourages employees, hk6o CONFIDENTIALLY communicate safety concerns to the govemment for resolution.

I Petitioners hereby request the aforementioned actions be taken under 10 C.F.R. 2.206 and I

all other relevant and applicable govemment regulations and laws available under United States Code. Finally, Petitioners request that a public hearing be held at or near the St. Lucie Nuclear Power Station to allow participation by Petitioners ahd the public to learn the facts in this matter-before the NRC's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board; and that the government conduct NRC Senate Oversight Committee hearings seeking attendance and input &om the NRC's Comnussioner, th Hon. Shirley Jackson; and grant Petitioners leave to intervene in such matters on behalfof the public's interest.

I Respectfully submitted, j

K saw a

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Thomas J. Saporit@Jr. F l

Executive Director l

National Litigation Consultants l

cc:

Hon. Bob Graham Director, Office'of Edforcement 1

United States Senator U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Conumssion Uruted States Senate Washington, D.C. 20555 Washington, D.C. 20510-0903 j

i Hon. Shirley Jackson Administrator NRC Commissioner U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Atlanta Federal Center i

Washington, D.C. 20555 61 Forsyth St., SW, Suite 23T85 i

Atlanta, GA 30303 i

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'TMi& DOCUMENT IDENT1FIES 13) au

~ M W, m. m r ns vCn

t Robert ifr,,, Oliector Office ofEnforcement I'

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission U.S. NuclearRegulatory Commission 61 Forsyth St., SW, Suite 23T85 Mr. James Scarola Atlanta, GA 30303 Plant Manager St. Lucie Nuclear Station Carolyn Evans, Esq.

700 Universe Blvd.

General Counsel Juno Beach, FL 33408

~U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission U.S. NuclearRegulatory Commission 61 Forsyth St., SW, Suite'23T85 Mr. AndyPawley Atlanta, GA 30303 Supervisor St. Lucie Nuclear Station 700 Universe Blvd.

Mr. James Broadhead Juno Beach, FL 33408 ChiefExecutive Officer Flodda Power & Light Company 700 Universe Blvd.

Office of the Inspector General Juno Beach, FL 33408 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 David K. Colapinto, Esq.

Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto Billie Pirner Garde, Esq.

Clifford, Lyons & Garde 3233 P Street, NW 1620 L Street, NW, Suite 625 Washington, D.C. 20007 Washington, D.C. 20036-5631 s

S.

-THS-BOOtJMEN 1-IDENf1t*O Af I t a ni.i w E D.i (4)

r-The Stuart News February 22,1998 j

l Employee complaints repetitive, mereasmg et me nem stan HUTCHINSON ISLAND -

De St. Lucie Nuclear Plant had more substantiated safety com, plaints by employees last year than any other nuclear plant in the nation, federal records show.

U.S.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission investigators say man-agers hawn't corrected long-stand.

Ing problems and'have ignored new polides meant to correct them.

NRC docunents released to The Stuart News / Port St. Lucie News show federal officials substantiated 26 of the 69 complaints workers madein 1997 about plant safety and working conditions. Thati more substantiated complaints than at any of the nationi 65 other plants and part of a trend that puts St. Lucie near the top.of the list in mnnber of laints by employees since 1993.

complaints range from alle-sations that plant offeials ordered employees to dispose of unlabeled drums that could have contained s

waste produ:ts, to concerns *. hat energency preparation is inade-quete.

Fren 1993 thmugh 1997. federal instigators corroborated 67 of the 151 complaints that piant employees made to the NRC The investigators

)

issued dozens of code vlotation

~

notices and fined th$ plant's owner.

Please see GWPS.AINT5 on A7 f

t The Stuart Nas February 22,1998 SiOMPLAINTS CcoMTINUED FRoht A1 of last year's complainu are still under allond tools to cater and c%it 11 Unit 2 way and could be added to the 26 that containment building without being Florida Pomr and Light Co., S21 A)0 haw been corroborated.

lomed.

an NRC spokesman said. About S200,00d Federal investigaton doeurnented Tn addition to those complaints, the re-of those ftner have been levied since 1995, years ofproblems at the plant, including cords include dozen Plant ocIcials said the high number of 5 Excessive abuses of overtime. Inves-grievances susbtantiated by federalinves-com ts shows empicyces are inta-ton found 53 violations in a month ticators, including alleged careless meth-in bringieg safety concerns forward for evaluation of workers' re-

"I'm happy to find a problem any way cords-The violations included one ern-ods of repeiring radioactive devices and a I can find it, whether it cornes from the NRC or whether it comes from our peo. plo)tc working 27 consecutive bours and failure to limi plant."

another who worked 182 hours0.00211 days <br />0.0506 hours <br />3.009259e-4 weeks <br />6.9251e-5 months <br /> in two FPL agreed to pay a $100,000 fine in ple," said Art Stall, vice pmudent of the weeks.'

plant. "I'll take problems any way I can 5 Outdated and undenurrJ.ecurity January 1997 to the NRC for falling to linit access to vnal areas. The violations, get it so I an get it fixed."

But some employees any the complaints response plans. Plant ofiicia M ' their which were adroitted bv FPL during an indicate a breakdown in mavmmt. Su-manuals and plans have been upaated, NRC heariny, included 27 former em-perusors do not sddress employees'safet and no recent repons contrudict them.

ployees retaming " active" badges that 5 Radioactive tools taken from con-concerns, and workers are often fearful c,yf trolled areas to storage spots designated wouid allow them into accezdin retribution if they come forward, they for equipment free of contamination. He problem.g to an inch-thick report on the said.

fint corroborated complaint came in The same rnonth, an employee reported Most ernployees contassed for this re.

June 1996, and more cump1 mints were to the NRC that tbe plant anowed a preg.

pon declined to eccment or did not re-made late last year.

cant visitor into the reactor area without turn phone calls.

" Management does not deal with issues NRC inspectors and technicians in not:fying her of the dangers posed for an brouBht by the employees of the St. Lucie Jtme 1996 removed 17 tools contami-unoorn child. Federal tovesugators i nated with radiation from the

• clean February 199^ report said the plant did Nudear Plant in a very productive and room," an area designated to be frer. of not violate any regulations but recom prudent tuanner," said Rick Curtis, local hi levels of radiation.

pres: dent of the International Brother-on learned ths. tools des #g-mended that an " independent look should na to be kept in radiatiott areas often be made (at) the practs:e of allowing fe-hood of Electrical Workers. "If employees start to question the process too much, are aussing and have not been pautted male visitors on site without querying them."

they're told that they're lary and just try.

Purple, which is re me to get out of work."

as contaminated. quired to identify then1 Early in 1995, emplo3ces told the NRC bespite the manajement problems cited Although some of the misplaced tools they were ordend to process about 75 in the tts NRC m*~mma Ken had radiatien as high as 120 titns ac. dnuns containing an tau 6entifbd liquid Clark sa1[the c,omplaints' don't indicate a ceptable levels, NRC senior radiation with a bluish tint. The drumw which were threat to the environment or people living *pecialist Fred Wright said they not labeled as required by regulations, near the plant, had little effect on employees,probably, could have included waste products oil even u separators or. anti-the em "Tbc NRC staff fccis th.: plant is sufli. the,y picked them up with bare.h ruit.

said. fn NLC investi on f.un the t

ciently safe to license and operate " said It s a very low level of actmty that,*s SS.gnIlon drr.ms had fficient labels be.

Clark, who works at the NRC's regional allowed under those regulauens,", said office in At!anta. "No conarns have been Wright, who spect seural months mves-cause tuey ddn't indicate what was in the shutdown the plant." prompt the NRC to tigating the plant as part of a three per-dmms. Teaty o validated that would son NRC tearn that works there full meluding five containing an unknown ma-NRC officials say the violadons at the tirne. " Holding a luunmer with that kind terial,were fotmd in the area.

Not all er the plant's problems have St. Lucie plant haven't reached the point of radiation on it would not hkely cause been ke angtall, the, plant wee president, sa2d the of5cials.pt between and NRC where regulators would order a shut.

health problems for the uws.",

E.ches at the t have made down. A shutdown swuld corne only if there's an irmnediate safety conem.

problem with radioacuve tools is in the headlines nationally in recent yeara Documents released under a Freedorn past.

On Jan. 22,1996, a control roo2n oper.

ator icit his post to microwave his lunch of Information Act request made try the "We haven't had issues at St. Lucie and allowed the unattended reactor to Nem include 1,200 pages of NRC paper. with that m yeara" he said. *We've had work generated from employee com. numerous inspecuons m the last two or overheat. The mntrol room operator had plaints and inspector reports. He com-three years looking at that, which we've asked another operator to watch his panel plaints are reported to the NRC by done very wil at.

but didn't warn him he was addm water plant employees, investigated and made "WC pay much more attention (o de-. to the nuclear reactor. FPL a to pay a $50,000 federal fine for the act:ident and public after the plant was notified of the tails, tracking the tools, m,arking the the worker was suspended.

findings.

tools, tranung the employees," Stall said.

Workers performing a routme '

The News requested the documents in tion Ag;ued shut in a backup control 14 1996, found three 1 ed

.Novemba and received them in Jan Complaints, cutbacks switche< g The repons are public records but y

room. Glue also was found m nm, e pad-cbtained because of the lengthy process Nonetheless NRC officiah cited the locks and two door locks in d!fferent for oviding copics.

plant July 14 for failing to log the use of areas of the olant fewer than three weeks C omcials said some investigations radioactive tools. The NRC said the plant before. %e NRC called the glu2ng the

The Stuart News Febrasry 22,1993 worst acts of sabotage to a nuclear re-and member of the St. Lude Ccunty Fite District Board. "They've gone from fint asser ever.

Nucienr ps say the com-to worstin a matter of vents."

plaints should not lom! residcats.

. Bowsn said workers'have told him cut-

"If I lived near plant. I would not backs arc being made despite appannt be conaarned about the high number of safety problems that might nsult.

complaints," mid David Lechbaum a nu-He booes emplovec complaidts wi!!

1 clear afety engineer at the Union of Con-soawn a federal or focal evestigation of carned Scientista, a watchdag sroup in the plant.

Washington, D.C.

However, Lochbaum mid there should be concern about ma t backlashes eCartariesin a coal estine' by some who filed CC"Jalaints.

Local safety okals support the plant's NRC hasn't fully substantiated efforts to prepare forEo@id Jack South-

"We work very w with the complaints that whistle-blowers have beert subjected to hacklaah by FPL managers.

St. Lucie Nuciaer Plant," sa But a, bout 120 employees piciated the ard, the county's pubbc safety manager.

P ant m June, saying'FPL managers fait "We have a very nood relationship with l

to respond to worken complaints.

Florida Power ard Ught. They have al-Curtis, who has spent 18 years at the ways been respor.sive to our ideas ort how plant and is now a mamtenance foreman, to update uncrgency plans."

rgements abnost half of the plant's 850 But compiamts are likely to incrase If uruon workers. He said most fear retribu-managers refuses to listen to ernnloyees.

tion from plant managers if they file com* said Jim Riccio, an attomey with th Crit-plaints, and sometimes har about ical Mass Prot'ect at the watchdog group ernpi disciphned or fired if Public Citizen 1n W=<hinston.

canatics in a coal mine " sax, plant are like

" Employees in n nuclear 5 atten to a probicm.

they's not that empkrees are afraid of los-i Rictio, who It ing their j'obs, said 10. Davis, sho is in leads Public Citizen's to track charge of the union s safety com'miuee, a problems' a; nuclear ots. "Obviously.

full-ctme position at the plant. instead, anagement ; ores employess' concems worken fear being labeled as troublemak. at their own ers and passed over for promotions if they But Ctstis defends the plant's proce-chaBenge authority.

dures and emplops' attencon to ssfety "We have a systern here whcre if a icialls. Most of the violatiocis NRC has son doesn't thmk =~~En is safe,per-he cited stem from becaks in proceduns,in-he said, nose procedons are daigned to doesn't have to work," sakf Davis, who has worked at the plant for 20 years. "But still in workers a disciplined approach to, no one wants to be seen as a trotable-thejob, he said.

maker in the eyes ormaamerment."

It's no different than if someone told Some critics of the plant's operations you When you show un for work,I want attribute that to FPL's aggressive effort to you to turn on the lights and then start streamline its work force. he plant an-the coffeepot.'If you came in and did it in nounced a new round oflayoffs in Janu-the oppesite order they'd cite you for a vi-ary;45 workers,or about 5 percent of the clation," Cuttin said.

plant's work force, an e=parwd to be laid The high number of are.y concerns should not worry residents that employees ofr.Since 1991. PFL has laid off shnost a. are being exposed to high levels of radia-quarter of its work force and now has tion, he said.

10,000 employees statewide, it owns two "By no coesns are we coming out of nacicar powcr plants - the other is Tur-that plant cen*=W-M" Curtis said.

A may'or accident, such as an explosion key Point in south Miami Dade Coumy or a radistica leak,is highly improbable

- and provides ciectncal services to doz-at the plant despite its documented prob-ens of mde'paties.

The last wave oflayolTs was in January locu, said Dr. Robert Bari, chairman of l

1996 when FPL &,

d 30 tuanagen the nuckar energy @ laboratory in Up-rwst at the and il union employees in an effort to re-BrookMycn Nuclear duceits St. Lucie staff by 5 percent.

ton, N.Y.

"I know t

're out there to make a

• Residents absolutely should have no profit, but at t expense? We're talking concem about living near the pient," Bari about a nucies pomgr plant." ssJ,d Ron maae see cesara assets on A4 Bowen, a Port St. Lude city councilman

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t The Stuart News Februsry 22,1998 St. Lucie Nuclear Plant cited for too much worker overtime E Federalinvestigators agrec *ith Larry's determination they said st. Lucie's problems are have accused. Plant,

.87

" hi' '*sk. In an Aug. 9.

in the past and fien blamed mis.

1996 report a Nuclear Regulatory haps on former managers.

InanagCr5Of1 Ofing Of Commi.vdon investiptor cited Larr

..We did not have the n. ht encouraging 1. e

$y's work during those two @nD ISid%

g 1NN.*FE

• ' %',,,f *' 7n"3, 85"*r*1 * ""

f 58 problem and failing to ne n,m unplement plans to velof.d a real need to doit by the C0!Tect tge agllSCS.

Those abuses included another boo worker's 182 hours0.00211 days <br />0.0506 hours <br />3.009259e-4 weeks <br />6.9251e-5 months <br /> on the job dur-n eat.,; W been catchmg up my arte Alan Barton ing two weeks and seven other ex.

er me News e:sn amples of excessive overnmc.

Plant managers have told the Many of those monitorcd from NRC they've solved the' problem May 13 to June 13, IM. cNded e.npi yees with,,'rcspon@sibilitics by installing a computer, system HIJTCHINSON ISLAND -

to quash unapproved overtime.

Aftcr cight hours modifying a f,]fety related work, the NRC ulve that controls the ual responsihihty to tac the (com-coolant to a turbino engm, wasn i ready to callit quits.

The report is included in 1.200 puter) program to make sure they' A " maintenance supervisor at the pares of NRC documents released don't violate the lept limits.

St. Lucie Nuclear Plant. Larry to 'ne Stuart News / Port St. Lucie sa,d FPL spokesman Dale said the. repairs reguired to mke News in response to a federal bmas.

the valve more emcient weit too Freedom of Information Act re.

hmas said it's too early to imponant to pass off to the next quest. '%af =~ af mdayp-_ evaluate the new syste:n.

shift, urhn rennet unblems._m me ND MhfidinTuT1 Lany was so interestod in mek mg.7ur the =%

But an NRC investigator Feb.

_.g2 2went the plant another vio!alion that job turn out perfectly he h,h nu %e naines notice for overtime abuse and i

"P 1 trf d pun of a

.e emp! g contacted fo warned that funher misuses shift.

d fourth *

repo 1 mme frem thoec "could resultjn escalated enforce.

rds.

ment action. That action could All told, Larry spent 27 hours3.125e-4 days <br />0.0075 hours <br />4.464286e-5 weeks <br />1.02735e-5 months <br /> be a civil penahy of tens of thou-working at the piant over two Of the NRC code violations at sands of dollars.

days in June 1996, the St.'Lucie plant during recent The violations stam from a "There's a lot of precision ma.

F**#8: * * * ' ** I ' * ***88* *

?

plant te lation set in accordance vertime. Federal investigators with febal law that forbids three chinery in there, and I didn't want to turn it over to someone c!se," have, accused plant, managers of types of overtime abuses: workers said latry, who asked that his real IS"*'8^8 'A' "'88*Nlement spending 16 hours1.851852e-4 days <br />0.00444 hours <br />2.645503e-5 weeks <br />6.088e-6 months <br /> on the job in P'

lem and failmg to unp

. m not W used, citing im of retribution from plant manage-plans to correct the abuses.

ment. "There's a lot of employees Executives and managets with at the plant that take a personal Florida Power and IJght Co. the IBM 20,.make sure the job is owner of the plant did not ad.

done nght.

dress overtime complaints during But federal investigators didn't intervews for tSis report. But

The Stuart News February 22,1998 o

If they don't have acess to (the Of the NRC code violations at the St.

computer system), then they ar.

IJsole plant daaring recent years, most were

$l7d,"*** * * '"P"vi' foc excessive overtime. Federal Curtis said La s 27. hour day inv.tstigators have accused plant managers is not typical.l'orkers rarely of Ignodng or encouraging the problem and s p more than 16 hours1.851852e-4 days <br />0.00444 hours <br />2.645503e-5 weeks <br />6.088e-6 months <br /> on a falling to implement plans to corswet th*

-Yes. 27 hours3.125e-4 days <br />0.0075 hours <br />4.464286e-5 weeks <br />1.02735e-5 months <br /> straight is too abuses. Executives and managers with lon for anybody to work," said Florida Power and Ught Co. said the plant's C"didYs'dd'Io'n's'"

f problems are in the past and often blamed outside the plant's two reactors.

mishaps on former managers.

2"[,"h,l1*l[k'yj"x 8

this."

24 hour2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br />s: 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> at work'in a names off a list of employees will-Larry said it was his choice to 48 hour5.555556e-4 days <br />0.0133 hours <br />7.936508e-5 weeks <br />1.8264e-5 months <br /> period; and 72 hours8.333333e-4 days <br />0.02 hours <br />1.190476e-4 weeks <br />2.7396e-5 months <br /> in a Ing to work overtime because work the 27-hour shift. He said seven-day period. The regulation they can't get the computer's ap-managernent rarely asks anyonc also recommends a break of at proval before worldng the extra to work long overtime houn, but least eight hours between shifts.

time. Curtis saki that action could many employees stay the extrr I*

Employees typically work be-b u fe r workers o b

Mey*W S I expectations, but yund the paruncters in efforts to called in to help.

th y don,t force workcts to stay m<et the overly ambitious capec-tations of management, said Rick Etun if employees don't have loriger," he said. " Irs our choice-to sta, and we do it to get thejob Curtis, local president of the in-acmss to the computet system, ternational Brotherhood of they are required to check with a done.y' Electrical Workers.

supersinor before working over.

time, Domes said.

News sta/T writer Anoy Reid The plant's new system to re.

strict overtime might work with "It's a two-tiered requirement, contributed fo rbu nport.

employees who use a computer. -

but many don't have access to a terminal of even have a password to t signed on to the program, Cu is said.

Many have simply taken their

I The Stuart News February 22,1998 I

t i

l l

Tamaround precedent Three Mie IsLandlec tO ChangCS l

ey m us -

of the News statt It was an early spring da'y in 1979 when the nuclear power industry changed forever.

A control panel malfunction at Tluce Mile Island Nuclear Plant dmpped the level of coolant circulat-ing in Unit 2.The overheating rnelted 90 percent of the reactor core and damaged a significant amount of the plutoniurn fuel.

Residenis were evueunted from the rural area near Middletown, Pa.. as radioactive gases escaped from the plant.

Since then. Three Mile Island has become one of the best-perforrning plants in the country. Unit 1, the nactor unaffected by the meltdown, set a record last summer for running 116 days without a glitch.

"The scrident was certainly a piv-otal point for tbc whole industry, not just Three Mile Island," said plant spokeswoman Laura Karinch.

Please see CHANQas on A3

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The Stuart News February 22,1998 a

l power watchdog groups warn that sors, said David Imhbaum, a the substantiated complaints could nudcar safety engineer with the show managers aren t answering Union of Concemed $ dentists, employees' concerns.

.The.NRC complamts probably riant managers disagre. They have resuhed from anployees not dcclined to comment for this re-getting satisfaction aner reporting port, but Florida Power and Light problems to supervisors.he said.

Co., the owner of the plant, re-

"It may not be that the plant is leased a statement that rays com-ignoring these concerns," Loch-pany policy encourages employces baurn said. "It could be that the to come forward.

cxnrniaints are some-

"FPL's nuclear division policy I need,to be rued and are encourages employees to share a to a list of other things that any cormm with their supervi-need to be fixed first.

sors," tbc statement said. "Em-

"If the emplovec doesn't see it ployees who do not wish to dis-getting correcsecf right away, he's cuss their concerns with likely to call the NRC," he said.

supervtsors can bring them to the Union head Rick Curtis said attention of FPL's employee con-cmployees fear they will be fired cztru program, the Nuc1 car Regu-or demoted if they embarrass the latory Commission, or both."

company or cost it some money.

NRC investigators have cite.f Curtis said plant supervuors the plant for the same violations h=w warned him a5minst talking several times during the past year, to sopne outside the plant Fle including overtime abuses and a said he has camed respect among failure to contain radioective tools reanagement and that protects in a safe area. Investigators have him against backlash.

said the plant has failed to imple-

"Sometimes the plant socs owr-mmt polcy chauses to fix prob-board with Ayfm in order to lems.

scare cmployecz mio cornp!iance, Management needs to em-Curtis said. "They do this instead phasize to worken that it will cor-of training employees on how to rect probierm reported to supervi-do it right the ftrst time."

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l "Ibe Stuart News February 22,1998 e

I

--. April 29,1996 I

The NRC sends the ptart a scaking review for violations that I

" persist even after comsetive actions have teen completed for I

previous, similar violations.* The crticisms include a failure with the radiabon rronfior and probsems with the planfs emergency j,,

backup generator that could have left it inoperable.

S

+ June 18-19,1996 NRC inspectors and tedir&4 remove 17 tools car.zirkisted with radiation from the ' dean room," an area designated to be free d Ngh levels of radiation. The tools had raduation levels up b 120

~"

times acceptable levels. Inspectors later find that tools eted g

to be kept in radia6cn areas are often massing and have rxx been g

painted purple, as required to identffy them as being contambated.

g C

g -

An etion of overtime logs finds 53 violations of regulatons

+Au l7,1996 y

J I

!!Miting the number of hours an employee is a50wed to werk. The

.M I

abtws, tracked by reviemng gate logs for 26 employees, include one employee worldng I7 hours straight n1 alull a mu kh y 152 I

hours in a tw> week span.The NRC adds a third full-tima inspector I

for the plat Nov. 26,19%

.l The plant's emergency response sp hMu i is mderstafled and r

using a plan that d::esn't address radiation, according to an NRC report. Employees hoyo also been undertrained in prepanng for an emergency, investigafors say. A rnonth later, the NRC criteizes the plant for using undertrdnod employees to calibrate ra4aton

.monhoring equipment.

Timeline

'l

. ].s s.

continues k

" Complaints at the St. Lucie plant

[g iM,gthe Empoyee com a

' increased EM f bd one Numberof b

ed it! 1993, complaints and 2s in 1997.

g.g.

g Numberof complaints

{$ubstantiated

+

I

'N 1995 18 1997

- u ~% c-Gragnc Daegnec DMO MotautN

C@MPLAINTS The Stuart News A chronology ofproblems February 21,1998 Ste Lucie Nuclear Plant iI M L LIN[

contiaurd l

-. Jan.10,19M i

The plant Me tailed to bmit *=c==c e padected and vt al areas of the plant *C aJthorized workers. FPL agreed e pay a $100,000 fne for that ard reisted problems caed in f e i

itN

= port.

. - Feb.14,1997 The pierd has taied to notif pregnard usttors d the dar gets f

posed by redstlort However, the conydant, filed by a 1

. ergloyee and corroborated by hvesbgetorn, is not a vie anon

! cf federalteguimuono.

'* AprH 28,1997 The NRC lemuss a taw >rable report that says the plati is

• generalP/ charadertred by safety conscious opera 5 ns, evn/cy and rrwwenance practeer car, cribdze rnanagers for the ' routine been y uso dowrnmetrteactorcontroloperWors"inthaturne Tonth, plant oficiais fhd a makesNft crack cocano pipe in a y ortable toliet brought in for temporary workers. And 70 emp oyees are evacuated f!ve days afar tie NRC's report cartes out

{

because d high lewis d radiason that escape durhg a roubneinstrument replacement.

l L. June 12,1997 About 120 wo*ers p.cket ino piant. saying nunagers are j,

fanng to respond b workers' cor@lairts

. - July 14,1997 The piant's ongoing probiern rrttn bo(s in the radh rtion i

containment area stsfaces again when an NRC repori say; workers have tailed tolog their use.

Feb.2.1998 The N#tC issues a violabon for repetitive' problems vnth a

ovecme abuses that hdicate y corrective accons haw not been tota 0y eMeaive. Wise the violatico rernans a Level Four ciones - the least sevem c4 the p nalbes -

-l the NRC wems in its report that continued abus as could escalate the action, rneantng a civt penany waf 4 be IAe)y.

i'L-Feb.13,l'998

. NRC regurators meet with power plant dficials er an irspecar con 6tms that a reactor's ei spry axient sy; tem was openali g for four years under specmcatium that could how caused it to overheat h an emergency A comparision Ogiw guma gelastts The d-bewmow. e number of complaints med by workers at some of the ration's nudear r

3 Msg 6

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 5

l W ASHINGTON. O.C. 308504001 M,kle.

February 23, 1998 g

Mr. Thomas J. Saporito. Jr'.

Executive Director al National Litigation Consultants kc deg 6230 Indiantown Road No. 7-355 Jupiter. FL 33458

SUBJECT:

REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION OF THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY CO MISSION (NRC)

Dear Hr. Saporito:

This letter ack'nowledges our receipt of a c$al Responsibility in wh of your February 9.1998, letter to the President's Office nf Profess requested an investigation of the NRC. The NRC takes its responsibility oi protecting. to the extent possible. the. identity of individuals who raise safety concerns to us very seriously. In this regard, following notification of the error by the staff the~ 0ffice of the Inspector General has initiated an inquiry into the staff's handling of the responses to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.

In addition, an independent Task Force was chartered by the Executive Director for Operations to review not only the

1rcumstances surrounding the aforementioned events but the NRC's overall process for handling FOIA requests related to allegation materials.

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We are responding at this time because the description of the released information provided in your letter is not an accurate reflection of the infonnation released or the parties that received the information. You

. indicated that the basis for the request was information you received from an employee of Florida Power & Light Company's (FPL) St. Lucie Plant indicating that WRC had publicly released infomation that the employee provided related (1) pecifically. you stated that the St. Lucie to safety concerns at the plant.

S NRC released confidential safety concerns egloyee had advised you that:

to the newspaper whicIt identified the employee by name as the source of the sefety concerns; and (2) FPL notified the WRC that the employee's concerns wre found in the local Public Docurert Room (PDR) bearinsi the' employee's naae_.

With regard to the inappropriate release of information described in your February 9,1998, letter, on February 6,1998. Anne Boland, Director.

Erforcement and Investigations Coordination Staff. Region II, notified the St. Lucie employee you refenence of a potential coepromise of his identity durire the processire of two FOIA requests: from the Port St..Lucie News. To clarify the record recarding your characterization of this issue. the employee was advised of the following:

In prrr.essing ' he first of these FDIA requests the NRC provided to the t

newspaper information whith included a brief description of the employee 4 allegations to the NRC. Although the information did not include this employee's namei it was sesequently determined that 6

. knowledgeable irdividual at the ilt. Lucie site could possibly determine t

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T. Saporito 2

his identity from the sacifics of the allegation information $ocal PDR rovided.

Information from this F0IA request was placed in the PDR. the t

and we subsequently learned that the licensee had obtained a copy of the document.

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In processing the second FOIA request, the NRC released information j

regarding the employee's allegations, and his name was inadvertently i

included in an index of haants which was provided to the newspaper.

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.Information from this FOIA request was placed in the PDR in Washin$on.

I D.C. for a brief period.of time; however it was never placed in tw local PDR in the St. Lucie area, and the licensee told the staff that they did not receive a copy of information bearing the employee's name.

As indicated above based on our understanding of the information. the de= ant specifically. identifying the employee's name was not placed in the local PDR nor was it in the possession of FPL. To our knowledge, the newspaper was the only possessor of the document with the employee's name, and they indicated that it was not their intent to expose any individuals.

s Following the paper's initial review of the material, the reportei'inforned the staff that he either did not receive the appendix that included the alleger's name or he did not keep it.

At this time, all of the information from both FOIA requests has been removed from the POR and the local PDR. In addition, as of February 13. 1998. FPL had returned the documentation that was inappropriately released under the first FOIA request to the NRC. The newspaper also indicated that the the pages that contain the inappropriately released material. y will return In sumery, the staff inappropriate 1 released information to the licensee that could have resulted in identi ng the individual referred to in your letter. However, the licensoe state they did not receive the document that responded to the second FOIA request that included the individual's name.

Nevertheless, in your February 9.1908 letter. that you indicated was provided to FPL. the individual was identified by name.

If you have any questions regarding the NRC's actions with respect to these issues, you may contact me at 301-415-8529.

Sincerely.

@&V/A Edward T.

Baker Agency Allegation Advisor

[4 Houq'o UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[

o REGION 11 7

y ATLANTA FEDERAL CENTER L

61 FORSYTH STREET. SW. SUITE 23T85 4g /

ATLANTA. GEORGIA 30303 3415 February 27. 1998 Florida Power and Light Company i

ATTh-Mr. T. F. Plunkett President - Nuclear Division P.O. Box 14000 Juno Beach. Florida 33408-0420

SUBJECT:

FREEDOM 0F INFORMATION ACT (FOIA) NUMBER 97-461

Dear Mr. Plunkett:

This refers to the February 6.1998, telephone conversation between you and Dr. Bruce S. Mallett of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Region II and Dr. Mallett's subsequent discussions with Mr. Mitchell S. Ross. Florida Power and Light Company (FPL) Corporate Counsel regarding the return, to the NRC. of a copy of the record released by the agency in response to F0IA 97-461.

Your company obtained a copy of. this record and alerted the NRC to the fact that certain allegation related information contained therein was of such specificity, that knowledgeable individuals reviewing this information could ascertain the identity of some of the concerned individuals who had provided the information to the NRC.

During the discussion with Mr. Ross. Dr. Hallett understood that FPL had made a few copies of the record, but Mr. Ross would oversee the retrieval of all the copies and destroy them. As a result of this discussion. Dr. Mallett asked that you return the original record and certify that all other copies were returned to Mr. Ross and destroyed.

By letter dated February 12. 1998. Mr. Ross forwarded a copy of the record released in response to FOIA 97-461 to Region II and confirmed that all other copies of the record had been collected and destroyed. We acknowledge receipt of Mr. Ross' February 12 letter and FPL's copy of the record released in response to FOIA 97-461.

Your prompt action to advise the NRC of the problems associated with the record released in response to FOIA 97-461 and your willingness to return your copy of the record and destroy all other copies are appreciated.

The NRC has undertaken a number of actions in response to this matter Many of these actions are ongoing. and a number are directed towards minimizing any actual or potential identification of individuals who 3rovided information to the NRC. As a result of these initial actions, we lave determined that inappropriate allegation information, including the names of several 'allegers, was previously released by the NRC in response to F0IA reques' associated

. with your St. Lucie facility including FOIA 96-485 which we u.,erstand was a FOIA request made on FPL's behalf t'y a third party.

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It is important that FPL management continue to maintain a heightened awareness with regard to the protection of the identities of these individuals who have provided concerns to the NRC.

It is also important. in view of the inadvertent release of identities that FPL and its managers emphasize b 2Y f

V 1

FPL 2

awareness of the Commission's Employee Protection regulations and policies so as to maintain an environment where these individuals are not subject to retaliatory discrimination for raising safety concerns to the NRC and to avoid the regulatory scrutiny which would result should such discrimination claims be raised.

Please contact me should you have any questions concerning this letter.

Sincerely.

Luis A.

Re -

Regional Ad strator

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