ML20199D503

Presents Ofc of Investigations Preliminary Views Re Intimidation & Harassment of Tva.Climate Tending to Discourage Reporting of Safety Concerns by TVA Employees. New Allegations Continue to Be Received

ML20199D503
Person / Time
Issue date:	04/14/1986
From:	Hayes B NRC OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS (OI)
To:	Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
NUDOCS 8606200360
Download: ML20199D503 (1)

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April 14, 1986 MEMORANDUM FOR:

Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation I'

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FROM:

Ben B. kayes, Director Office of Investigations

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SUBJECT:

PRELIMINARY OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS (01) VIEWS REGARDING INTIMIDATION AND HARASSMENT AT TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY (TVA)

The Executive Director for Operations re' quested 01's view regarding intimida-tion and harassment at TVA. What follows are our preliminary views which are formed primarily from the results of one completed investigation and the interviews of many TVA employees and contractor personnel. As we have several investigations ongoing, these opinions are clearly subject to change; It is our view that a climate has persiste'd at TVA (at least in the nuclear program) for at least.the past six years that tended to discourage the report-ing of. safety concerns by TVA employees.

The record-to-date suggests that this perception was widespread, and that it was apparently caused by several instances of retaliation or reprisals by TVA managers against employees who raised safety concerns. Our one completed investigation regarding this subject (2-85-009) essentially reaches this conclusion, and this view is reinforced by other interviews during the course of related, on-going investi-gations.

Although TVA has replaced several senior managers, and has made strong public statements against intimidation and harassment, we continue to receive new allegations of such activity. Although we cannot yet judge the accuracy of these new allegations, it is noteworthy that the Department of Labor (DOL) has found in favor of most of those complainants that have reported violations to it.

We have interviewed four persons who have complained to D0L.

I have enclosed a breakdown of their individual allegations listing the TVA managers that allegedly intimidated or harassed them.

I would like to emphasize that at this juncture they remain only allegations in the view of OI notwithstand-ing the related DOL actions.

Enclosure:

As stated cc:

J. Taylor, IE J. Olshinski, RII R. Fortuna, 01 E. Gilbert,-OI J. Vorse, OI:RII 8606200360 860414 PDR TOPRP EUTT C

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