ML20137S024
| ML20137S024 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Wolf Creek  |
| Issue date: | 04/07/1997 |
| From: | Merschoff E NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | Fletcher M AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| References | |
| IA-97-020, IA-97-20, NUDOCS 9704150006 | |
| Download: ML20137S024 (5) | |
Text
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION O
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611 RYAN PLAZA DP.tvE, SulTE 400
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AR LINGToN, TEXAS 760118064 April 7, 1997 i
IA 97-020 Mr. Michael K. Fletcher
[HOME ADDRESS DELETED UNDER 10 CFR 2.790]
SUBJECT:
NRC Investigation Report No. 4-96-051
Dear Mr. Fletcher:
This refers to the subject investigation conducted by the NRC's Office of Investigations (01) at Wolf Creek Nuclear Generating Station and completed on January 31, 1997. The investigation was conducted to review the circumstances surrounding the unauthorired movement of a locked high radiation area boundary. You were interviewed by 01 during the investigation.
As indicated in the enclosed investigation synopsis, the investigation found that on September 16,1996, you deliberately moved a locked high radiation area boundary in violation of plant procedures which require that only radiation protection personnel can relocate or change radiological postings.
In your interview with 01, you admitted that you had moved flashing lights and a rope barrier that had been installed on a stairway. You said that you did this to facilitate the cutting of insulation material, which you were supervising. You also stated that you had attended a prejob briefing at which workers were told not to move or cross the barriers and that you had previously received general employee training which included instructions not to move radiation barriers. You also stated that when you left containment after moving the barriers, you informed radiation protection personrel and requested that the barriers be moved to f acilitate work the next day.
Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation (WCNOC) investigated your actions, and as a result, you received time off without pay, were required to repeat radiation worker training, and were admonished that you would be terminated if a similar incident were to occur.
The NRC has considered all of the circumstances of this matter and, on balance, has determined that formal enforcement action is not warranted in this case. Although you told Ol that you did not realize that you had violated plant procedures, your training and attendance at the prejob briefing should have been sufficient to make you aware that you did not have the authority to move the barriers. These facts notwithstanding, our review of this incident indicates that you moved the barrier only slightly, that it did not affect the radiation levels in the area, and that it did not allow workers to actually enter the posted high radiation area. Furthermore, we considered your reporting of this upon leaving containment, and the disciplinary actions already taken against you by WCNOC.
9704150006 970407 PDR ADOCK 05000482 G
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Mr. Michael Fletcher While formal enforcement action is not being taken against you, you should be aware that the NRC's regulations allow the issuance of civil sanctions to be taken directly against unlicensed persons who, through their deliberate misconduct, cause a licensee to be in
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violation of NRC requirements. Deliberate misconduct includes an intentional act or omission that the person knows constitutes a violation of a requirement, procedure or training instruction. An order may also be issued to an individual to prevent his or her
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engaging in licensed activities at ali NRC licensed facilities. A violation of this regulation as set forth in 10 CFR 50.5, Deliberate Misconduct (Enclosure 2), may also lead to criminal prosecution. Similar failures in the future could lead to formal NRC enforcement action against you.
You are not required to respond to this letter. However, if you choose to provide a response, please provide it to me within 30 days at U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Region IV, ATTN: Gary Sanborn, 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400, Arlingion, Texas 76011.
In accordance with Section 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice " Part 2, Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, records or documents compiled for enforcement purposes are placed in the NRC Public Document Room (PDR). A copy of this letter with your address removed, and your response, if you choose to submit one, will be placed in the PDR.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact Gary Sanborn, regional Enforcement Officer, at 817-860-8222 or 800-952-9677.
Sincerely, Ellis W. Mersc Regional Ad istrator
Enclosures:
- 1. Synopsis 014-96-051
- 2. Deliberate Misconduct Rule cc w/ Enclosure 1:
Otto L. Maynard, President and Chief Executive Officer Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation P.O. Box 411 Burlington, Kansas '66839 i
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t Mr. Michael Fletcher._-( ( I f
V bec w/ Enclosure 1:
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LPDR UDOCS SECY EC's: RI,Ril,Rlli CA PA (0-2G4)
EDO (017G21)
OlG (T-5D28)
DEDO (017G21)
OE (0-7H5)
OE:EAFile (0-7H5)
Oi (0-3E4)
OGC (015B18)
OGC (0-15B18)
' NRR (0-12G18)
NRR/ADP (0-12G18)
NRR PROJECT MANAGER OC/DAF (T-9E10)
OC/LFDCB (T-9E10)
AEOD (T-4D18)
RA Reading File GSanborn-EAFile RWise-Allega Mon File RIV Files MIS Coordinator LWilliamson, 01 RIV Files WJohnson BMurray i
E-Mall DISTRIBUTION:
OEMAll JDyer (JED2)
TPGwynt (TPG)
WBrown (WLB)
GSanborn (GFS)
GMVasquez (GMV)
BHenderson (BWH)
MHammond (MFH2)
CHackney (CAH)
DKunihiro (DMK1)
Art Howell (ATH)
DChamberlain (DDC)
KPerkins (KEP)
WJohnson (WDJ)
FRingwald (JFR1)
KBrockman (KEB)
BMurray (BXM)
IBarnes (IXB)
DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\EA\\ DRAFT \\lA97020.DFT To receive copy of dorsnent, Indicate in box: "C" = Copy without enclosures "E" = Copy wth enclosures "N" = No copy E0*
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Mr. Michael Fletcher bec w/ Enclosure 1:
-MP'r2r LPDR NUDOCS SECY EC's: RI,Rll,Rlli CA PA (0-2G4)
EDO (0-17G21)
OlG (T-5D28)
DEDO (0-17G21)
OE (0-7H5)
OE:EAFile (0-7H5) 01 (0-3E4)
OGC (0-15B18)
OGC (0-15B18)
NRR (0-12G18)
NRR/ADP (0-12G18)
NRR PROJECT MANAGER OC/DAF (T-9E10)
OC/LFDCB (T-9E10)
AEOD (T-4D18)
RA Reading File GSanborn-EAFile RWise-Allegation File RIV Files MIS Coordinator LWilliamson, 01 RIV Files WJohnson BMurray E-Mall DISTRIBUTION:
OEMAIL JDver (JED2)
TPGwynn (TPG)
WBrown (WLB)
GSanborn (GFS)
GMVasquez (GMV)
BHenderson (BWH)
MHammond (MFH2)
CHackney (CAH)
DKunihiro (DMK1)
Art Howell (ATH)
DChamberlain (DDC)
KPerkins (KEP)
WJohnson (WDJ)
FRingwald (JFR1)
KBrockman (KEB)
BMurray (BXM)
IBarnes (lXB)
DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\EA\\ DRAFT \\EA970.63.DFT To receive copy of document, Indicate in box: "C" = Copy without enclosures "E" = Copy with enclosures "N" = No copy E0 PIL l C:PSB 0:DRS,,ii RC 7
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OFFICIAL RECORD COPY a
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ENCLOSURE 1 l
SYN 0PSIS i
i This investigation was initiated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC),
I Office of Investigations (01), Region IV (RIV), on October 1,1996, to 4
determine if a fire protection program engineer at Wolf Creek Nuclear J
Operating Corporatic 's Wolf Creek Nuclear Generating Station (WCNGS) deliberately relocated a locked high radiation area (LHRA) boundary, in
. violation of licensee procedures.
Based on the evidence developed during the investigation, the allegation that.
t a fire protection program engineer deliberately moved an LHRA posting / boundary inside containment in violation of licensee procedures was substantiated.
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Case No. 4-96-051 1
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