[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 26, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-26491]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: October 26, 1994]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-325 and 50-324
Carolina Power & Light Company et al. Brunswick Steam Electric
Plant, Units 1 and 2; Issuance of Director's Decision Under 10 CFR
2.206
Notice is hereby given that the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor
Regulation (NRR), has issued a Director's Decision concerning a
Petition dated October 14, 1993, filed pursuant to 10 CFR 2.206, on
behalf of the National Whistleblower Center (NWC), the Coastal Alliance
for a Safe Environment (CASE), and Mr. Charles A. Webb, requesting that
actions be taken regarding the Brunswick Steam Electric Plant
(Brunswick), Units 1 and 2, of the Carolina Power & Light Company (CP&L
or the Licensee). The Petition requested that (1) the NRC staff enter
into a confidentiality agreement with NWC to facilitate the release of
additional information; (2) the NRC immediately require the Licensee to
state whether it has, in fact, known about cracks in the reactor core
shroud since at least 1984; and (3) the Commission's Office of
Investigations determine whether CP&L management engaged in criminal
wrongdoing, commencing in 1984, when CP&L is alleged to have failed to
report the existence of cracks in the core shroud to the NRC. The
Petition also requested an immediate suspension of the operating
license for Brunswick pending the criminal investigation.
The Petitioners based their request on allegations that (1) the
Licensee falsely asserted to the NRC and to the public that cracks in
the reactor shroud were but recently discovered, and the Petitioners
contend that the Licensee discovered the cracks nine years earlier and
the Licensee's management instructed the engineers who detected the
cracks to prepare paperwork that would ensure that the cracks would not
be reported to the NRC; (2) this alleged coverup demonstrates that CP&L
does not have the character or integrity to operate a nuclear facility
because of its unwillingness to report significant safety problems to
the NRC; and (3) the Licensee is willing to take unreasonable risks
with the health and safety of the public.
The Director of NRR has granted in part and denied in part the
Petitioner's requests. The reasons are explained in the ``Director's
Decision Under 10 CFR 2.206'' (DD-94-09), which is available for public
inspection and copying in the Commission's Public Document Room at 2120
L Street, NW., Washington, DC 20037, and at the Licensee's local public
document room at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington,
William Madison Randall Library, 601 S. College Road, Wilmington, NC
28403-3297.
A copy of the Decision will be filed with the Secretary of the
Commission for the Commission's review in accordance with 10 CFR
2.206(c). As provided for in 10 CFR 2.206(c), the Decision will become
the final action of the Commission 25 days after the date of issuance
unless the Commission on its own motion institutes a review of the
Decision within that time.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 19th day of October 1994.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
William T. Russell,
Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-26491 Filed 10-25-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M
