No. I-07-061 

Contact: Diane Screnci, 610/337-5330 

 Neil Sheehan, 610/337-5331 

Nov. 27, 2007

NRC CITES FORMER SUSQUEHANNA NUCLEAR PLANT OPERATOR 

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has cited a former control room operator at the 

Susquehanna nuclear power plant for a violation of agency requirements that occurred in 2006. 

The violation stems from a failure by the operator to report an off-site arrest as required under 

the procedures for the plant, which is located in Salem Township (Luzerne County), Pa., and 

operated by PPL. 

As part of the enforcement action – the details of which were determined through the 

NRC’s Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADRS) process – the individual is required to take several 

actions, including writing a report that will discuss lessons learned from the event. The report is 

to be submitted to at least three national organizations for possible publication. 

A letter sent to the former operator by the NRC regarding the enforcement action reminds 

him that “you held a license from the United States government that conferred upon you the 

special trust and confidence of the American people in the safe operation of nuclear facilities and 

placed you in the position where your performance is expected to be above reproach. This 

included, as an NRC Senior Reactor Operator license-holder, your responsibility to follow all 

licensee procedures to ensure protection of the public health and safety, and to set an example for 

those under your supervision. Your actions on June 27, 2006, did not meet those standards.” 

The individual involved, a Senior Reactor Operator, was arrested on June 19, 2006, for 

driving under the influence of alcohol. Under plant procedures, he was required to report the 

arrest to PPL upon his first day back at work, which was June 27, 2006. He also reported for 

work several times thereafter without reporting the arrest. The arrest subsequently came to light 

and the operator had his site access suspended on July 24, 2006. He was later dismissed by the 

company and his operating license was terminated by the NRC. 

An investigation into the matter was initiated by the NRC’s Office of Investigations on 

Aug. 4, 2006, that substantiated the procedure violation. 

Subsequent to the identification of the violation, the individual took several actions on his 

own to demonstrate he had learned from the event, including attending substance abuse 

counseling and entering into the state’s Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition Program, which 

included participating in education awareness and community service. 

NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs, Region I 

475 Allendale Road, King of Prussia, Pa. 19406 

E-mail: opa1@nrc.gov 

Site: http://www.nrc.gov
In a letter sent to the former operator on July 2, 2007, the individual was informed about 

the investigation results and offered the opportunity to attend either a Predecisional Enforcement 

Conference or to request the use of Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR). The individual opted 

for ADR, which, in this context, refers to a process in which a neutral mediator with no decisionmaking authority assists the NRC and license-holders in reaching an agreement resolving any 

differences regarding an enforcement action. Toward that end, an ADR mediation session 

between the NRC and the former operator took place on Sept. 27, 2007, at the agency’s Region I 

Office in King of Prussia, Pa. 

As a result of that session, a settlement agreement was reached. The terms have now been 

confirmed by the NRC via a Confirmatory Order issued to the individual. Under that agreement, 

the NRC and the former operator agree that a willful violation of regulatory requirements 

occurred, since the failure to promptly notify plant management of the arrest violated the 

facility’s fitness-for-duty/behavior observation program, which is required by the NRC. The 

NRC is issuing a Severity Level III Notice of Violation to the individual. 

Other elements of the agreement include: 

● The former operator will write an operating experience report that will address lessons 

learned from this violation. It will include a discussion of meeting the intent of procedures as 

part of procedural adherence. 

● He will provide the NRC a copy of the report for review and submit it to a minimum of 

three national organizations for possible publication, including the Institute for Nuclear Power 

Operations and the Nuclear Energy Institute. 

● He will submit a written response to the NRC explaining the reasons why the agency 

can have confidence in his ability to follow plant procedures and meet NRC regulations should 

he work in the nuclear industry in the future. 

● He will prepare a training plan for licensed and non-licensed operator training at the 

Susquehanna plant regarding procedural adherence as it relates to meeting the intent of 

procedures and the lessons learned from the circumstances involved in the violation. 

● He will inform the NRC before resuming work involving activities licensed by the 

agency. 

● The actions will be completed within 3 months after the issuance of the Confirmatory 

Order. In addition, the former operator will send the NRC a letter within 30 days of completion 

of the actions to provide notification they are done. 

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