No. II-09-045 August 7, 2009 

CONTACT: Roger Hannah (404) 562-4417 E-mail: OPA2@nrc.gov

 Joey Ledford (404) 562-4416 

WESTINGHOUSE’S COLUMBIA PLANT AGREES TO IMPROVEMENTS 

THROUGH NRC ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION 

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued a Confirmatory Order to 

Westinghouse Electric Company’s Columbia facility as part of a settlement agreement involving 

the actions of a former contractor foreman. That individual deliberately created inaccurate 

training records for his work group and also falsified ventilation system data when the required 

readings had not been taken. The foreman caused Westinghouse to be in violation of NRC 

requirements. 

Westinghouse requested the alternative dispute resolution process to resolve differences 

with the NRC concerning the apparent violations and to discuss corrective actions. The 

confirmatory order documents Westinghouse’s commitments to the NRC reached as part of the 

NRC’s ADR process, which can be selected by the individual or license holder in place of 

traditional NRC enforcement. Often, the ADR process is more effective than traditional 

enforcement action. 

The ADR process uses a mediator to help the NRC and the license holder or individual 

find the best way to address the causes of the violations. The ADR process strives to make sure 

that effective long-term solutions for correcting violations are identified and agreed upon; that 

the commitment to improvement is made; and that the individual or license holder meets the 

commitments made to the NRC in a way that ensures the agency’s safety rules and regulations 

are implemented. 

As part of the settlement agreement, Westinghouse has agreed to a number of corrective 

actions and enhancements, including procedure revisions, improved oversight of contractors and 

an incorporation of lessons learned into training. The company also agreed to an independent 

review of its employee concerns program as well as an assessment of manager training in 

investigating and documenting issues that may include wrongdoing. Some of the actions agreed 

to by Westinghouse go beyond what would have been required under the NRC’s traditional 

enforcement process. 

NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs, Region II 

61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta GA 30303 

Web Site: www.nrc.gov 
In consideration of the commitments made by Westinghouse, the NRC will not propose a 

civil penalty, issue a Notice of Violation or take other enforcement action on the matter. The 

NRC will, however, evaluate adherence to the commitments during future inspections. 

Copies of the letter and the Confirmatory Order will be available in the electronic reading 

room on the NRC website at www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html or by contacting the Office of 

Public Affairs in Region II with the contact information on this release. Westinghouse’s 

response, should it provide one, will also be available. 

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