Browns Ferry

[Limited Quanity]

Hey what's up at Le Ferry!  Heard that they are making Watts Bar's RPM send four techs down for the outage.  Two left Friday afternoon and looking for volunteers from the Bartlett crew.   Word is that they don't want to squeeze anymore than 2 techs from the house staff so it's down the river for 2 Bartlett techs.     More house techs want to go but...

Industry Event I hear your at the drywell this time...smokin!!

[vikingfan]

anyone have any info about a detensioner rthat got jammed and had to be cut off ?

[Roll Tide]

NRC approves BFN-1 restart:

http://www.enewscourier.com/local/local_story_135215958.html/resources_printstory

Should be online later this month. Next week?

[Len61]

Browns Ferry Unit 1, Critical @ 0028, 5/22/2007.

[LaFeet]

coolness... guess theres more work for me now

[Asa1]

Outstanding!
Now let the revival begin!

[Fermi2]

WOW!!!!! Yea for us!!! This is BIG!

Congrats BFN!

Mike

[rumrunner]

They commenced the 1000 psi drywell inspection this afternoon.  Unit 1 was still critical when I left Le Ferry this afternoon.  When I last checked the schedule we were looking to put some Unit 1 megawatts on the grid on Thursday. 

I may have to put out a special edition of my RP Outage Newsletter!

[rumrunner]

No megawatts today.  Unit 1 was shutdown overnight when an EHC leak developed.  For those of us who went through restarts on the other two units, all I can say is we saw this coming.  Something is going to be out there to put the unit in the dirt.

[LaFeet]

Got my fingers and toes crossed for you guys and gals...

[nukedog]

Talked to a friend of mine that works there, He said they went critical again last night and as of 2030 hrs today they are at 10%. He said they still have alot of testing to go. They hope to go sync with the generator tomorrow.

[rumrunner]

Unit 1 has been at 100% off and on for the past few days...really just bouncing from 95% or so to 100%.  The big news is that President Bush is visiting us on June 21 to congratulate us for bringing Unit 1 back to service.  The whole site is abuzz!

[deaztrailnutz]

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20070619/APN/706190689

[20kats]

After working in nuclear power construction for 28 years, I was fired at the Browns Ferry Unit 1 Restart for reporting a situation that violated client procedures.  As a long time contractor I am familiar with the politics that surround this industry, but, have never been intimidated into ignoring a problem and through the years have played by the rules.  It is illegal to fire an employee for reporting problems at a nuclear plant, however, subcontractor's are well versed on how to compile false allegations against an employee in order to fire them, thus protecting their interests and remaining inside the legal arena.  Sadly, I am just one of the many casualties of this type of action.

Being fired is shocking, especially when it happens to you, however, this is not the issue.  I believe the safeguards in place to protect employees are only as good as the people who administer these safeguards.  In my case, the administrator's failed miserably, from the the point of ignoring me right down to one TVA manager laughing. There was no internal investigation into my complaint. Not even a phone call from the Inspector General's office. My experience shows that you are taking your career on a fast ride down a slippery slope when reporting problems.  It was not a benign error I reported and eventually turned out to be a B-Level PER at this facility.

The scary issue here is that the system in place today at TVA's nuclear plants for reporting problems is cracked just wide enough for you or a fellow contractor to fall through and disappear.  Your loss of income and difficulty in finding work is really just a personal problem to the power company.  The fact that problems at nuclear site's are not being reported for this very reason is the crux of the matter.  We are the builders of these plants and when management fails to back us, as we operate within their established procedures, all you end up with is a problem waiting to happen.  The next time you run across a discrepancy, nonconformance, and/or problem in the course of your daily work, you might want to take a smoke break and think over the possible consequences before you write it up.

[PWHoppe]

The next time you run across a discrepancy, nonconformance, and/or problem in the course of your daily work, you might want to take a smoke break and think over the possible consequences before you write it up.

Absolutely the WRONG thing to do. No matter what your job function is at the facility it is your obligation to report whatever you think is wrong. The nuclear industry is founded on the basis of self reporting.

There are laws in place to stop retaliation, but I don't know your circumstances and will not comment on your personal situation. However, if you feel you were let go for reporting a non-conforming condition, then I would suggest getting legal representation.

[vikingfan]

I would suggest writting an e mail to the nrc at allegation@nrc.gov or call their allegation or concern line at (800) 695-7403.

[Fermi2]

Wow there's a lot of bitterness.... And my guess is....  Oh well.

On a more truthful note I see this weekend BFN 1 is scheduled to perform Major Pump Trip testing followed by initiating an MSIV Closure SCRAM. Last week they actually injected HPCI to the Reactor as a test or so I hear. MAN I'd about kill to be there to see this stuff.

Mike

[stownsend]

I would suggest writting an e mail to the nrc at allegation@nrc.gov or call their allegation or concern line at (800) 695-7403.

There's also a time limit to file.

[20kats]

Yes, I wore those same rose colored glasses when I was on the job.  I performed my dutes with diligence, honesty, and the same profound ideals that I would be protected.  And yes Mike, there was a lot of bitterness and since you were not affected, who cares, right?  The truth is you might be the next one out the door.  There was a lawyer.  He did his best but just wasn't able to understand the complexities and depth of this issue.  Lawyers are a business and you will find it difficult to locate one that specializes in this area.  Only movies have legal hero's.  The NRC, well, if you don't have a smoking gun it's hard to get their attention.  Keep in mind, the plant owner, subcontractors, NRC, and others are not enemies.  Rather, they are co-dependent.  You, on the other hand, are just an employee of one of these entities and replaceable.

Thank you for the suggestions but I've been there and done that.  I've been pro-nuke since 1975 and a true believer the system works.  I have found, through my own experience, the system is broken, at least at TVA.  This information is just that, information.  You do not have to believe it or even care about it.  As I said early, a law is only as good as those who enforce it.  And I agree, PWHoppe, with your statement about self reporting and obligation in the nuclear workplace.  I believed that with my whole heart until I was fired.  Until I pursued justice for wrongful termination and the system turned it's back.  Not because I didn't have a case, but for other reasons only TVA can answer.  I am a hard core procedure follower and cannot be intimidated to do the wrong thing.  With that said, it is wise for the employee on the ground level to understand what he or she risks by depending on a system that may or may not protect you.  There are no guarantees and you can be collecting unemployment before you even know what hit you.

You have a mere two years to get someone's attention to your case.  It's not enough time.  Submitting your complaints online to the company that's the owner of the facility is ludicrous.  Submitting your complaints to a government entity whose whole existance is based on continuing nuclear work is beyond ludicrous.  There is no independent overseer of the nuclear power industry.    If the pendulum swings too far to one side, someone is going to get fired.  So they try with all their might to keep it neutral.  When security escorts you to your car and takes your badge, you are completely on your own because none of your coworkers will risk their jobs tesifying for you.  Right, Mike?

I certainly hope no one experiences what I have and works smart, not only to make plants safe, but also to preserve their jobs in order to continue to make nuclear plants safe for everyone.  The corrective action program at TVA is flawed.  Contractor's especially need to be aware of this and work accordingly. 

[Fermi2]

I've been in the industry 23 years now, 6 in the navy, the last 7 as a Shift manager. I've said some pretty tactless stuff to some people who breath air a lot rarer than I breath. I've raised issues at both sites where I have worked. Some of these issues weren't pretty. Some weren't resolved entirely to my satisfaction and some probably had no real resolution. Every Corrective action program has it's holes, I'll grant you that, and we won't always get the satisfaction we desire from it. But I've never felt either at DTE or at TVA that I was at risk for raising a concern and guess what I doubt I ever will.

Guess it's all just a matter of perspective but quite honestly your posts have me thinking of the old adage about what type of beverage you'd like with your cheese.

Mike

[Roll Tide]

In addition to the site programs available for concerns to be brought up (Speak-out or equivalent), many utilities have an autonomous internal group. TVA being quasi-federal government has Inspector General as well. https://www.oigempowerline.com/
Of course, the NRC has already been mentioned.

If you really have a concern, and have explored all other avenues, send a letter to your congressman or to Sen. Lamar Alexander (chair of the TVA caucus).
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml

Like Mike, I have confidence that legitimate issues are dealt with. But I do know that sometimes you have to keep pushing to get a legitimate issue recognized. But choose your battles: is this the hill where you are ready to make your final stand, if necessary?

As far as employment, I realize that you have only an outside shot. But any legitimate issue must be dealt with.

[rlbinc]

As an NRC Regional Administrator once told me, "The managers at that plant can cost you only one job. I can cost you all of them."

My advice is to be on the square and report conditions, no matter how severe the personal consequences.   

[20kats]

Mike as Shift Manager, you can hardly compare your situation to mine.  You are arrogant and outspoken because you can be, due to your position.  Most nuclear workers don't have that advantage.  I choose to remain in the masses where I can utilize my training to do what I enjoy the most.  To insinuate that I didn't get the response I wanted from the corrective action program, therefore, I need to deal with it, is even beneath you. How would anyone in this forum have any idea that all "legitimate" issues are addressed?  You're assuming.  Before I started this conversation, none of you knew I existed.  Which is my point. 

My message here is to contractor's working at my level within the TVA nuclear power division.  I am not saying to turn your back on a violation, just be careful and weigh the consequences of your decision.  Because, like myself, you and your family could pay the ultimate price for that decision,  regardless of how right you might be.  This is the flaw in the system, not the fact I didn't like the conclusion. There was "NO" conclusion because there was "NO" investigation. You cannot depend on a fickle sytem to protect your job.  The OIG should have investigated, they didn't.  Exactly what kind of violation does the OIG want to investigate? The subcontractor I worked for intentionally violated not only a TVA procedure, but a government mandate that no employee suffer retaliation for reporting a violation at a nuclear plant.  Employees have the right to know if TVA will back them up on this issue or the system they have in place is just media fluff for the general public.

Thank you Roll Tide for the links.  Done that.  Rlbinc, the next time you see the NRC in your area give them a copy of this forum. 

[Fermi2]

I was arrogant and outspoken as an NLO, an RO, and a CRS. What's your point? I' ve seen plenty of contractors raise issues both at DTE and at Fermi and they were taken very seriously. It's also been my experience when someone gets dismissed there are plenty of other valid reasons besides the "I raised an issue no one wanted to hear about" Yeah maybe your situation is otherwise but I'd bet a years salary it's not. I never said all legitimate issues are addressed, sometimes what we see as a legitimate issue just doesn't seem to register on someones radar. And eventually it comes back to bite someone. I'll grant that has happened. Virtually every event I've ever been involved in has probably been previously identified sometime previously. No system is perfect. My point is I've seen very little if any retaliation anywhere I've been. I do commend you for following procedures but that isn't the issue here.
In my opinion your outlook is slanted because you were let go. Contractors get let go all the time, thus the term contractor. Sure theres a chance you may have been let go for the reasons you believe, but I have my doubts.

Has nothing to do with either my position or where I work. It has everything to do with my life experience. I've never had an issue or problem with calling them as I see them or having someone else call them as they see them. In life not everything gets resolved to our 100% satisfaction but it's been my experience that for the most part TVA tries. They might not get it right all the time (which I do believe is strictly a matter of opinion) but they try. It's been my experience if one is will to put work into the system, and help with the solution the system will work for almost anyone.

By the way, its neither arrogant or cocky if you can back it up.

Mike

[rlbinc]

20kats, if you can specify details that constitute a condition adverse to safety or quality, I can forward that information to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. You can be certain that they will question me for details and I will have to identify you.

In short, we're all grown up in the big leagues and, unlike NASA, we don't keep secrets.

If safety is an issue, you are morally obligated to identify it, own it, and make sure it's corrected.

Otherwise, we frankly don't need you in this industry.

I AM a contractor, I speak frankly with utility managers and regulators on a daily basis.
That's what they pay me to do.

(919) 770-0840 Rob