[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] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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