NRC ORDER – ORDER

On May 6, 2013, the NRC issued a Confirmatory Order to Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. (SNC) to formalize commitments made as a result of an ADR mediation session held on March 15, 2013. The commitments were made as part of a settlement agreement between SNC and the NRC regarding apparent violations of NRC requirements. The agreement resolves the apparent deliberate violations involving falsification of radiation worker training exams by security officers at Farley Nuclear Plant. The proctors and security officers self-proctoring the radiation worker exams were not ensuring that the exams were not compromised either by someone providing answers, hinting to the answers, or using material such as study guides during the exams. As such, the security officers did not complete their radiation worker training requalification exams in accordance with SNC procedures in order to maintain unescorted access to Protected/Vital Areas or Radiation Controlled Areas; yet they continued to have unescorted access to those areas. SNC agreed to a number of corrective actions, issuing fleet-wide messages that will clearly articulate that willful misconduct is incompatible with safe nuclear construction and operation, conducting fleet-wide stand-downs with all employees and contractors to address trustworthiness and integrity, and modifying guidance involving investigations based on allegations to include an initial evaluation of potential nuclear safety implications and to identify any appropriate immediate mitigating measures to be taken while the investigation is ongoing.