TVA Nuclear's (TVAN) Concerns Resolution Program (CRP) - TVA Nuclear 2006

TVAN's CRP was designed to help ensure all TVA and contractor employees supporting TVAN "are free to express safety issues, concerns, or differing views to TVAN management without fear of reprisal and all such concerns and issues are investigated and resolved in a timely manner." We performed an inspection which assessed the willingness of TVA employees and contractors to report nuclear safety and quality issues through various avenues, including TVA's CRP. The scope of the review corresponded to the TVAN workforce, employees and contractors with unescorted access to TVA's nuclear facilities. Overall, we determined:TVAN's workforce (i.e., TVA employees and contractor employees with unescorted access to TVA's nuclear facilities) generally felt free to raise nuclear safety and quality issues. However, many of the responses were not as affirmative as the prior survey.Issues associated with the closed CRP files were generally addressed.The number of allegations made directly to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission by TVAN's workforce has increased in the last three years. Despite this increase, the number of allegations remains lower than the high years 1996 ? 1997. Based on these findings, we believe the fundamental mission of the CRP is being met.