Nuclear power whistleblowers

There have been a number of nuclear power whistleblowers, often nuclear engineers, who have identified safety concerns at nuclear power plants in the United States. In some cases the whistleblowers gained the attention of journalists and their disclosures about the possible threats of nuclear power had a significant impact. Some nuclear power plant workers may have to decide whether to blow the whistle on their employer's nuclear safety practices or to be silent out of fear of losing their jobs.

The "GE Three"

On February 2, 1976, Gregory C. Minor, Richard B. Hubbard, and Dale G. Bridenbaugh (known as the GE Three) "blew the whistle" on safety problems at nuclear power plants, and their action has been called "an exemplary instance of whistleblowing".^[1]

The three engineers gained the attention of journalists and their disclosures about the threats of nuclear power had a significant impact. They timed their statements to coincide with their resignations from responsible positions in General Electric's nuclear energy division, and later established themselves as consultants on the nuclear power industry for state governments, federal agencies, and overseas governments. The consulting firm they formed, MHB Technical Associates, was technical advisor for the movie, "The China Syndrome." The three engineers participated in Congressional hearings which their disclosures precipitated.^[2][3]

A book chapter which discusses the whistleblowing, written by Vivian Weil, was published in 1983 as "The Browns Ferry Case" in Engineering Professionalism and Ethics, edited by James H. Schaub and Karl Pavlovic, and published by John Wiley & Sons.^[1]

Arnold Gundersen

In 1990 Arnold Gundersen discovered radioactive material in an accounting safe at Nuclear Energy Services in Danbury, the consulting firm where he held a $120,000-a-year job as senior vice president.^[4] Three weeks after he notified the company president of what he believed to be radiation safety violations, Gundersen was fired. For three years, Arnold Gundersen received harassing phone calls in the middle of the night and he became concerned about his family's safety. He was blacklisted, harassed, and fired for doing what he thought was right.^[4]

The New York Times reports that Gundersen's case is not uncommon, especially in the nuclear industry. Even though nuclear workers are encouraged to report potential safety hazards, those who do risk demotion and dismissal. Instead of correcting the problems, whistleblowers say, industry management and government agencies attack them as the cause of the problem. Driven out of their jobs and shunned by neighbors and co-workers, whistleblowers often turn to each other for support.^[4]

Recent trends

A major expansion of nuclear power could lead to "pressure to build and operate nuclear plants faster and cheaper".^[5] Lessons from history tell us that these pressures will most likely lead to a "schedule over safety" culture at some plants, and nuclear workers may be pressured to "cut corners and overlook safety problems in the interest of getting and keeping plants online and profits flowing to shareholders".^[5][6]

Nuclear power plant workers may have to decide whether and how vigorously to blow the whistle on their employer's nuclear safety practices or to be silent out of fear of losing their jobs. It has been argued that these workers, who have a legal duty to report nuclear safety concerns, need to be aware of their legal rights and that nuclear power plants adhere to zero-tolerance policies that prohibit harassment and intimidation made unlawful by the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974.^[5][6]

Workers at the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant fear retaliation and possible job loss if they report a safety concern, according to a 2010 survey of workers conducted by a Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspector.^[7]

See also

• Nuclear accidents in the United States
• Nuclear safety in the United States
• Anti-nuclear movement in the United States
• Gerald W. Brown
• George Galatis
• List of nuclear whistleblowers
• David A. Schlissel
• Karen Silkwood

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Whistleblower on Nuclear Plant Safety
2. ^ The San Jose Three
3. ^ The Struggle over Nuclear Power
4. ^ ^{a b c} Julie Miller (February 12, 1995). "Paying The Price For Blowing The Whistle". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/12/nyregion/paying-the-price-for-blowing-the-whistle.html. 
5. ^ ^{a b c} Nicole J. Williams and Debra Katz (May 18, 2009). "Protect nuclear whistleblowers". The National Law Journal. http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticlePrinterFriendlyNLJ.jsp?id=1202430740246. 
6. ^ ^{a b} David J. Marshall (2007). "Nuclear Whistleblower Law". Katz, Marshall, and Banks. http://www.kmblegal.com/main/know-your-rights/legal-topics/whistleblower-law/nuclear/. 
7. ^ Staff at California Nuclear Plant Fear Retaliation The Business Journal, 19 February 2010.

External links

• Watching the Watchdogs
• A Nuclear Plant Gets New Equipment and a New Attitude
• Government Accountability Project Whistleblower protection Org.