NRC approves Securitas worker's firing after arrest not reported

Waterford – The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has decided to take no further action regarding an employee of Securitas working at Millstone Power Station who did not report being arrested while off duty on April 2, 2011, until several months after the incident.

The employee, who was not named, was fired by Securitas, a firm that provides security services at the plant, after it learned in December of her arrest. Securitas learned of the arrest when she completed a questionnaire required to have her unescorted access privileges to the nuclear power plant site renewed. The NRC issued a notice last week announcing that it has reviewed the incident and determined no further action is warranted.

Neil Sheehan, spokesman for the NRC, said Thursday that the agency reviewed procedures at Millstone related to the reporting of arrests and is satisfied that the proper actions were taken and no changes in reporting systems are needed. Other nuclear power plants were notified about the worker’s arrest and termination.

“The company did the right thing,” he said. “Working at a nuclear power plant has certain responsibilities that go with it. The workers are in a position of responsibility, and an arrest could impact the way that their employers assign them.”

No information on the charges or other circumstances of the arrest was available.

Employees and contractors who work at nuclear power plants are required by the NRC to report to their supervisor if they have been arrested as soon as they return to work after the incident, Ken Holt, spokesman for Millstone owner Dominion said.

“Depending on what the arrest is for, you may or may not lose access to the site or be terminated,” he said.

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