LOCAL & REGION
Thursday, September 19, 2013 THE NEW MEXICAN
A-7
Company avoids fine over nuclear rule violations By Ray Henry
The Associated Press
ATLANTA — Nuclear builder CB&I will avoid a fine over accusations that an employee was fired after raising safety concerns, and instead will take steps to encourage workers to speak up. The terms were outlined in a settlement reached this week with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The agreement resolves two violations against Shaw Nuclear Services, which was purchased in February by CB&I. Federal authorities accused Shaw of firing a quality assurance supervisor in 2011 after the supervisor raised concerns that potentially faulty metal bars might have been headed to a nuclear fuel facility in New Mexico. The NRC initially proposed a $36,400 fine as punishment for two violations of rules that ban retaliation against nuclear industry workers who raise quality or safety concerns. NRC officials separately cited Shaw for creating an environment at a Lake Charles, La., manufacturing plant where the agency said workers feared raising quality control concerns. That facility manufactures parts for nuclear reactors under construction in Georgia and South Carolina. The incidents predate CB&I’s purchase of Shaw. “Since the acquisition of Shaw in February, CB&I has taken action and will continue to implement new steps to foster and promote a healthy nuclear safety culture, where all employees feel open to identify issues and express concerns,” company spokeswoman Gentry Brann said in a statement. Federal officials dropped the proposed fine against CB&I, an energy infrastructure firm, in return for multiple com-
The builder was accused of firing in 2011 a whistle-blower who raised concerns over potentially faulty metal bars being sent to a N.M. fuel facility. mitments from the company, including a promise to review the safety culture of all its nuclear industry facilities and create a service where employees can anonymously report concerns. “We believe the broad, comprehensive corrective actions [CB&I] has agreed to in the mediation process will result in greater improvements in public safety than we could have achieved through our traditional enforcement process,” said Roy Zimmerman, director of NRC’s Office of Enforcement, in a statement. The deal also requires the company CEO to send all employees a message in writing summarizing the settlement and the firm’s strategy for improving its safety culture and acknowledging “that efforts to date have not been fully effective,” according to the terms of the agreement. CB&I agreed to review and alter its policies and training programs to reinforce that workers cannot be lawfully punished for raising quality or safety issues.
Witness says she lied to feds about drug smuggling
ARTISTIC ‘HAPPENING’ HAPPENS AT RAILYARD People at the Railyard watch Wednesday as an art installation blows colorful smoke in front of the Santa Fe Farmers Market Pavilion during Station to Station, a traveling art show. Described as a ‘liquid platform for artistic experimentation’ in a news release, the show is in the midst of a three-week journey from New York to California. It is making nine stops for one-night performances along its route, including its Wednesday stop in Santa Fe. LUIS SÁNCHEZ SATURNO/THE NEW MEXICAN
In brief
painter Olive Rush’s house at 630 Canyon Road. Rush willed the property to the group that continues to use it as their meeting house. Seven or eight years ago, a new group of Quakers began meeting in private homes on the south side of town. They rented Another candidate has a unit in an office complex at emerged in the race for the southeast-side District 2 seat on 1730 Camino Carlos Rey North the Santa Fe City Council in the about five years ago and held March 2014 municipal election. their meetings there until the lease expired last July. Rad Acton, an architect who Nichoe Lichen, a member of serves on the Historic Districts the south-side group, said the Review Board, announced his group recently bought at resicandidacy in a news release. He also has served as Canyon Neigh- dence at 2080 Calle Ensenada, but has continued to meet at borhood Association president, director and vice president of the her home pending approval for Old Santa Fe Association and co- a special use permit to operate a religious assembly of up to chairman of the Atalaya School 20 people. She said the group Ad Hoc Task Force. already has the required five He brings to six the number parking spaces but still needs to of declared hopefuls for the seat add copper wiring and make the that is being vacated by mayoral place handicap accessible. The candidate Rebecca Wurzburger. city Board of Adjustment has the Others seeking to represent request on its agenda for 6 p.m. District 2 for a four-year term Oct. 1 at City Council Chambers. include landscaper Joe H. The only question from Arellano, gallery owner Mary neighbors so far has been: “Do Bonney, environmental activyou sing?” Lichen said. Quakers ist Jeff E. Green, Don Gaspar traditionally have mostly silent Neighborhood Association worship services. president Peter Komis and former Española mayor Joseph M. Maestas. To qualify for the ballot, District 2 council candidates must gather 72 signatures of The community is invited to registered voters on nominating participate in a neighborhood petitions, which must be turned sidewalk cleanup Sunday in the in to the city clerk by Nov. 2 for Tierra Contenta subdivision. verification. The event will take place Four of the eight council seats from 8 a.m. to noon, at Purple and the mayor’s position will be Sage Road (west of the Southon the ballot. side Library between Valentine Way and Camino Rojo). Cleanup efforts are in partnership with the “Sidewalk Angels of Tierra Contenta,” a volunteer
Acton joins race for District 2 seat
recorded interviews compared with the measured testimony she has given this week. The ALBUQUERQUE — A key interviews, he said, show her witness in the New Mexico “mean-spiritedness.” murder trial of a prison fugitive Questioned about her derogacknowledged Wednesday that atory references to the victims, she lied to federal prosecutors Welch acknowledged showing about her efforts to smuggle no remorse or sympathy at the drugs into two Arizona prisons. time she was arrested. Under questioning by a Welch teared up Monday defense attorney, Casslyn when testifying about the killWelch, the cousin and girlings, and Mitchell brought her friend of defendant John to tears again Tuesday when McCluskey, testified that she he accused her of lying to smuggled heroin and mariauthorities about the relationjuana in dozens of color-coded ship she had with McCluskey. balloons that she sometimes The two often referred to each hid in a body cavity. other as husband and wife, The account conflicted with but she denied having a sexual The South Santa Fe Quaker statements she previously relationship. Group is seeking a special-use made to prosecutors. “You can cry and get really permit for a new meeting house Welsh, testifying for a third in a formerly vacant residence emotional about this, but it’s a day, has been grilled by the on the corner of Calle Ensenada lie,” Mitchell said. defense about statements she and Siringo Road. Welch said the trio commanmade to police after her arrest Santa Fe’s first Quaker chapdeered the Haases’ truck and in the August 2010 abduction ter, also known as the Religious travel trailer after spotting the and killing of Gary and Linda Society of Friends, got started retirees at a rest stop near the Haas of Tecumseh, Okla. in the 1940s by meeting in heirTexas-N.M. state line on Aug. The slayings occurred three ess Amelia White’s house, now 2, 2010. The goal was to “get off days after Welch said she the Garcia Street Club, then at the grid,” Welch said. helped McCluskey and two other inmates escape from a privately run, medium security prison near Kingman, Ariz. One of the inmates was caught a day later in Colorado. The search for Welch, McCluskey and his former prison bunkmate Tracy Province sparked a nationwide manhunt. McCluskey is on trial for federal carjacking and murder charges. If convicted, he could face life in prison or the death 505-982-6256 • www.mcpartlonroofing.com penalty. The defense accused Welch of lying under oath and argued that her testimony was meant to satisfy prosecutors so she could receive a lighter sentence. Welch pleaded guilty last year to charges stemming CSA, NMLS#201470 from carjacking and slaying. She has yet to be sentenced but could face life in prison. 505-690-1029 Defense attorney Gary Call for a Free Reverse Mortgage Brochure Mitchell said Welch’s attitude is “totally the opposite” in the Mortgage Partners-Santa Fe • 320 Paseo de Peralta Suite E Santa Fe NM 87501 By Susan Montoya Bryan
The Associated Press
task force and the city of Santa Fe Parks Division. For additional information or to be a volunteer, contact Bridget Wolf at 470-5803 or via email atbdwolf@hotmail.com.
Performance Space La Tienda, 7 Caliente Road, in Eldorado. State Sen. Peter Wirth will moderate. House District 50 includes parts of Santa Fe, Bernalillo, Torrance and Valencia counties. The county commissions in each county will make nominations for the appointment by Gov. Susana Martinez. Valencia County already has The Santa Fe County Demonominated Vicki Perea, a former cratic Party will host a Sept. 30 Albuquerque city councilor, forum to introduce voters to who is a Republican. applicants to replace the late state Rep. Stephen Easley in the Easley, a Democrat who was District 50 seat in the New Mex- serving his first term in the ico House of Representatives. Legislature, died last month. Applicants from any political Santa Fe County will accept party are welcome to attend, letters of interests and résumés Democratic Party county chair- until 5 p.m. on Sept. 27. man Richard Ellenberg said. The event is planned for the The New Mexican
Meet applicants for House seat
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