Fermi security supervisor suspended for alcohol use

7/29/2006

NEWPORT, Mich. - A security supervisor at Detroit Edison Co.'s Fermi II nuclear plant in northern Monroe County was sent home Thursday after co-workers smelled alcohol on his breath, a utility spokesman said yesterday.

Spokesman Len Singer would not reveal the man's identity or go into detail about the disciplinary action, other than to say the man was intercepted before he got to the plant's secured area and that he never affected plant operations.

A test done to confirm the presence of alcohol came back positive. Officials were notified at 8:12 a.m., moments after the man arrived for work, Mr. Singer said.

Viktoria Mitlyng, Nuclear Regulatory Commission spokesman, confirmed that the man was not an operator and that he had nothing to do with the control room.

The employee was suspended under the plant's fitness-for-duty program and had his access privileges revoked pending an investigation.

The investigation will attempt to determine if the incident was "an isolated case or part of a bigger problem," Mr. Singer said.