ML20128M271

Press Release 96-141, NRC Increases Penalty Limits Against Licensees

ML20128M271
Person / Time
Issue date:	10/15/1996
From:	NRC OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS (OPA)
To:
References
PR-96-141, NUDOCS 9610160045
Download: ML20128M271 (1)

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-e United States Nuclear Regulatory Commiss.on Office of Public Affairs Washington, DC 20555 Phone 301-415-8200 Fax 301-415-2234 Internet:opa@nrc. gov No.96-141 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Tuesday, October 15, 1996)

NRC INCREASES PENALTY LIMITD AGAINST LICENSEES NRC has increased the dollar limits it can impose on licensees and vendors for violating agency requirements. The increase was mandated by Congress.

The maximum amounts the agency may levy for the most severe violations are increased to $110,000 from $100,000 for each violation, each day. The NRC normally applies penalties of this magnitude only against power reactor licensees. Lower penalties are usually applied for less severe violations and against smaller businesses, such as radioactive materials users and research reactor licensees. NRC has raised these fines by 10 percent as well, consistent with Congressional intent.

The new penalty limits were published in the October lith edition of the Federal Reaister. The revision applies to violations that occur after November lith.

The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 mandates that federal agencies adjust their monetary fines for inflation by October 23, and then at least once every four years. The ,

legislation limits the amount of the first increase to 10 percent  !

of the maximum penalty amount for each level of violation.

Because Congress has required this action by law, and NRC has no discretion on its substance, there will be no public comment period offered on the final rule.

NRC's enforcement policy, NUREG-1600, has been revised to ,

reflect the new penalty limits. The policy is available on NRC's home page on the World Wide Web at http://www.nrc. gov /OE l

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