Press Release-15-025, NRC Issues Violations, Proposed Fine for Actions Related to Reactor Construction Incident at Chicago Bridge & Iron

Press Release-15-025: NRC Issues Violations, Proposed Fine for Actions Related to Reactor Construction Incident at Chicago Bridge & Iron

ML15111A275
Person / Time
Site:	Summer
Issue date:	04/21/2015
From:	Office of Public Affairs
To:
References
Press Release-15-025
Download: ML15111A275 (1)

Text

No: 15-025 April 21, 2015 CONTACT: Scott Burnell, 301-415-8200 NRC Issues Violations, Proposed Fine for Actions Related to Reactor Construction Incident at Chicago Bridge & Iron The NRC has issued a Severity Level II Notice of Violation and a proposed $11,200 civil penalty to Chicago Bridge & Irons Lake Charles, La., facility for actions related to the dropping of a prefabricated building section for a new reactor. The NRC has also issued a Severity Level III Notice of Violation to a former company official.

The safety-related building section, for one of the two V.C. Summer new reactors under construction in South Carolina, was dropped and damaged on March 1, 2013, due to improper rigging and lifting practices. The NRC has concluded facility staff took deliberate actions to falsify records regarding the damage and the causes for dropping the section. The NRC concluded a former company official deliberately instructed subordinates to initially provide false statements as to the cause of the drop.

The willful actions described in the NRCs notices were significant because they appeared to include an understanding of the nuclear safety implications that resulted from mishandling of and damage to the building section. Despite this understanding, the facilitys officials and employees involved in the incident knowingly disregarded quality assurance program requirements designed to promptly identify and correct a deficient condition.

These notices cover events that happened more than two years ago, and reflect facility performance at that time. Recently completed NRC inspections have indicated the Lake Charles facilitys safety culture is improving, and that facility staff better understand the importance of conducting work with integrity. NRC staff will continue inspecting work activities at all Chicago Bridge & Iron facilities to further assess the companys implementation of corrective actions imposed by the NRCs September 2014 Confirmatory Order that included actions to address and correct deliberate misconduct at the Lake Charles facility.