Press Release-I-04-056, NRC Rejects License Renewal Applications for Pennsylvania Company

Press Release-I-04-056: NRC Rejects License Renewal Applications for Pennsylvania Company

ML043450462
Person / Time
Issue date:	12/10/2004
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region I
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Category:Press Release
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Press Release-I-04-056
Download: ML043450462 (2)

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NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs, Region I 475 Allendale Road, King of Prussia, Pa.

Web Site: http://www.nrc.gov/OPANo. I-04-056December 10, 2004Contact:Diane Screnci, 610/337-5330Email: opa1@nrc.govNeil Sheehan, 610/337-5331NRC REJECTS LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATIONSFOR PENNSYLVANIA COMPANYThe Nuclear Regulatory Commission has denied applications to renew the licenses of the SafetyLight Corporation in Bloomsburg, Pa. The agency has also issued an Order suspending the licenses when they expire at the end of this month.Two of Safety Light's NRC licenses are the subject of these actions. Presently, the companymanufactures self-luminous exit signs using tritium under one of its NRC licenses. The other license authorizes characterization and decommissioning of contaminated facilities, equipment and land from previous operations at the site.In its application requesting the renewal of the two licenses, the company did not provide adecommissioning funding plan, as required, but instead requested that the NRC grant an exemption from this requirement.The company made a similar request when renewing its licenses in 1999. The Commissiongranted that request with two conditions: that the company make payments to the decommissioning trust fund at a set schedule, and that the company demonstrate compliance with NRC requirements regarding decommissioning funding at the time of its next renewal. Because the company did not fully comply with those requirements, it has failed to satisfy both of the conditions for renewal of the licenses.The NRC also issued an Order suspending the company's licenses on Dec. 31 (when the currentlicenses expire), because the agency found that the failure to make the required payments was willfuland adversely affected the safe conduct of activities under the company's licenses. The Order also requires Safety Light to submit to the NRC by Dec. 20 a plan for an orderly shutdown of its licensed activities. Because Safety Light did not comply with the Commission's substantive requirements, "Thestaff does not have the requisite assurance in Safety Light's ability to comply with those requirements in the future," Jack R. Strosnider, Director of the Office of Nuclear Materials Safety and Safeguards, said. "Consequently, the staff is unable to make the requisite findings to grant an exemption."

2Safety Light has 20 days to request a hearing on this issue.