Press Release-II-09-043, Areva Np, Inc.S Richland Facility Agrees to Site Access Improvements Through NRC Alternative Dispute Resolution
| ML092050488 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Framatome ANP Richland |
| Issue date: | 07/24/2009 |
| From: | Office of Public Affairs Region II |
| To: | |
| Category:Press Release | |
| References | |
| Press Release-II-09-043 | |
| Download: ML092050488 (2) | |
Text
NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs, Region II 61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta GA 30303 Web Site: www.nrc.gov No. II-09-043 July 24, 2009 CONTACT: Roger Hannah (404) 562-4417 E-mail: OPA2@nrc.gov Joey Ledford (404) 562-4416 AREVA NP, INC.S RICHLAND FACILITY AGREES TO SITE ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS THROUGH NRC ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory has issued a Confirmatory Order to AREVA NP Inc.s Richland facility as part of a settlement agreement involving a security guard who falsified access authorization forms. The guards actions caused AREVA to be in violation of its security procedures, and allowed unauthorized individuals unescorted access to the Richland, Wash.,
nuclear materials facility.
AREVA requested the alternative dispute resolution process to resolve differences with the NRC concerning the apparent violations and to discuss corrective actions. The ADR process uses a neutral mediator with no decision-making authority to assist the NRC and its licensees in coming to an agreement.
As part of the settlement agreement, AREVA has agreed to a number of corrective actions and enhancements related to security procedures, site access and training, not only at Richland but at other AREVA sites. Some of the steps agreed to by AREVA go beyond what would have been required under the NRCs traditional enforcement process.
In consideration of the commitments, the NRC will not propose a civil penalty, issue a Notice of Violation or take other enforcement action on the matter. The NRC will, however, evaluate adherence to the commitments during future inspections.
In a letter to AREVA, the NRC noted that the security guard deliberately falsified a Site Access Authorization procedure on five separate occasions from January 2007 through March 2008 by signing the name of an individual listed on the Authorization List. As a result, individuals were granted access to the site without proper authorization. There was no indication of any malicious intent, and no harm was done during any of the unauthorized entries. Separate NRC enforcement action is pending against the individual involved.
Copies of the letter and the Confirmatory Order are available in the electronic reading room on the NRC website at www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. The NRC will also post copies on its public website at www.nrc.gov; select Public Meetings and Involvement, then
Enforcement. AREVAs response, should it provide one, will also be made available online for public inspection.
News releases are available through a free listserv subscription at the following Web address:
http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/listserver.html. The NRC homepage at www.nrc.gov also offers a SUBSCRIBE link. E-mail notifications are sent to subscribers when news releases are posted to NRC's Web site.