Press Release-II-10-036, NRC Issues Confirmatory Order to Areva Np Nuclear Fuel Processing Facility in Richland, Wash

Press Release-II-10-036: NRC Issues Confirmatory Order to Areva Np Nuclear Fuel Processing Facility in Richland, Wash

ML101170128
Person / Time
Issue date:	04/27/2010
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region II
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-II-10-036
Download: ML101170128 (2)

Text

NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs, Region II 245 Peachtree Center Ave. NE, Suite 1200 Atlanta, GA 30303-1257 Web Site: www.nrc.gov No. II-10-036 April 27, 2010 CONTACT: Roger Hannah (404) 997-4417 E-mail: OPA2@nrc.gov Joey Ledford (404) 997-4416 NRC ISSUES CONFIRMATORY ORDER TO AREVA NP NUCLEAR FUEL PROCESSING FACILITY IN RICHLAND, WASH.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued a Confirmatory Order to Areva NPs nuclear fuel processing facility in Richland, Wash., which has agreed to a series of corrective actions related to materials safety.

The settlement was achieved under the NRCs Alternative Dispute Resolution process, which was initiated at the request of Areva NP to address a willful violation of a facility safety procedure. On Jan. 6, the NRC notified Areva that an agency investigation determined that a plant employee had willfully defeated the function of a tool relied upon for safety.

The tool, an electronic sensor known as a vacuum wand interlock, is used to transfer uranium powder from a drum into the plants processing system. During the powder processing, operators must block the wands eye with their body to activate the vacuum transfer system. The employee deliberately bypassed the tools safety function on April 21, 2009 by taping the wands eye, violating an operating procedure. Even though the wand was used improperly, sufficient safety controls to prevent accident scenarios remained in place.

A mediation session was held on March 9 and a settlement was reached. A Confirmatory Order, issued Monday, outlines a number of corrective actions and enhancements Areva NP has agreed to take. Among the required actions are to communicate the facts of the incident and lessons learned internally and to all Areva special nuclear materials licensed facilities. All Areva U.S. fuel employees are to receive supplemental safety training incorporating the lessons learned.

As outlined in the order, the NRC agreed to refrain from issuing a Notice of Violation, a civil penalty or taking any other enforcement action. The company took disciplinary action against the employee involved in the incident and that employee is no longer employed at the facility.

Copies of the enforcement action will be posted on the NRC web site at www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/enforcement/actions.

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.