Press Release-III-15-002, NRC Proposed $3,500 Fine to an Indiana Engineering Consulting Company

Press Release-III-15-002: NRC Proposed $3,500 Fine to an Indiana Engineering Consulting Company

ML15041A776
Person / Time
Issue date:	02/10/2015
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region II
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Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-III-15-002
Download: ML15041A776 (1)

Text

No: III-15-002 February 10, 2015 CONTACT: Viktoria Mitlyng 630-829-9662 Prema Chandrathil 630-829-9663 NRC Proposed $3,500 Fine To An Indiana Engineering Consulting Company The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has proposed a $3,500 civil penalty to Patriot Engineering and Environmental Inc. for the failure to maintain proper control of a portable moisture density gauge containing a low level of radioactive material. The company, based in Indianapolis, Ind.,

uses portable nuclear gauges for measuring physical qualities of construction materials.

The violation was identified during an NRC special inspection of an incident where a bulldozer ran over a moisture density gauge. The nuclear material remained in a shielded position and was not damaged. There was no radiation release and no negative impact on the health of the workers or the public.

The NRC staff concluded that the company violated NRC requirements by failing to make sure the gauge was under constant surveillance while it was in an unrestricted public area and to use two physical barriers to secure the gauge while it was not under observation. Specifically, a field technician went to his vehicle to record the results of the soil test he had just conducted and left the gauge unattended. A bulldozer ran over the gauge while the technician was at his vehicle.

Our action underscores the expectation that NRC license holders will adhere to NRC requirements to make sure nuclear material is used safely, said NRC Region III Administrator Cynthia D. Pederson. An NRC license comes with the responsibility for making sure the use of nuclear material has no negative impact on the nuclear workers or the public.

Patriot Engineering has to pay the fine or submit a letter protesting it by March 7.

The company took immediate and long-term corrective actions to address the violation and prevent recurrence.

The NRC will conduct an inspection to verify that the companys actions to correct the problems are thorough and sustainable.

The NRCs inspection report is available on the NRCs website, and the Notice of Violation will be available shortly (use accession number ML15037A457).