Press Release-IV-04-021, NRC Proposes $12,000 Fine for High Mountain Inspection Service

Press Release-IV-04-021: NRC Proposes $12,000 Fine for High Mountain Inspection Service

ML16141B136
Person / Time
Issue date:	04/28/2004
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region IV
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-IV-04-021
Download: ML16141B136 (1)

Text

NRC NEWS U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Region IV 611 Ryan Plaza Drive - Suite 400 Arlington, TX 76011-4005 No. IV-04-021 April 28, 3004

Contact:

Victor Dricks E-Mail: opa4@nrc.gov Phone: 817-860-8128 NRC PROPOSES $12,000 FINE FOR HIGH MOUNTAIN INSPECTION SERVICE The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has proposed a fine of $12,000 against High Mountain Inspection Service, Inc., of Mills, Wyoming, for violating NRC requirements.

In a letter to the company, Bruce S. Mallett, Administrator of the NRCs Region IV Office in Arlington, Texas, said that as a result of an NRC inspection and subsequent investigation completed in January, the agency determined that the company violated NRC security and training requirements for the possession and use of radioactive materials. The violations involved the failure to maintain adequate security of a radiographic exposure device (used to x-ray welds), and failure to administer a written test to a newly hired individual prior to using him as a radiographers assistant.

The NRC acknowledges that there were no actual safety consequences as a result of these violations, Mr. Mallett said. However, he said, each had the potential to impact the safe use of radioactive materials.

NRC staff met with company officials on February 18 to discuss the issues. The company said it has taken corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

The NRC has classified the violations at Severity Level III, each carrying a $6,000 civil penalty. The agency uses a four-level severity scale in which Severity Level I is the most serious.

The company has 30 days to either pay the proposed civil penalty or challenge it.

The NRCs letter, its enclosures, and the companys response will be made available to interested members of the public through the agencys public electronic reading room at:

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html . Help in accessing these documents is available from the NRC Public Document Room at (301) 415-4737 or at 1-800-397-4209.