Press Release-IV-10-027, NRC to Hold Predecisional Enforcement Conference with Basin Electric Power Cooperative in Wyoming

Press Release-IV-10-027: NRC to Hold Predecisional Enforcement Conference with Basin Electric Power Cooperative in Wyoming

ML101750743
Person / Time
Issue date:	06/25/2010
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region IV
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Category:Press Release
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Press Release-IV-10-027
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NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Region IV 612 E. Lamar Blvd., Suite 400 Arlington, TX 76011-4125 Telephone: (817) 860-8128 No. IV-10-027 June 25, 2010

Contact:

Victor Dricks: (817) 860-8128 E-Mail: OPA4.Resource@nrc.gov Lara Uselding: (817) 276-6519 NRC TO HOLD PREDECISIONAL ENFORCEMENT CONFERENCE WITH BASIN ELECTRIC POWER COOPERATIVE IN WYOMING The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will hold a predecisional enforcement conference in Wheatland, Wyo., July 14, with representatives of the Basin Electric Power Cooperative to discuss apparent violations of NRC regulations resulting in the exposure of workers to radiation in excess of NRC limits.

The conference will begin at 1 p.m. in the Platte County Public Library, 904 Ninth St.,

Wheatland. During the conference, the licensee will have an opportunity to address the apparent violations identified by the NRC following an incident that occurred at the Laramie River Station, a coal-fired power plant, located in Wheatland.

Gauges containing radioactive material are used at the power plant to measure the flow of coal through chutes located between storage bunkers and pulverizers. The shutters of these gauges were not closed and locked prior to the licensee allowing welders to work around the gauges.

Seventeen employees were exposed to radiation between Sept. 7 and 18, 2009. While six received doses in excess of NRC regulatory limits, none of the workers are expected to experience long-term adverse health effects as a result of the exposures.

The public is invited to observe the meeting. NRC officials will be available before the conclusion of the meeting to answer questions.

The decision to hold a predecisional enforcement conference does not mean that a determination has been made that violations have occurred or that enforcement action will be taken. The purpose is to discuss the apparent violations, causes and safety significance, to provide the licensee with an opportunity to point out any errors, if any, in the NRC inspection report and to enable the company to outline its corrective actions.

No decision on the apparent violations or any contemplated enforcement action, such as a civil penalty, will be made at the conference. Those decisions will be made by NRC officials at a later time.

NRC news releases are available through a free list serve 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.