ML18285A535

Letter to Christopher Vanderpool Regarding One-Time Exemption Granted to Ship Category 2 Quantities of Cesium-137 from the Czech Republic Without Providing at Least Seven Days Advanced Notice

ML18285A535
Person / Time
Issue date:	10/16/2018
From:	David Skeen NRC/OIP
To:	Vanderpool C Hopewell Designs
Baker S - 301 287 9059
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ML18285A532	List: ML18285A535
References
Download: ML18285A535 (3)

Text

October 16, 2018 Mr. Christopher Vanderpool Radiation Safety Officer Hopewell Designs, Inc.

5940 Gateway Drive Alpharetta, GA 30004

SUBJECT:

ONE-TIME EXEMPTION GRANTED TO SHIP CATEGORY 2 QUANTITIES OF CESIUM-137 FROM THE CZECH REPUBLIC WITHOUT PROVIDING AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS ADVANCED NOTICE

Dear M. Vanderpool:

On October 11, 2018, Hopewell Designs, Inc. (HDI) submitted a written request to the U.S.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to obtain a one-time exemption of the notification requirement in 10 CFR Part 110.50(c) to provide at least seven days advanced notice of an import of a Category 2 quantity (50 curies) of Cesium-137. HDI requested the exemption because they need the source to calibrate irradiators at their customers facility located in Glenwood, IL. Both HDI and their customer in Illinois (Landauer, Inc.) are authorized to possess the sources.

Because HDI has never imported sources before, you contacted the NRC on October 10, 2018, to ask about import licensing requirements. The NRC staff explained that any source, regardless of activity, can be imported under the general license. However, because this is a Category 2 quantity of Cs-137, the import requires an advanced notification of shipment be sent to the NRCs Headquarters Operations Officer. Waiting until October 19, 2018, for the arrival of the source to Landauer, Inc. poses a hardship to getting the irradiator working, which is necessary to allow the calibration laboratory to resume their work. The installation of the source is expected to begin the week of October 22nd and there is a narrow window to get the source from Czech Republic to Landauer. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency is aware of the installation and is expecting the project to take place during this period.

If it is possible to import the sources and not delay seven days it will allow Landauer Inc. to get its operations back up and running so calibration of instrumentation can resume and allow the project to be completed as expected.

The NRC determined that, in accordance with 10 CFR 110.10, the requested exemption:

1. Is authorized by law;

2. Is not inimical to the common defense and security; and

3. Does not constitute an unreasonable risk to the public health and safety.

The granting of an exemption does not relieve any person from complying with the regulations of other U.S. Federal and/or State government agencies applicable to exports or imports under their authority.

C. Vanderpool In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRCs Agency Rules of Practice and Procedure, a copy of this letter will be made available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) accessible from the NRC website at http://www.nrc.reading-rm/adams.html.

If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact Mr. Peter Habighorst at 301- 287-9241, or via e-mail at peter.habighorst@nrc.gov .

Sincerely,

/RA/

David L. Skeen, Deputy Director Office of International Programs

Enclosure:

E-mail dated October 11, 2018

ML18285A532 (pkg) ML18285A535 (ltr)

OFFICE OIP/ECNP BC:OIP/ECNP DD:OIP NAME SBaker PHabighorst DSkeen DATE 10/12/18 10/15/18 10/16/18