Press Release-I-06-063, NRC to Discuss Apparent Violation with Mount Laurel, N.J., Company

Press Release-I-06-063: NRC to Discuss Apparent Violation with Mount Laurel, N.J., Company

ML063470541
Person / Time
Issue date:	12/13/2006
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region I
To:
Category:Press Release
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Press Release-I-06-063
Download: ML063470541 (2)

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NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs, Region I 475 Allendale Road, King of Prussia, Pa.www.nrc.gov No. I-06-063 Dec ember 13, 2006Contact:Diane Screnci, 610/337-5330 E-mail: opa1@nrc.gov Neil Sheehan, 610/337-5331NRC TO DISCUSS APPARENT VIOLATION WITH MOUNT LAUREL, N.J., COMPANYNuclear Regulatory Commission staff will meet with representatives of a Mount Laurel, N.J.,engineering firm on Wednesday, Dec. 20, to discuss an apparent violation of agency requirements involving thecontrol of portable nuclear gauges. The apparent violation, which stems from the loss of a gauge, wasidentified during an NRC special inspection performed in September.The predecisional enforcement conference with SITE-Blauvelt Engineering, Inc., is scheduled to beginat 1 p.m. in the Public Meeting Room at the NRC Region I Office, at 475 Allendale Road in King of Prussia,Pa., and will be open to the public. If necessary, portions of the meeting may be closed to the public to discuss sensitive security aspects of the apparent violation. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions ofNRC staff prior to the meeting's adjournment.The NRC conducted a special inspection on Sept. 6 at the company's Mount Laurel office and at astorage location used by the company in Stroudsburg (Monroe County), Pa. The apparent violation identifiedas a result of that review involves a failure to use a minimum of two independent physical controls to preventunauthorized removal of a licensed nuclear gauge when the device is not under the direct control and constantsurveillance of a company employee(s).Despite the requirement, a portable nuclear gauges was stored by SITE-Blauvelt at a temporary job sitein Stroudsburg on Aug. 30 with only one tangible barrier securing it from unauthorized removal. Specifically,the only barrier preventing the gauge's unauthorized removal was a locked toolshed door. The gauge wasstolen and has not been recovered. The company has offered a reward for information leading to the return ofthe device.Such gauges contain small amounts of radioactive ma terial and are used for such industrial purposes asmeasuring the density of soil at construction sites. As long as the radioactive material remains properlyshielded inside its container, it would not pose a hazard to members of the public coming in contact with agauge. If the radioactive material was removed from the gauge, an individual who remained in close proximityto it for an extended period of time could receive an overexposure to radiation.The purpose of the Dec. 20 th meeting is to obtain information to enable the NRC to determine what, ifany, enforcement action is warranted. There will be an effort to come to a common understanding of the factsand discussion of root causes of the event and corrective actions undertaken by the company.No decision will be made by the NRC staff at the session. Rather, NRC management will render adecision sometime in the near future. #