Press Release-I-97-068, NRC Proposes $5,500 Fine for Pennsylvania Metals Company for Improper Possession of Radioactive Materials
| ML003707199 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 06/19/1997 |
| From: | Diane Screnci, Neil Sheehan Office of Public Affairs Region I |
| To: | |
| Category:Press Release | |
| References | |
| Press Release-I-97-068 | |
| Download: ML003707199 (1) | |
Text
UnitedStatesNuclearRegulatoryCommissionOfficeofPublicAffairs,RegionI475AllendaleRoadKingofPrussia,PA19401Phone:610/337-5330Fax:610/337-5241Internet:dps@nrc.govornas@nrc.govI-97-68June19,1997Contact:DianeScrenciFORIMMEDIATERELEASENeilA.SheehanNRCPROPOSES$5,500FINEFORPENNSYLVANIAMETALSCOMPANYFORIMPROPERPOSSESSIONOFRADIOACTIVEMATERIALSTheNuclearRegulatoryCommissionstaffhasproposeda$5,500fineforaPennsylvaniametalscompanyforcontinuingto possessradioactivematerialsdespitetheexpirationoftheNRC licenseallowingittodoso.HTPInc.hadbeenlicensedbytheNRCtopossessandusecadmium-109andamericium-241sealedsourcesatitsfacilityin Sharon,Pa.Thoseradioactivematerialsareusedinanalyzer machinesthatevaluatemetalstodetermine,bothqualitatively andquantatively,whichalloysarepresent.Butthecompany's licenseexpiredonJanuary31,1995,andalthoughHTPrequesteda renewal,itwasnotapprovedbecauseofarepeatedfailuretopay therequiredapplicationfee.NRCregulationsrequiredthattheradioactivematerialsbeproperlytransferredtoanauthorizedrecipientbyMarch31, 1997.Despiterepeatedreminders,thatdidnotoccur.
Therefore,theagencyhasconcludedtheviolationiswillful."WillfulviolationsofNRCrequirementsareasignificantregulatoryconcernbecausetheconductoflicensedactivitiesin accordancewiththe(AtomicEnergy)ActandtheCommission's requirementsdependslargelyontheintegrityofindividuals conductingNRC-licensedactivities,"NRCRegion1Administrator HubertJ.MillerwrotetoHTP."Yourcontinuedpossessionof licensedmaterial,despitethenotificationsmadetoyou,is particularlyserious."Thelicenseecanavoidthe$5,500civilpenaltyifitproperlytransfersthesourcestoanauthorizedrecipient.
However,theNRCintendstoimposethatpenaltyandconsider finesof$500perdayifHTPfailstoactwithin30days.If assessed,thedailycivilpenaltieswouldcontinueuntilthe radioactivematerialsareproperlytransferred.HTPhas30daystopaythefineorrequestinwritingthatallorpartbewithdrawn.
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