Press Release-I-03-006, NRC Proposes $3,000 Fine for Pa.-Based Nuclear Medicine Company

Press Release-I-03-006: NRC Proposes $3,000 Fine for Pa.-Based Nuclear Medicine Company

ML030430567
Person / Time
Issue date:	02/12/2003
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region I
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-I-03-006
Download: ML030430567 (1)

Text

NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGION I 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 No. I-03-006 February 12, 2003 CONTACT: Diane Screnci, (610) 337-5330 E-mail: opa1@nrc.gov Neil A. Sheehan, (610) 337-5331 NRC PROPOSES $3,000 FINE FOR PA.-BASED NUCLEAR MEDICINE COMPANY The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has proposed a $3,000 fine against an Allentown, Pa., company that provides nuclear medicine services. The civil penalty stems from three violations of NRC requirements identified during NRC inspections and an investigation conducted last year by the agencys Office of Investigations.

Medical Providers Capital Network has an NRC license that allows it to use certain nuclear materials to perform diagnostic tests, such as heart and organ imaging. It operates facilities in Allentown and in Lakewood, N.J. As is the case with other firms licensed by the NRC to use nuclear medicine materials, Medical Providers is required to have a Radiation Safety Officer to ensure that safety procedures regarding the use of such materials are in place and followed. It is also required to designate an Authorized User or Users to supervise use of the materials.

Based on its reviews, the NRC staff identified the following violations by Medical Providers: a failure of its Radiation Safety Officer/Authorized User to perform monthly visits to the Lakewood facility to review the use of radioactive materials between March 2000 and December 2001, even though it was known this was required; the creation of false records indicating that the Radiation Safety Officer had visited the Lakewood facility on a monthly basis during that period when that had not, in fact, occurred; and the receipt, possession and use of radioactive material without the supervision of a Radiation Safety Officer/Authorized User between January 14 and March 4, 2002.

The findings are described in a Notice of Violation accompanying the civil penalty. Medical Providers has 30 days from receipt of the Notice to either pay the fine or protest its imposition.