ML20211C427

EN-99-025:on 990629,NOV & Proposed Imposition of Civil Penalty in Amount of $55,000 Issued to Licensee.Action Based on Severity III Violation Involving Failure to Classify,As Alert,Emergency Situation at Usec Portsmouth Plant

ML20211C427
Person / Time
Site:	Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant
Issue date:	06/24/1999
From:	Delmedico J, Lieberman J NRC OFFICE OF ENFORCEMENT (OE)
To:
References
EA-99-080, EN-99-025, NUDOCS 9908250238
Download: ML20211C427 (1)

Text

e June 24,1999 EN 99-025 i

OFFICE OF ENFORCEMENT NOTIFICATION OF SIGNIFICANT ENFORCEMENT ACTION Licensee: United States Enrichment Corporation (EA 99-080)

Bethesda, MD Docket No. 070-7002 Subiect: PROPOSED IMPOSITION OF CIVIL PENALTY - $55,000 This is to inform the Commission that a Notice of Violation and Proposed imposition of Civil Penalty in the amount of $55,000 will be issued on or about June 29,1999 to the United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC). This action is based on a Severity Level 111 violation involving the failure to classify, as an Alert, an emergency situation at USEC's Portsmouth plant which could have led to a release of radioactive materialinto the environment.

Because the Portsmouth plant has been the subject of escalated enforcement action within the last two years, the staff considered whether credit was warranted for Identification and Corrective Action in accordance with the civil penalty assessment process in Section VI.B.2 of the Enforcement Policy. Credit for identification is not warranted because USEC staff missed opportunities to identify and/or prevent the violation. However, credit for corrective action is warranted because USEC took prompt and comprehensive action to define the magnitude of the problem and to implement corrective actions.

It should be noted that the Certificatee has not been specifically informed of the enforcement action. The schedule of issuance and notification is:

Mailing of Notice June 29,1999 Telephone Notification of Licensee June 29,1999 The State of Ohio will be notified.

The Certificatee has thirty days from the date of the Notice in which to respond. Following NRC evaluation of the response, the civil penalty may be remitted, mitigated, or imposed by Order.

Contacts: J. Delmedico, OE,415-2739 J. Lieberman, OE, 415-2741 Distribution OWFN OWFN TWFN Regional Offices Chairman Jackson EDO OC RI RIV Comm. Dieus DEDR AEOD Ril WCFO Comm. Diaz DEDE OP Ctr Rlli Comm. McGarffigan OE NMSS SECY Comm. Merrifield OGC IRM MAIL OCA NRR OlG NUDOCS PA 01 RES PUBLIC IP SP ACRS l PRELIMINARY INFORMATION - NOT FOR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE UNTil VERIFICATION THAT LICENSEE HAS RECEIVED ACTION of 9908250238 990624 I&E 0h PDR EN-99-025 PDR

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