NRC Staff to Discuss Apparent Violations with West Virginia Nuclear Pharmacy on January 6

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	NRC NEWS U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGION II 61 Forsyth Street, Suite 23T85, Atlanta, GA 30303
	CONTACT:	Ken Clark (Phone: 404-562-4416, E-mail: kmc2@nrc.gov )
		Roger Hannah (Phone 404-562-4417, E-mail: rdh1@nrc.gov )

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No: II-97-90

December 30, 1997

NRC STAFF TO DISCUSS APPARENT VIOLATIONS WITH
WEST VIRGINIA NUCLEAR PHARMACY ON JANUARY 6

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has scheduled a predecisional enforcement conference with Tri-States Area Nuclear Pharmacy of Huntington, West Virginia, at 9:30 a.m. in Atlanta on January 6, 1998 to discuss NRC findings related to the security of radioactive material used by the company and the transfer of licensed material to an unauthorized person.

An NRC inspection in late November 1997 identified two apparent violations. The first apparent violation involves two instances of failure to secure licensed radioactive materials. On November 19, an NRC inspector found the door to the pharmacy unlocked and licensee personnel were not present to prevent unauthorized access or removal of licensed material. The inspector also determined that custodial personnel working for the building owner had unauthorized access to the facility.

The second apparent violation involves the transfer of material to an unauthorized person. The inspector determined that between January 1996 and August 1997, Tri-States, on a weekly basis, transferred doses of radioactive material to a person not licensed to receive such material.

The meeting will be held in the NRC's regional office, located on the 24th floor of the Atlanta Federal Center at 61 Forsyth Street. The meeting is open to observation by the public and the media, and NRC officials will be available at its conclusion to answer questions from interested observers.

NRC officials said the decision to hold a predecisional enforcement conference does not mean that a determination has been made that a violation has occurred or that enforcement action will be taken. The purpose of the conference is to discuss apparent violations, their causes and safety significance; to provide the licensee an opportunity to point out any errors that may have been made in the NRC inspection report; and to enable the company to outline its proposed corrective actions.

No decision on the apparent violations or any contemplated enforcement action, such as a civil penalty, will be made at this conference. Those decisions will be made later by senior NRC officials.

EDITORS: Recorded information on all upcoming NRC predecisional enforcement conferences can be obtained by calling 1-800-952-9674.