NRC: Press Release Region IV - 2002-039 - NRC Proposes $15,000 Fine Against Framatome ANP Facility for Violations of Safety Requirements


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U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs, Region IV
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No. IV-02-039		August 30, 2002
CONTACT:	Breck Henderson Phone: 817-860-8128 Cellular: 817-917-1227	E-mail: OPA4.Resource@nrc.gov
NRC PROPOSES $15,000 FINE AGAINST FRAMATOME ANP FACILITY FOR VIOLATIONS OF SAFETY REQUIREMENTS Printable Version
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has proposed a $15,000 civil penalty against Framatome ANP, Inc. of Richland, Washington, for violations of NRC safety requirements. The violations related to an event in early April when special nuclear material was placed in a drum that did not contain a neutron-absorbing assembly designed to prevent an inadvertent criticality of the material. A criticality is a chain reaction which can occur in special nuclear material resulting in the release of heat and increased radiation levels. An NRC inspection less than two weeks after the incident and a conference with the company in late July led the NRC staff to conclude that although the event did not have actual safety consequences, there were several violations of NRC regulations relating to the controls to prevent a criticality. Because the NRC concluded that initial company analysis and corrective actions were too narrowly focused, the NRC determined that the $15,000 civil penalty was appropriate. The NRC has concluded that the licensee did develop broad corrective actions to address the causes of this incident following the NRC inspection. The company has 30 days from receipt of the NRC Notice of Violation to either pay the civil penalty or to protest its imposition, in whole or in part. Members of the public may obtain copies of the letter from the NRC to the company from the NRC Web Site at www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the public electronic reading room) or by calling the NRC Region IV Office of Public Affairs at 817-860-8128.
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