EA-99-262 - Western Soil, Inc.

April 12, 2000

EA 99-262

Western Soil, Inc.
ATTN: Mr. Max R. Laracuente, P.E.
Owner/Radiation Safety Officer
P.O. Box 345
Mayagüez, Puerto Rico 00681

SUBJECT:  ORDER IMPOSING CIVIL MONETARY PENALTY- $2,750

Dear Mr. Laracuente:

This refers to your letters dated December 20, 1999 and February 16, 2000, in response to our Notice of Violation and Proposed Imposition of Civil Penalty (Notice) sent to you by letter dated November 24, 1999. The Notice described three violations identified during an NRC inspection conducted on September 28-29, 1999, at your Mayagüez, Puerto Rico facility.

To emphasize the importance of identification of violations and in recognition of the previous escalated enforcement action involving Western Soil, Inc., after consultation with the Director, Office of Enforcement, a Notice of Violation and Proposed Imposition of Civil Penalty in the base amount of $2,750 was issued for the Severity Level III violation cited in Part I of the Notice.

In your December 20, 1999 letters, you admit the violations in Part II of the Notice that were not subject to a civil penalty, but contest the violation in Part I of the Notice insofar as it states that the licensee failed to maintain constant surveillance of licensed material. The NRC determined that the technician's control of the gauge was unacceptable for maintaining adequate surveillance and the violation occurred as stated. In addition, you request that the NRC consider categorizing this violation as a first offense, rather than as a recurring one. The NRC did not consider this violation as a recurring one, albeit similar to a Severity Level III violation issued on June 14, 1994. In this case, the civil penalty was assessed because the activities under the license had been the subject of escalated enforcement action within the last two inspections.

After consideration of your responses, we have concluded for the reasons given above and in the Appendix attached to the enclosed Order Imposing Civil Monetary Penalty, that the violation in Part I of the Notice occurred as stated. Accordingly, we hereby serve the enclosed Order on Western Soil, Inc. imposing a civil penalty in the amount of $2,750. As provided in Section IV of the enclosed Order, payment should be made within 30 days in accordance with NUREG/BR-0254. In addition, at the time payment is made, a statement indicating when and by what method payment was made, is to be mailed to the Director, Office of Enforcement,U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852-2738. We will review the effectiveness of your corrective actions during a subsequent inspection.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice", a copy of this letter and Enclosure 1 will be made publically available.

		Sincerely,
		/RA/
		R.W. Borchardt, Director Office of Enforcement

Docket No.: 030-20563
License No.: 52-21368-01

Enclosure: Order Imposing Civil Monetary Penalty

cc w/encl 1 only:
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

 

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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
In the Matter of	)
	)	Docket No. 030-20563
Western Soil, Inc.	)	License No. 52-21368-01
Mayaguez, Puerto Rico 00681	)	EA 99-262
	)

ORDER IMPOSING CIVIL MONETARY PENALTY

I

Western Soil, Inc. (Licensee) is the current holder of Materials License No. 52-21368-01 originally issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or Commission) on December 13, 1983, to Caribbean Soil Testing Company, Inc. On April 12, 1994, an amendment was issued transferring the license to Western Soil, Inc. The license expires on April 30, 2004. The license authorizes Western Soil, Inc. to use sealed sources contained in portable gauging devices for measuring properties of materials.

II

An inspection of the Licensee's activities was conducted on September 28-29, 1999. The results of this inspection indicated that the Licensee had not conducted its activities in compliance with NRC requirements. A written Notice of Violation and Proposed Imposition of Civil Penalty (Notice) was served upon the Licensee by letter dated November 24, 1999. The Notice states the nature of the violations, the provisions of the NRC's requirements that the Licensee violated, and the amount of the civil penalty proposed for the violation cited in Part I of the Notice.

The Licensee responded to the Notice by letters dated December 20, 1999, and February 16, 2000. In its responses, the Licensee admits the violations in Part II of the Notice, but contests the violation in Part I of the Notice insofar as it stated that the licensee failed to maintain constant surveillance of licensed material. The Licensee also took issue with certain statements made in the cover letter forwarding the Notice. In addition, the Licensee requested that NRC consider categorizing the violation in Part I of the Notice as a first offense, rather than as a recurring one.

III

After consideration of the Licensee's responses and the statements of fact, explanation, and argument for mitigation contained therein, the NRC staff has determined, as set forth in the Appendix to this Order, that the violation cited in Part I of the Notice occurred as stated and that the penalty proposed for the violation designated in Part I of the Notice should be imposed.

IV

In view of the foregoing and pursuant to Section 234 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (Act), 42 U.S.C. 2282, and 10 CFR 2.205, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:

The Licensee pay a civil penalty in the amount of $2,750 within 30 days of the date of this Order, in accordance with NUREG/BR-0254. In addition, at the time of making payment, the Licensee shall submit a statement indicating when and by what method payment was made, to the Director, Office of Enforcement, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852-2738.

V

The Licensee may request a hearing within 30 days of the date of this Order. Where good cause is shown, consideration will be given to extending the time to request a hearing. A request for extension of time must be made in writing to the Director, Office of Enforcement, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555, and include a statement of good cause for the extension. A request for a hearing should be clearly marked as a "Request for an Enforcement Hearing" and shall be submitted to the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, ATTN: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff, Washington, DC 20555. Copies also shall be sent to the Director, Office of Enforcement, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555, to the Assistant General Counsel for Materials Litigation and Enforcement at the same address, and to the Regional Administrator, NRC Region II, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 61 Forsyth St., SW, Suite 23T85, Atlanta, GA 30303.

If a hearing is requested, the Commission will issue an Order designating the time and place of the hearing. If the Licensee fails to request a hearing within 30 days of the date of this Order (or if written approval of an extension of time in which to request a hearing has not been granted), the provisions of this Order shall be effective without further proceedings. If payment has not been made by that time, the matter may be referred to the Attorney General for collection.

In the event the Licensee requests a hearing as provided above, the issues to be considered at such hearing shall be:

 

(a)  whether the Licensee was in violation of the Commission's requirements as set forth in Part I of the Notice referenced in Section II above, and

(b)  whether, on the basis of such violation, this Order should be sustained.

		FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
		/RA/
		R.W. Borchardt, Director Office of Enforcement

Dated this 12th day of April 2000

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APPENDIX

EVALUATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS

On November 24, 1999, a Notice of Violation and Proposed Imposition of Civil Penalty (Notice) was issued for violations identified during an NRC inspection. The licensee's response denies Violation I in part and provides additional information in support of mitigation of the violation, and admits Violation II.A and B. The NRC's evaluation and conclusion regarding the licensee's arguments are as follows:

Restatement of the Violation in Part I of the Notice

10 CFR 20.1801 requires the licensee to secure from unauthorized removal or access licensed materials that are stored in controlled or unrestricted areas. 10 CFR 20.1802 requires the licensee to control and maintain constant surveillance of licensed material that is in a controlled or unrestricted area and that is not in storage. As defined in 10 CFR 20.1003, controlled area means an area, outside of a restricted area but inside the site boundary, access to which can be limited by the licensee for any reason; unrestricted area means an area, access to which is neither limited nor controlled by the licensee.

Contrary to the above, on June 4, 1999, the licensee failed to secure from unauthorized removal or limit access to a moisture/density portable nuclear gauge containing approximately 10 millicuries of cesium-137 and 50 millicuries of americium-241 in a vehicle while at a temporary job site, which is an unrestricted area, nor did the licensee control and maintain constant surveillance of this licensed material. As a result, the gauge was stolen.

Summary of Licensee's Response to the Violation in Part I of the Notice

In response to the violation, the licensee stated that on June 4, 1999, the technician did not abandon or leave the gauge. The licensee further stated that after completing density tests, the technician secured the gauge to the bed of the pick up truck with only a stabilization belt. The licensee stated that the case was not secured to the vehicle with a chain and padlock because the technician was discussing work with the project manager at a distance of 300 - 400 feet from the gauge. The licensee admitted the technician's mistake, but indicated that it was not a typical situation during operations and that the gauge was not abandoned.

NRC Evaluation of Licensee's Response to the Violation in Part I of the Notice

Regarding the regulatory basis for the violation of 10 CFR 20.1801 and 20.1802, the technician's presence at a distance of 300 - 400 feet from the gauge was, in this case, unacceptable for maintaining adequate surveillance and control over unsecured licensed material because the gauge was stolen. This is a clear indication that it was not adequately surveilled or controlled.

Summary of Licensee's Request for Mitigation

The licensee took issue with the characterization of the violation as similar to a violation identified in March 1994 when the license was under the control of the previous owner, Caribbean Soil Testing Company, Inc. The licensee stated that in June 1997, Western Soil, Inc. assumed responsibility for the license and committed to the programs required by the NRC. The licensee noted inadequacies in Carribean Soil's procedures for handling gauges and implemented improvements, including use of a chain and padlock to secure gauges to vehicles. The licensee stated that it was unaware of the previous violation until NRC's letter of November 24, 1999, transmitting the Notice. Furthermore, the licensee asserts that the prior violation, as recalled by the former owner of the company, related to a case padlock, not to stolen equipment. Based on this, the licensee requested that the violation be considered a first time offense and not a recurring one.

The licensee also disagreed with the finding that the transportation case for the stolen gauge contained the gauge key, as stated in NRC's November 24, 1999, cover letter forwarding the Notice. The licensee stated that, during the inspection, the NRC inspector found keys inside an envelope in the transportation case which belonged to a gauge in storage. The licensee further explained that keys are normally stored in the transportation cases of "out of service" gauges to ensure that the keys travel with the gauges when they are shipped for service, as opposed to gauges being used in the field, which did not have keys with them. The licensee stated that on the day of the NRC inspection, the transportation case of the gauge returning from the field did not contain its key.

NRC Evaluation of Licensee's Request for Mitigation

In accordance with Section VI.B.2. of the Enforcement Policy, when activities under the license have been the subject of any escalated enforcement action within the last two inspections, the NRC considers whether credit is warranted for identification or corrective action in assessing the amount of the civil penalty. In this case, because the activities under the license had been the subject of escalated enforcement action within the last two inspections, the NRC applied these factors in assessing the amount of the civil penalty.

Although the licensee stated that it was unaware of the previous violation until NRC's letter of November 24, 1999, transmitting the Notice, as part of the application, the licensee submitted a letter dated August 19, 1997, which stated that the new owner agreed with all constraints, conditions requirements, representations and commitments identified in the existing license. This letter is referenced in License Condition 21 of the NRC license which requires, in part, that the licensee maintain the corrective actions for previous enforcement actions. Corrective actions from the previous enforcement action issued on June 14, 1994, regarding security of material, were documented in a letter dated August 29, 1994, from Caribbean Soil Testing Company, Inc. which stated, "we have attached a chain to the handle of the gauge box and lock it with the open bed of the pick up truck." The NRC therefore holds the new owner responsible for the previous escalated enforcement actions and associated corrective action effectiveness. In this case, as explained in the cover letter forwarding the Notice, the licensee did not maintain effective corrective action such as would have prevented this violation from occurring.

In addition, the licensee stated that the previous violation of June 14, 1994, was not associated with a stolen gauge but rather, was associated with a case padlock. The current violation need not be a duplicate of the previous enforcement action, but these two actions are similar in that both of these violations involve the licensee's failure to control licensed material. The fact that the prior violation was not identical to this violation had no bearing upon the amount of the civil penalty that was assessed.

Regarding the location of the gauge keys, the inspector observed a gauge in storage with the gauge key in an envelope inside the transportation case, and questioned the licensee about the stolen gauge. The licensee's Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) stated to the inspector that the stolen gauge's transportation case also contained its key in an envelope, and that the practice of transporting gauges with their keys was not uncommon. The RSO told the inspector that the stolen gauge was found with a broken transport case lock; however, the envelope which contained the key inside the transportation case appeared to be untampered with. This finding was documented in the October 19, 1999, inspection report and was neither challenged nor questioned by Western Soil, Inc. during the November 9, 1999, predecisional enforcement conference. In its letters dated December 20, 1999, and February 16, 2000, Western Soil, Inc. provided information contrary to this finding. However, the reconciliation of this conflicting information regarding the location of the keys has no effect on the outcome of the final enforcement action including the potential civil penalty. Although the location of the keys does affect the magnitude of the safety significance; the severity level of the violation and associated civil penalty were based solely on the licensee's failure to maintain adequate security over licensed material which resulted in the gauge being stolen and in the public domain. Such a violation is categorized at Severity Level III in accordance with Supplements IV.C.9 and VI.C.I of the Enforcement Policy.

NRC Conclusion

For the above reasons, the NRC staff concludes that the violation occurred as stated and that mitigation of the civil penalty is not warranted.