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	NRC NEWS U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGION I 475 Allendale Road, King of Prussia, Pa. 19406
	CONTACT:	Diane Screnci (610)337-5330/ e-mail: dps@nrc.gov Neil A. Sheehan (610)337-5331/e-mail: nas@nrc.gov

I-97-69

June 19, 1997

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has cited Cartier, Inc., in Shelton, Ct., for an alleged violation of agency requirements and has proposed a $7,500 fine.

An NRC inspection in March at Cartier's offices in Shelton determined that Cartier had distributed more than 16,000 watches containing tritium from its warehouse in Texas from 1985 through 1997 without an NRC license authorizing such distribution.

The watches pose no hazard to the public or their owners. Small amounts of tritium are safely used in many timepieces, but the NRC requires distributors to obtain a license from the agency to use the material.

In a letter to the company, Region I Administrator Hubert J. Miller said, "The NRC is principally concerned that for an extended duration, you bypassed the regulatory framework established to assure that possession, use, and distribution of radioactive materials is done safely and in accordance with requirements. By doing so, the NRC was unable to conduct inspections to determine whether the methods and controls you established for distributing radioactive material were in accordance with the terms and conditions of an NRC license"

Cartier has subsequently applied for and received an NRC license to use byproduct materials.

Cartier has 30 days either to pay the proposed fine or to request in writing that part or all of it be withdrawn.