Home > Electronic Reading Room > Document Collections > News Releases > 2000 > III-00-68

NRC NEWS U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGION III 801 Warrenville Road, Lisle IL 60532

NRC STAFF PROPOSES $11,000 FINE AGAINST A MINNESOTA ENGINEERING CONSULTING COMPANY

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has proposed an $11,000 fine against Stork/Twin City Testing for deliberately failing to have two individuals present during radiography at a temporary job site. Stork/Twin City Testing is an engineering consulting company that is based in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The company's radiation safety officer between June 27, 1998, and December 30, 1999, allowed radiographic operations to occur at a temporary job site with only one individual present. However, the radiation safety officer knew there should be two individuals present when such activity was taking place at a location that had not been approved by the NRC as a permanent radiographic installation. There is no indication that the actions resulted in radiological exposures in excess of regulatory limits.

The NRC increased the fine from $5,500 to $11,000 because the violation was willful, had been identified by an NRC inspector, resulted in financial gain, and lasted about one-and-a-half years.

The company has until January 11, 2001, to pay the fine or protest it. If the fine is protested and subsequently imposed by the NRC staff, the company may request a hearing.

# # #