NRC PROPOSES $3,000 FINE FOR
CENTENNIAL ENGINEERING & RESEARCH, INC.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has proposed a fine of $3,000 against Centennial Engineering & Research, Sheridan, Wyoming, for violation of NRC administrative and radioactive material handling regulations.

An NRC inspector identified three violations in early March. The inspector determined that Centennial failed to submit a license amendment request prior to designating a new radiation safety officer (RSO), used radioactive materials at locations not authorized by its license, and failed to ensure that radioactive material was transferred to a licensed entity.

The violations did not result in radiation overexposure to any workers or members of the public. However, in failing to submit license amendment requests prior to appointing a new RSO and storing radioactive materials at a previously unauthorized location, company officials knew they were not in compliance with the regulations and failed to take action. This led the NRC to classify these issues as "willful" violations. The company has taken prompt corrective actions by sending the new RSO to a training course, submitting the required license amendment requests and committing to adhere to NRC regulations in the future.

Centennial officials met with the NRC in Sheridan on October 4 to discuss the violations. The NRC has classified the two willful violations as a Severity Level III problem, which carries a $3,000 fine. The agency uses a four-level scale on which Level I is the most serious.

Centennial is required to respond to the letter and Notice of Violation with actions the company is taking to assure future compliance with regulatory and license requirements. The company has 30 days to pay the fine or protest it. If the protest is denied, the company may request a hearing by the NRC.

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Thursday, February 22, 2007