NRC PROHIBITS A FORMER RADIATION SAFETY OFFICER FROM
PARTICIPATING IN NRC-LICENSED ACTIVITY FOR FIVE YEARS

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued an order prohibiting a former radiation safety officer from involvement in NRC-licensed activities for five years due to his deliberate violation of various NRC regulations.

The action was taken against Virgil J. Hood, Sr., president of Moisture Protection Systems Analysts, Inc. (MPSA), which was formerly located in McLean, Virginia, following his failure to control licensed nuclear material and deliberate failure to notify the NRC of a missing or stolen portable moisture density gauge containing material licensed by the agency.

The nuclear gauge, which incorporates a radioactive source of Americium-241, was used to measure the moisture density of roof surfaces. The missing gauge was received at a Virginia landfill. Hood, Sr. may submit a response to the NRC's order and request a hearing within 20 days of the date of the order.

In addition, the NRC has issued a Demand for Information to the president's son, Virgil J. Hood, Jr., as a result of an investigation begun in December of 1997 that concluded he used the moisture density gauge even though he wasn't named as an authorized user.

Among other things, the Demand requests a description of Hood, Jr.'s responsibilities as vice president of MPSA , an explanation as to whether he was an authorized user of the gauge, the reasons as to why he did not heed two NRC subpoenas for interviews in 1998 and 1999, as well as why he did not respond to an NRC letter dated March 23 of this year, and a statement that demonstrates Hood, Jr.'s commitment to compliance with regulatory requirements and that provides a basis for why the agency should have confidence that he will comply with applicable NRC requirements in the future. The NRC revoked MPSA's license after they failed to submit answers to agency inquiries.

Hood, Jr. has 30 days to respond from the date of the information request if his current employment involves NRC-licensed activities or within 20 days of acceptance of employment involving agency-licensed activities or his becoming involved in NRC-licensed activities for five years from the date of the Demand.

NRC news releases are available through a free listserv subscription at the following Web address: http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/listserver.html. The NRC Home Page at www.nrc.gov also offers a Subscribe to News link in the News & Information menu. E-mail notifications are sent to subscribers when news releases are posted to NRC's Web Site.

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Friday, December 05, 2008