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NRC NEWS
U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION |
| Office of Public Affairs |
Telephone: 301/415-8200 |
| Washington, DC 20555-001 |
E-mail: opa@nrc.gov |
No. 96-132 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Friday, October 4, 1996)
NRC PROPOSES TO BROADEN SCOPE
OF DELIBERATE MISCONDUCT RULE
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is proposing to broaden the scope of its
regulation which prohibits individual misconduct that could cause violations of NRC
requirements.
The proposed changes would extend the coverage of what is known as the NRC
Deliberate Misconduct Rule to include applicants for licenses or certificates, as well as
their employees or consultants. At present, the rule, adopted in 1991, applies only to
current licensees and their employees.
NRC moved to make this change as the result of an enforcement action taken
shortly after the Deliberate Misconduct Rule took effect. In that case, the NRC staff
found that a materials license had been granted based on false information in a license
application prepared by the applicant's consultant. NRC revoked the license, but lacked
authority to take additional enforcement action against the individuals involved.
The NRC believes that false information submitted by an applicant could have
serious safety consequences. For example, a spent fuel cask that is certified by the NRC
on the basis of falsified data could pose a threat to public health and safety.
Proposed amendments would subject the following additional individuals to the
Deliberate Misconduct Rule:
. All applicants for licenses;
. Applicants for or holders of early site permits, certified designs, and
combined licenses for nuclear power plants;
. Applicants for and holders of certificates of compliance, certificates of
registrations, and quality assurance program approvals; and
. Employees, contractors, subcontractors and consultants of all the above.
The public has 75 days to comment on the proposed amendments which were
published in the October 4 edition of the Federal Register. Comments may be
addressed to the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC
20555-0001, Attn: Docketing and Service Branch. Comments may be hand-delivered to
11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland, between 7:45 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. on federal
workdays.
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