NRC: News Release - 2005-033 - Nuclear Regulatory Commission Lifts Immediate Effectiveness of Order Suspending License of Safety Light


Index \| Site Map \| FAQ \| Facility Info \| Reading Rm \| New \| Help \| Glossary \| Contact Us

NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Office of Public Affairs	Telephone: 301/415-8200
Washington, DC 20555-0001	E-mail: OPA.Resource@nrc.gov
www.nrc.gov

No. 05-033

February 22, 2005

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION LIFTS IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVENESS
OF ORDER SUSPENDING LICENSE OF SAFETY LIGHT
Printable Version

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission today lifted the immediate effectiveness of its staff’s suspension of the licenses of Safety Light Corporation of Bloomsburg, Pa.

On Dec. 10, 2004, the NRC staff issued an order that suspended, effective immediately, two nuclear materials licenses held by Safety Light, based on concerns related to inadequate provisions for decommissioning funding when license-related operations cease permanently. The staff also denied applications of Safety Light to renew its licenses. On Jan. 24, an NRC Atomic Safety and Licensing Board denied the company’s motion to set aside the immediate effectiveness of the suspension order.

On Feb. 18, the Board directed the NRC staff to investigate claims raised by Safety Light’s customers that the company’s products are indispensable components of equipment necessary for national defense. The Board also directed the staff to address how national defense and security concerns would apply in this case.

In view of this Board order, the public interest, other issues that have been raised and the near-term (March 10) schedule for an oral hearing on this case, the Commission, exercising its supervisory role over licensing and enforcement proceedings, decided to lift the immediate effectiveness of the staff’s Dec. 10 license suspension order.

Since Safety Light submitted an application for renewal on a timely basis, and since the staff’s December denial of that renewal application is before an NRC hearing board and therefore not finally decided, the Commission’s decision today lifting the immediate effectiveness of the suspension order means the license remains in effect as of this time and Safety Light can continue to operate.

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.