[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: Press releases included - ASCII version
06/14/94 09:27
U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Region III Office of Public Affairs
801 Warrenville Road, Lisle IL 60532-4351
Contact: Jan Strasma 708/829-9663 June 14, 1994
Angela Dauginas 708/829-9662
NRC STAFF PROPOSES $17,750 FINE AGAINST OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
FOR VIOLATIONS OF NRC SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has proposed a $17,750 fine
against Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, for thirty-two violations of
NRC safety requirements. The violations were categorized as a breakdown in
control of licensed activities within the radiation safety program and the
loss or potential for loss of control of licensed material.
An NRC routine inspection from September 27 to November 4, 1993
identified the violations. The violations include: failure to file a
Decommissioning Funding Plan; failure to comply with NRC requirements
regarding irradiators; failure to develop, implement, and submit a medical
quality management program; and failure to follow requirements involving
surveys, inventories, and storing of licensed material.
"These violations represent a very significant breakdown in the
management of your radiation safety program. Many of the violations appear
to have been known or suspected to exist by your radiation safety office
and by others responsible for the program, yet continued uncorrected,"
stated John B. Martin, NRC Regional Administrator, in notifying the
university of the fine. "The failure to correct known violations and known
conditions likely to lead to violations represnets a careless disregard
towards the NRC regulations and licensee requirements by those responsible
for NRC-licensed activities at Ohio State University."
The NRC staff cited the following items as notable concerns:
1) a November 1991 NRC inspection alerted the university to overall
licensed material inventory and accountability weaknesses and housekeeping
problems in its waste storage areas but as of the 1993 NRC inspection, the
problems continued to exist; 2) the university conducted its own self
assessment of its radiation safety office in late 1991 which identified a
significant staffing shortage but as of the 1993 NRC inspection, the
staffing had not been increased to the level deemed necessary; 3) an April
1993 consultant audit alerted the university to violations associated with
its airborne effluent monitoring program and failure to complete an
evaluation of a possible overexposure but as of the 1993 NRC inspection,
the violations continued to exist; 4) failure to comply with the January
1993 deadline to submit a Decommissioning Funding Plan and failure to
outline as of the 1993 NRC inspection any plans to complete one; 5) a 0.95
millicurie iridium-192 seed was found in an unrestricted patient room in
November of 1992 and in April of 1991 iodine-125 seeds totalling 33
millicuries were left overnight in an unrestricted area; and 6) failure to
evaluate whether the university's two irradiator facilities were in
compliance with new federal regulations.
Additionally, the NRC has requested the university to submit by
August 10, 1994, a detailed Radiation Safety Improvement Plan. The plan is
to include specific improvements in management oversight and additional
resources to be dedicated to upgrading the radiation safety program.
The university has until July 11, 1994, to pay the fine or protest
it. If the fine is protested and subsequently imposed by the NRC staff,
the university may request a hearing.
# # # #
05-27-94 Statement on Radiation
OHIO STATE RESPONDS TO NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION INSPECTION
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State University officials responded
today (5/26) to possible violations that arose during a routine
inspection by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission last fall. The
officials said that the majority of the problems cited had
already been detected, investigated and corrected by the
university.
The final NRC report is expected to be released within a
month.
The officials emphasized that the NRC inspectors found no
"significant problems" with the way radioactive materials are
used throughout the campus research programs. The report also
found no problems with the "facilities or equipment used to
support the nuclear medicine program."
At no time during the period covered by the NRC
investigations were any patients, staff, faculty or students
injured or harmed because of the problems cited by the NRC.
"We don't want to diminish the seriousness of some of the
NRC's findings," said Ronald St. Pierre, associate vice president
for health services. "But we do want to point out that the
university's own monitoring programs had already identified and
corrected most of the past problems the NRC cited.
"In effect, our own good stewardship of radioactive
materials provided all of the information on which the NRC
charges were made."
Along with the specific violations, the NRC said that the
university showed a "significant lack of management control over
licensed activities and reflects a need for strengthening both
the Radiation Safety Officer and management, including the
(campus) Radiation Safety Committee" which oversees the program.
St. Pierre said that many of the general concerns raised
over the university's programs can be traced to the impact that
years of budget reductions have made on the Office of Radiation
Safety. Based on a self-assessment made in late 1991, the office
needs at least three additional professionals to adequately staff
its programs. University officials had already decided to add
two new professionals to the office's staff during the next
fiscal year, St. Pierre said.
The university holds eight separate NRC licenses for
research, education and medical therapy uses and its use of
radioactive materials is spread across more than 600 laboratories
on campus. More than 250 individual research supervisors are
responsible for the proper use of these substances and for
preventing the public's exposure to them.
The NRC charges follow a two-month routine inspection of the
university by the agency from September to November 1993. During
that time, the NRC inspected records in the Office of Radiation
Safety, examined laboratories and other facilities, and
interviewed faculty and staff involved in the program.
#
Contact: Ronald St. Pierre, (614) 292-4761
Robert W. Brueggemeier, (614) 292-5231.
(Brueggemeier is chair of the university's
Radiation Safety Committee.)
[Submitted by: GERSTNER (gerstner@ccgate.ucomm.ohio-state.edu)
Fri, 27 May 1994 08:56:32 -0500 (EST)]
All documents are the responsibility of their originator.
..
06-14-94 OSU Acknowledges NRC Violations
OHIO STATE ACKNOWLEDGES NRC VIOLATIONS, WILL PAY FINES
COLUMBUS -- Ohio State University officials today confirmed
that the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission has cited Ohio
State for 32 violations of NRC regulations and fined it $17,750.
The university acknowledged the violations and has agreed to pay
the fines.
However, officials said that the university will provide the
NRC with additional information concerning the alleged violations
in hopes of mitigating the fines.
"As we said two weeks ago, the university's own
investigation and monitoring had identified and corrected most of
the past problems the NRC cites," explained Ronald St. Pierre,
associate vice president for health services. St. Pierre and
other university officials discussed the NRC investigation with
reporters late last month.
The university's radiation safety program had identified
more than half of the problems cited by the NRC action and had
corrected them by the time this report was submitted. At no time
during the period covered by the NRC investigations were any
patients, staff, faculty or students injured or harmed because of
the problems cited by the NRC.
The NRC report points to two primary concerns: the number of
alleged violations it found and what it called "a very
significant breakdown in the management of the radiation safety
program."
St. Pierre pointed to a shortage in funding and resources as
one factor contributing the problems.
"The NRC charges us with the responsibility to insure the
public health and safety concerning the use of radioactive
materials. That is exactly what we have focused on," he said.
"Admittedly, some other items -- many of them administrative --
received less attention than they should."
The university has already begun taking steps to strengthen
Ohio State's radiation safety program. They include:
=FE Consolidating the current Office of Radiation Safety with
the Office of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety;
=FE Providing new funding which will allow the hiring of two new
radiation safety staff members to increase monitoring of the
university's program;
=FE Naming Joseph Allgeier, formerly assistant director of
radiation safety, as the university's radiation safety officer.
The NRC had cited the temporary lack of a person in this position
as an indication of the programs inadequate management.
The university has 30 days to formally respond to the NRC's
action and 60 days to submit a program for improving the campus
radiation safety program. St. Pierre said that it is hoped the
university's response will demonstrate to the NRC the
university's commitment to maintain high radiation safety
standards.
Ohio State has eight separate NRC licenses for research,
education and medical therapy uses. Radioactive materials are
used in more than 600 laboratories across the campus and more
than 250 individual research supervisors are responsible for the
proper use of these substances and for preventing the public's
exposure to them.
#
Contact: Ronald St. Pierre, (614) 292-4761
Robert W. Brueggemeier, (614) 292-5231.
(Brueggemeier is chair of the university's
Radiation Safety Committee.)
[Submitted by: REIDV (reidv@ccgate.ucomm.ohio-state.edu)
Wed, 15 Jun 1994 10:48:27 -0500 (EST)]
All documents are the responsibility of their originator.
..