NRC Press Release: MIT Investigation

["Wesley M. Dunn" <WDUNN@brc1.tdh.state.tx.us>]

[No, I don't work for the NRC, so don't ask me for more info]

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           United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission
               Office of Public Affairs, Region I
          475 Allendale Road  King of Prussia, PA 19401
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              Internet:  dps@nrc.gov or vld@nrc.gov


I-96-16
Contact:  Diane Screnci                 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
          Victor Dricks                 February 27, 1996



      NRC STAFF CITES MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
          FOR AN ALLEGED VIOLATION OF NRC REQUIREMENTS

     The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has cited the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in Cambridge,
Massachusetts, for an alleged violation of NRC requirements.  No
fine is proposed.

     The alleged violation was identified during an Incident
Investigation Team (IIT) inspection conducted on October 17
through 25 and a subsequent inspection on December 4 through 6.
The IIT began its investigation the day after MIT told the NRC of
an August 14 ingestion of phosphorus 32 by an MIT researcher.
The December inspection was conducted to assess MIT's progress on
commitments made following the ingestion.

     Following the August incident, MIT took a number of
corrective actions, including assessing its security program for
radioactive materials, notifying all radioactive material users
that a locked container would be required for the storage of
NRC-licensed materials, and providing keys to the licensed
materials to specially designated individuals.

     MIT was cited for two examples of failing to secure from
unauthorized removal or access licensed radioactive materials
which were stored in controlled or unrestricted areas.  The first
example was found by the IIT.  During the course of the IIT
inspection, the team was able to enter several unlocked,
unattended laboratories where radioactive material was stored in
unlocked refrigerators.

     The second example was found during the December inspection.
In that case, the inspector found radioactive materials were
stored in an unlocked laboratory in an unlocked, unattended
storage area.

     The NRC staff categorized the violation as a Severity Level
III violation.  However, MIT was not fined because of its good
recent enforcement history and because the NRC determined its
corrective actions were prompt and comprehensive.

                             (MORE)




     In a letter to MIT, NRC Regional Administrator Thomas T.
Martin said, "Similar violations in the future could result in
further escalated enforcement action.  Since a Severity Level III
violation has been identified, MIT will be subject to increased
inspection effort until we have verified the continued
effectiveness of your corrective actions."

     The Commonwealth of Massachusetts was informed of this
enforcement action.

                                #
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Wesley M. Dunn, C.H.P.                     512-834-6688
Deputy Director, Licensing                 512-834-6690 (fax)
(Texas) Bureau of Radiation Control        wdunn@brc1.tdh.state.tx.us
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