More bad Brookhaven Press

[Steven.Rima@DOEGJPO.COM (Steven Rima)]

     The press release below was just posted on the DOE Press Release home 
     page. Note that a fine of over $140k would have been levied had the 
     contractor, Associated Universities, not been exempt from fines.
     
     Steven D. Rima, CHP
     Manager, Health Physics and Industrial Hygiene
     MACTEC-ERS, LLC
     steven.rima@doegjpo.com
     
     **********************************************************************
     
     ENERGY DEPARTMENT CITES ASSOCIATED UNIVERSITIES
                                  FOR SAFETY VIOLATIONS
     
     The Department of Energy has cited Associated Universities Inc., the 
     outgoing operator of the Brookhaven National Laboratory, for several 
     significant regulatory violations of nuclear safety rules that 
     occurred in June 1997. While actual consequences of the violations 
     were not serious, the department found they reflect a trend of 
     non-compliance with regulatory and Brookhaven procedural requirements. 
     Violations include: 
     
          Failure to comply with internal Brookhaven procedures when moving 
     contaminated, dummy, fuel elements at the High Flux Beam Reactor to a 
     non-radiological maintenance area. As a result workers' skin was 
     contaminated. 
          Unnecessary worker exposures at the Brookhaven Medical Research 
     Reactor caused by failure to follow procedures regarding irradiation 
     of experimental samples. 
          Seven of 26 Radiation Control Technicians were identified as not 
     fully qualified in a 1993 audit. When the department raised the issue 
     again in March 1997 technicians were continuing to perform duties of 
     fully qualified technicians despite previous commitments to correct 
     the problem. 
     
     These incidents were publicly reported when they occurred. Today's 
     action is a result of an investigation by the Energy
     Department Office of Enforcement and Investigations. A civil penalty 
     in the amount of $142,500 would normally have been
     issued for the four severity level II violations. However, there is no 
     fine associated with the Preliminary Notice of Violation
     because the Price-Anderson Amendments Act specifically exempts 
     Associated Universities Inc., and several other
     not-for-profit organizations from civil penalties. The Department of 
     Energy issued the violation to assure that the problems are
     properly identified and corrected. AUI is required to respond to the 
     preliminary notice of violation to document actions taken
     or planned to prevent recurrence of problems. The Price-Anderson Act 
     directed the department to develop and enforce
     nuclear rules with its contractors. Since the program began in January 
     1996, the department has issued 19 Notices of Violation
     and nine civil penalties totaling $415,000. Additional information is 
     available via the Internet at http://tis-hq.eh.doe.gov/.