[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 197 (Wednesday, October 13, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55496-55497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-26703]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[License No. 45-23000-02, Docket No. 030-33583, EA 99-223]
    In the matter of Roof Survey and Consultants, Inc., 2045 Wesvan 
Drive, N.E., Roanoke, Virginia 24012.


Order Modifying Order Suspending License (Effective Immediately) 
and Order Revoking License

I

    Roof Survey and Consultants, Inc. (RSCI or (licensee) 2045 Wesvan 
Drive, N.E., Roanoke, VA 24012, is the holder of Byproduct Material 
License No. 45-23000-02 (the license), which was issued by the Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission (NRC or Commission) pursuant to 10 CFR Part 30 on 
September 14, 1994. The license authorized RSCI to possess byproduct 
material, i.e., a Troxler Model No. 3216 portable roofing gauge 
containing a nominal 44 millicuries of Americium-241, for use in 
measuring the moisture density of roof surfaces in accordance with the 
conditions specified in the license. Mr. Charles R. Akers, President 
and Radiation Protection Officer, is the only authorized user listed on 
the license.

II

    Pursuant to 10 CFR 171.16, the licensee is required to pay an 
annual fee for the license. The licensee's annual fee for License No. 
45-23000-02 for fiscal year 1996, as set forth in fee category 3P of 10 
CFR 171.16(d), was $1600. In accordance with 10 CFR Part 15, the 
licensee was sent an original invoice dated August 22, 1996, a second 
notice dated September 23, 1996, and a final notice dated October 24, 
1996, requesting payment of the annual fee. The final notice of payment 
due specifically informed RSCI that non-payment of the fee might result 
in the suspension or revocation of the license in accordance with the 
Commission's regulations at 10 CFR 171.23. To date, the annual fee for 
1996 has not been paid.
    On April 3, 1997, NRC issued an Order Suspending License (Effective 
Immediately) to RSCI, based on non-payment of license fees for fiscal 
year 1996. The Order of April 3, 1997, required, among other things, 
that RSCI dispose of any licensed material, acquired or possessed under 
the authority of License No. 45-23000-02.
    As of September 5, 1997, the licensee had not complied with the 
April 3, 1997 Order, in that no disposal of licensed material had 
occurred. On July 14, 1997, an inspection was conducted which verified 
that the gauge was stored at Mr. Akers' residence. Mr. Akers was not 
present during the inspection. On November 20, 1997, an inspection was 
attempted but the inspector was not able to contact Mr. Akers. On March 
27, 1998, an inspection was again attempted; however, Mr. Akers was not 
present and security of the device could not be verified. On December 
8, 1998, an inspection was again attempted. Mr. Akers was not 
available. His spouse, however, was home and allowed the inspector to 
verify that the material was still in safe secure storage. Region II 
attempted to contact Mr. Akers on April 20, 1999, and left a message 
requesting a return call on his answering machine. Mr. Akers did not 
return the call.
    On May 20, 1999, NRC sent the licensee a certified letter, return 
receipt requested, reiterating the requirements of the April 3, 1997 
Order, that RSCI dispose of any licensed material, acquired or 
possessed under the authority of License No. 45-23000-02. No response 
was received. On August 3, 1999, the United States Postal Service 
confirmed that Mr. Akers signed for and received the certified letter 
on May 28, 1999. On August 4, 1999, the Director of NRC's Region II 
Division of Nuclear Materials Safety, attempted to contact Mr. Akers 
via telephone. Mr. Akers was not available, and a message was left with 
the person answering the call to have Mr. Akers call the NRC Region II 
office. To date, Mr. Akers has not returned any calls or otherwise 
contacted the NRC.
    Based on the above, two deliberate violations of NRC requirements 
have been identified. The violations are: (1) Failure to pay the annual 
fees prescribed by 10 CFR 171.16 for Byproduct Material License No. 45-
23000-02 for Fiscal Year 1996; and, (2) failure to comply with the 
terms of the April 3, 1997, Order Suspending License. Specifically, 
that Order required the licensee to dispose of all licensed nuclear 
material, acquired or possessed under the authority of License No. 45-
23000-02, and to submit an answer in writing and under oath and 
affirmation and specifically admit or deny each charge made therein. As 
of this date, the licensee has neither disposed of the material 
possessed under the license nor answered that Order.

III

    The deliberate failures of the licensee to comply with the April 3, 
1997 Order and to pay the annual fee as required by Commission 
regulations demonstrate that the licensee is either unwilling or unable 
to comply with Commission requirements. Moreover, because the licensee 
has failed to respond to NRC inquiries, the NRC is unable to ascertain 
the current status of licensed material in the licensee's possession. 
Consequently, I lack the requisite reasonable assurance that public 
health and safety will be protected if the licensee were to continue in 
possession of licensed material at this time. Therefore, the public 
health, safety, and interest require that the licensee report the 
current location, physical status, and storage arrangements of its 
licensed material; that the licensee leak test the licensed material; 
that the licensee transfer the licensed material to an authorized 
recipient as described below; and that Byproduct Material License No. 
45-23000-02 be revoked. Furthermore, pursuant to 10 CFR 2.202, I find 
that the significance of the violations described above is such that no 
further notice is required and that the public health, safety and 
interest require that the provisions of Section IV.A. of this Order be 
immediately effective.

IV

    Accordingly, pursuant to sections 81, 161b, 161c, 161i, 161o, 182 
and 186 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and the 
Commission's regulations in 10 CFR 2.202, and 10 CFR Parts 30, 170, and 
171,
    A. It is hereby ordered, effective immediately, That:
    1. The requirements of Paragraphs A through E of Section III of the 
Order dated April 3, 1997, and attached hereto remain in effect except 
where modified below.
    2. The licensee shall contact Mr. Douglas M. Collins, Director, 
Division of Nuclear Materials Safety, NRC Region II, at telephone 
number 404-562-4700 or 1-800-577-8510, within five days of the date of 
this Order and report the current location, physical status, and 
storage arrangements of the licensed material. Additionally, the 
licensee shall submit a written statement documenting this information 
under oath or affirmation to the Regional Administrator, NRC Region II, 
Atlanta Federal Center, 61 Forsyth Street, SW, Suite 23T85, Atlanta, 
Georgia 30303, within seven days of the date of this Order.

[[Page 55497]]

    3. Within ten days of the date of this Order, the licensee shall 
complete a leak test pursuant to Byproduct Material License No. 45-
23000-02, Condition 14.A., B., C., and D. to confirm the absence of 
leakage and to establish the levels of residual radioactive 
contamination. The licensee shall, within five days of the date the 
leak test results are known, submit the results of the leak test in 
writing to the Regional Administrator, NRC Region II, at the address 
given in Paragraph 2 above. If the test reveals the presence of 0.005 
microcuries or greater of removable contamination, the licensee shall 
immediately contact Mr. Douglas M. Collins, NRC Region II, at the 
telephone number given in Paragraph 2 above.
    4. Within 30 days of the date of this Order, the licensee shall 
cause all licensed material in its possession to be transferred to an 
authorized recipient in accordance with 10 CFR 30.41 and shall submit a 
completed Form NRC-314 to the Regional Administrator, NRC Region II, at 
the address given in paragraph 2. above.
    B. It is further ordered:
    1. Upon a written finding by the Regional Administrator, NRC Region 
II, that no licensed material remains in the licensee's possession and 
that other applicable provisions of 10 CFR 30.36 have been fulfilled, 
Byproduct Material License No. 45-23000-02 is revoked.
    The Director, Office of Enforcement, may relax or rescind, in 
writing, any of the above provisions upon demonstration of good cause 
by the licensee.

V

    In accordance with 10 CFR 2.202, the licensee must, and any other 
person adversely affected by this Order may submit an answer to this 
Order, and may request a hearing on this Order, within 20 days of the 
date of this Order. Where good cause is shown, consideration will be 
given to extending the time to request a hearing. A request for 
extension of time must be made in writing to the Director, Office of 
Enforcement, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 
20555, and shall include a statement of good cause for the extension. 
The answer may consent to the Order. Unless the answer consents to this 
Order, the answer shall, in writing and under oath or affirmation, 
specifically admit or deny each allegation or charge made in this Order 
and set forth the matters of fact and law on which the licensee or 
other person adversely affected relies and reasons as to why the Order 
should not have been issued. Any answer or request for a hearing shall 
be submitted to the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
ATTN: Chief, Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff, Washington, D.C. 
20555. Copies also shall be sent to the Director, Office of 
Enforcement, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 
20555; to the Assistant General Counsel for Materials Litigation and 
Enforcement at the same address; and to the Regional Administrator, NRC 
Region II, Atlanta Federal Center, 61 Forsyth Street, S.W., Suite 
23T85, Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3415; and to the licensee if the answer 
or hearing request is by a person other than the licensee. If a person 
other than the licensee requests a hearing, that person shall set forth 
with particularity the manner in which his interest is adversely 
affected by this Order and shall address the criteria set forth in 10 
CFR 2.714(d).
    If a hearing is requested by the licensee or a person whose 
interest is adversely affected, the Commission will issue an Order 
designating the time and place of any hearing. If a hearing is held, 
the issue to be considered at such hearing shall be whether this Order 
should be sustained.
    Pursuant to 10 CFR 2.202(c)(2)(i), the licensee, may, in addition 
to demanding a hearing, at the time the answer is filed or sooner, move 
the presiding officer to set aside the immediate effectiveness of the 
Order on the ground that the Order, including the need for immediate 
effectiveness, is not based on adequate evidence but on mere suspicion, 
unfounded allegations, or error.
    In the absence of any request for hearing, or written approval of 
an extension of time in which to request a hearing, the provisions 
specified in Section IV above shall be final 20 days from the date of 
this Order without further order or proceedings. If an extension of 
time for requesting a hearing has been approved, the provisions 
specified in Section IV shall be final when the extension expires if a 
hearing request has not been received. An answer or a request for 
hearing shall not stay the immediate effectiveness of this order.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 4th day of October 1999.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Carl J. Paperiello,
Deputy Executive Director for Materials, Research and State Programs.
[FR Doc. 99-26703 Filed 10-12-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P