[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 206 (Tuesday, October 24, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63632-63633]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27284]



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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[IA-00-008]


In the Matter of Don Nottingham; Order Prohibiting Involvement in 
NRC Licensed Activities (Effective Immediately)

I

    Mr. Don Nottingham served as a senior radiographer at NDT Services, 
Inc. (NDTS) from 1994 through 1995. At the time, NDTS (Licensee) was 
the holder of Materials License No. 52-19438-01 issued by the Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission (NRC) pursuant to 10 CFR Part 30. The License 
authorized possession and use of up to 100 curies of iridium-192 and 20 
curies of cobalt-60 in sealed radiography sources. The License was 
originally issued on August 21, 1980, and was due to expire on January 
31, 2002. However, the License was suspended pursuant to an Order 
Suspending License (Effective Immediately) that was issued on March 27, 
1998, pending the results of an NRC Office of Investigations (OI) 
investigation (see Section II). A subsequent Order Modifying License 
(Effective Immediately) issued on January 15, 1999, required NDTS to 
dispose of licensed material in its possession. The License was 
terminated on October 16, 2000.

II

    On August 26, 1997, an investigation by the NRC Office of 
Investigations (OI) was initiated to determine whether NDTS, Inc., 
retaliated against several radiographers for raising concerns regarding 
safety and training issues. The investigation also addressed numerous 
other issues including: personnel training; dosimetry usage; conduct of 
surveys; completion of survey records; the alleged performance of 
radiography by assistant radiographers without direct observation; an 
alleged 1995 event involving the inability to retract a radiography 
source assembly to its fully shielded position (``a source disconnect 
event''); and the alleged failure to report the 1995 event. The 
investigation did not substantiate that discrimination occurred, but 
identified numerous examples of NDTS's willful failure to comply with 
NRC regulations, including the conduct of unsupervised radiography by 
assistant radiographers.
    The OI investigation determined that Mr. Nottingham, while serving 
as a senior radiographer, permitted assistant radiographers to perform 
unsupervised radiography. This is contrary to 10 CFR 34.46, which 
provides that whenever a radiographer's assistant uses radiographic 
exposure devices, associated equipment or sealed sources or conducts 
radiation surveys to determine that the sealed source has returned to 
the shielded position after an exposure, the assistant shall be under 
the personal supervision of a radiographer. The personal supervision 
must include the radiographer's physical presence at the site where the 
sealed sources are being used; the availability of the radiographer to 
give immediate assistance, if required; and the radiographer's direct 
observation of the assistant's performance of the operations. Mr. 
Nottingham was an experienced radiographer who had been tested on the 
requirements of this regulation.
    The OI investigation further determined that, in early 1995, the 
Licensee experienced a source disconnect at the Phillips Puerto Rico 
Core site. The source disconnect occurred when a 75-curie iridium-192 
radiography source assembly failed to retract to its fully shielded 
position due to improper handling by the assistant radiographer. The OI 
investigation determined that the assistant radiographer had conducted 
the radiographic operations without direct observation by a 
radiographer, and that Mr. Nottingham had been responsible for 
permitting the assistant radiographer to conduct radiographic 
operations without direct observation, which contributed to the source 
disconnect. OI was unable to interview Mr. Nottingham during the 
investigation despite several attempts. Nonetheless, the conclusion 
that the assistant performed radiography without direct observation of 
a qualified radiographer is based on the corroborating statements of 
multiple assistant radiographers to OI regarding the level of 
supervision they received, as well as the testimony of another 
radiographer. This radiographer stated that assistants were supervised; 
but not constantly surveilled, i.e., directly observed. As stated 
previously, 10 CFR 34.46(c) requires direct observation by a qualified 
radiographer of an assistant's performance of operations. In addition, 
Mr. Nottingham was an experience radiographer who had been tested on 
the requirement of 10 CFR 34.46 relating to the conduct of radiographic 
operations.
    Based on these facts, the evidence developed by the investigation 
indicated that Mr. Nottingham knew the requirement in 10 CFR 34.46(c) 
regarding ``direct observation'' of the assistant's performance, and 
allowed the assistant radiographer to perform radiography without such 
direct observation of his performance. The evidence developed by the 
investigation therefore indicated that Mr. Nottingham's failure to 
comply with 10 CFR 34.46 was deliberate; and thus, constituted a 
violation of 10 CFR 30.10, ``Deliberate Misconduct''. Specifically, 10 
CFR 30.10 prohibits any employee of a licensee from deliberately 
engaging in activities which cause a licensee to be in violation of any 
rule, regulation, or order, or any term, condition or limitation of any 
license.
    A certified letter dated March 6, 2000, to Mr. Nottingham advised 
that his actions appeared to constitute a violation of 10 CFR 30.10, 
and he was requested to participate in a predecisional enforcement 
conference to discuss the apparent violation. The certified mail return 
receipt indicates that on March 16, 2000, this letter was received by 
Ms. Evelyn Nottingham. To date, no response has been received from Mr. 
Nottingham.

III

    Based on the above, the NRC has concluded that Mr. Nottingham 
engaged in deliberate misconduct when he permitted assistant 
radiographers to conduct radiographic operations without his direct 
supervision that caused the Licensee to be in violation of 10 CFR 34.46 
and is, therefore a violation of 10 CFR 30.10. The NRC must be able to 
rely on licensees and their employees to fully comply with NRC 
requirements, including the requirement to adequately supervise 
licensed activities performed by assistant radiographers.
    In view of the foregoing, I lack the requisite reasonable assurance 
that licensed activities can be conducted in compliance with NRC 
requirements and that the health and safety of the public will be 
protected if Mr. Nottingham were permitted to be involved in NRC-
licensed activities at this time. Therefore, the public health, safety 
and interest require that Mr. Nottingham be prohibited from any 
involvement in NRC-licensed activities for a period of one year from 
the date of this Order. Additionally, Mr. Nottingham is required to 
notify the NRC of his first employment in NRC-licensed activities 
following the prohibition period and all subsequent employment in NRC-
licensed activities for five years following the prohibition period. 
Furthermore, pursuant to 10 CFR 2.202, I find that the significance of 
Mr. Nottingham's conduct is such that the public health, safety and 
interest require that this Order be immediately effective.

[[Page 63633]]

IV

    Accordingly, pursuant to sections 81,161b, 161i, 161o, 182 and 186 
of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and the Commission's 
regulations in 10 CFR 2.202, 10 CFR 30.10 and 10 CFR 34.46, it is 
hereby ordered, effective immediately, that:
    1. Mr. Don Nottingham is prohibited for one year from the date of 
this Order from engaging in NRC-licensed activities. NRC-licensed 
activities are those activities that are conducted pursuant to a 
specific or general license issued by the NRC, including, but not 
limited to, those activities of Agreement State licensees conducted 
pursuant to the authority granted by 10 CFR 150.20.
    2. If Mr. Nottingham is currently performing licensed activities 
for another licensee in an area of NRC jurisdiction, he must 
immediately cease those activities, and inform the NRC of the name, 
address and telephone number of the employer, and provide a copy of 
this Order to the employer.
    3. For a period of five years after the one year prohibition has 
expired, Mr. Don Nottingham shall within 20 days of his acceptance of 
subsequent employment offers involving NRC-licensed activities or his 
becoming involved in NRC-licensed activities, as defined in Paragraph 
IV.1 above, provide notice of his employment to the Director, Office of 
Enforcement, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555, 
including the name, address, and telephone number of the employer or 
the entity where he is, or will be, involved in the NRC-licensed 
activities. In the first notification, Mr. Don Nottingham shall include 
a statement of his commitment to compliance with regulatory 
requirements and a statement regarding why the Commission should have 
confidence that he will now comply with applicable NRC requirements.
    The Director, Office of Enforcement, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission may relax or rescind, in writing, any of the above 
conditions upon a showing by Mr. Don Nottingham of good cause.

V

    In accordance with 10 CFR 2.202, Mr. Nottingham must, and any 
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 its 
issuance. 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 include 
a statement of good cause for the extension. The answer may consent to 
this 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 shall set forth the 
matters of fact and law on which Mr. Nottingham or other persons 
adversely affected relies and the 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 Deputy 
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 Mr. Nottingham if the answer or hearing 
request is by a person other than Mr. Nottingham. If a person other 
than Mr. Nottingham 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 Mr. Nottingham 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), Mr. Nottingham, may, in addition 
to demanding a hearing, at the time the answer is filed or sooner, move 
the presiding officer to set aside the immediately effectiveness of the 
Order on the ground that the Order, including the need for immediately 
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 this 17th day of October 2000.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Carl J. Paperiello,
Deputy Executive Director for Materials, Research, and State Programs.
[FR Doc. 00-27284 Filed 10-23-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-U