[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 20 (Wednesday, January 30, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5598-5599]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1645]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 030-20836; License No. 25-21479-01; EA-07-303]


In the Matter of Mattingly Testing Services, Inc., Molt, MT; 
Demand for Information

I

    Mattingly Testing Services, Inc., (Mattingly Testing) is the holder 
of Materials License No. 25-21479-01 issued by the Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission (NRC or Commission) pursuant to 10 CFR Part 30 and 10 CFR 
Part 34. The license, initially issued on December 2, 1983, authorizes 
Mattingly Testing to possess radioactive sealed sources for use in 
industrial radiography in Molt, Montana, and at temporary job sites 
anywhere in the United States where the NRC maintains jurisdiction for 
regulating licensed material, including areas of exclusive Federal 
jurisdiction within Agreement States. The license was last renewed in 
its entirety on February 22, 2006, and is due to expire on February 28, 
2016.

II

    On November 7, 2007, during an inspection of Mattingly Testing's 
radiographic operations at a temporary job site, several apparent 
violations of NRC regulations were identified. In addition, during a 
follow-up inspection and investigation during the week of November 12, 
2007, the NRC inspector and investigator were informed that senior 
management of Mattingly Testing discouraged employees from speaking 
with NRC inspectors and investigators. The NRC is concerned that an 
environment exists within Mattingly Testing's workplace that could 
inhibit employees from raising safety concerns to the NRC. The NRC 
inspections and investigation, which are still ongoing, have indicated 
that:
    1. Mattingly Testing's control of licensed material at temporary 
job sites is not in compliance with NRC requirements;
    2. Mattingly Testing's senior management has apparently caused 
employees to engage in activities that are in violation of NRC 
regulations and Orders; and
    3. Mattingly Testing's senior management has discouraged employees 
from raising safety concerns both to their management and to the NRC.
    This information demonstrates a lack of management control and 
supervision over licensed activities, raises questions as to whether 
Mattingly Testing will provide complete and accurate information to the 
NRC in compliance with 10 CFR 30.9, and whether Mattingly Testing is 
complying with the provisions with 10 CFR 19.15(b). Therefore, further 
information is needed to determine whether the Commission can have 
reasonable assurance that Mattingly Testing will comply with the 
Commission's requirements, ensure a healthy work environment, provide 
complete and accurate information to the Commission and otherwise 
conduct its activities in accordance with the Commission's 
requirements.
    Accordingly, pursuant to sections 161c, 161o, 182 and 186 of the 
Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and the Commission's regulations 
in 10 CFR 2.204, and 10 CFR 30.9, and 10 CFR 30.32(b), in order for the 
Commission to determine whether your license should be modified, 
suspended or revoked, or other enforcement action taken to ensure 
compliance with NRC regulatory requirements, Mattingly Testing is 
required to submit the following information in writing to the 
Director, Office of Enforcement, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
Washington, DC 20555-0001, within 20 days of the date of this Demand 
for Information. If security-related information is necessary to 
provide an acceptable response, you must mark your entire response 
``Proprietary Information in accordance with 10 CFR 2.390(d)(1)'' and 
follow the instructions for withholding in 10 CFR 2.390(b)(1). In 
accordance with 10 CFR 2.390(b)(1)(ii), the NRC is waiving the 
affidavit requirements for your response.
    1. Provide the information requested in the non-publicly available 
Appendix to this Demand for Information.
    2. Describe the actions it has taken and plans to take to provide 
reasonable assurance that its organization establishes and maintains an 
appropriate safety conscious work environment\1\ where employees are 
free

[[Page 5599]]

to raise safety concerns to the NRC and to Mattingly Testing's senior 
management without fear of retaliation. In addition, describe the 
actions it has taken and plans to take to ensure its employees 
understand the provisions of 10 CFR 19.15, 10 CFR 30.7, and 10 CFR 
30.9.
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    \1\ NRC defines Safety Conscious Work Environment as a work 
environment in which employees are encouraged to raise safety 
concerns, are free to raise concerns both to their own management 
and to the NRC without fear of retaliation, where concerns are 
promptly reviewed, given the proper priority, and appropriately 
resolved and timely feedback is provided. The NRC issued a Policy 
Statement, ``Freedom of Employees in the Nuclear Industry to Raise 
Safety Concerns Without Fear of Retaliation'' on May 14, 1996 [61 FR 
24336] and additional guidelines in Regulatory Issue Summary 2005-
18, ``Guidance for Establishing and Maintaining a Safety Conscious 
Work Environment'' on August 25, 2005.
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    Copies of this information shall also be sent to the Assistant 
General Counsel for Materials Litigation and Enforcement at the same 
address above, and to the Regional Administrator, NRC Region IV, 611 
Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400, Arlington, Texas 76011-4005.
    After reviewing your response, the NRC will determine whether 
further action is necessary to ensure compliance with regulatory 
requirements.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

    Dated this 23rd day of January, 2008.
Cynthia A. Carpenter,
Director, Office of Enforcement.
 [FR Doc. E8-1645 Filed 1-29-08; 8:45 am]
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