[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 83 (Friday, April 30, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22864-22868]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-9956]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 150-00017; NRC-2010-0164; EA-08-184]


In the Matter of CAN USA, Inc., Harvey, Louisiana; General 
License Pursuant to 10 CFR 150.20; Confirmatory Order (Effective 
Immediately)

I

    CAN USA, Inc. (CAN USA or Licensee) is the holder of State of 
Louisiana Materials License LA-10258-01, which authorizes possession 
and use of sealed sources for industrial radiography. Louisiana is an 
Agreement State under Section 274b of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as 
amended. Therefore, pursuant to 10 CFR 150.20(a)(1), CAN USA is granted 
a general license by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or 
Commission) to conduct the same activities authorized by its Louisiana 
license in offshore Federal waters. CAN USA has performed licensed 
activities in offshore Federal waters under its general NRC license at 
various times during calendar years 2001 to 2010.
    This Confirmatory Order is the result of an agreement reached 
during an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mediation session 
conducted on March 9, 2010.
    The Appendix to this Order contains Sensitive Unclassified Non-
Safeguards Information (SUNSI). When separated from the Appendix, this 
Order is decontrolled.

II

    On June 12, 2008, the NRC conducted a routine inspection of CAN 
USA's radiographic operations onboard a Chevron USA platform located in 
offshore Federal waters. The NRC's Office of Investigations (OI) 
initiated an investigation on August 13, 2008.
    Based on the inspection and the evidence developed during the 
associated investigation, apparent violations of NRC requirements were 
identified. First, it appeared that a radiographer conducted 
radiographic operations without a second qualified individual present. 
Second, it appeared that the radiographer failed to supervise and 
maintain direct observation of a radiographer's assistant during the 
assistant's use of a radiographic exposure device, and that the 
assistant used the device while not under the personal supervision of 
the radiographer. Third, it appeared that both individuals failed to 
control and maintain constant surveillance of licensed material that 
was in a controlled or unrestricted area and not in storage. The NRC 
also identified an apparent violation of NRC security requirements that 
is described in the Appendix to this Order (Appendix). (The Appendix 
includes security-related information; therefore, it is not publicly 
available.) In addition, the NRC was concerned that willfulness may 
have been associated with three of those apparent violations. The NRC 
described the results of the inspection and investigation in a letter 
to CAN USA dated January 27, 2010. In response to the NRC's January 27, 
2010, letter, CAN USA requested ADR to resolve these issues.
    On March 9, 2010, the NRC and CAN USA met in an ADR session 
mediated by a professional mediator, arranged through Cornell 
University's Institute on Conflict Resolution. Alternative dispute 
resolution is a process in which a neutral mediator with no decision-
making authority assists the parties in reaching an agreement on 
resolving any differences regarding the dispute. This Confirmatory 
Order is issued pursuant

[[Page 22865]]

to the agreement reached during the ADR process.

III

    In response to the NRC's offer, CAN USA requested use of the NRC 
ADR process to resolve issues associated with the apparent violations 
identified by the NRC. During that ADR session, a preliminary 
settlement agreement was reached. The elements of that preliminary 
agreement are described below, except for those portions of the 
agreement that include security-related information and, therefore, are 
not publicly available. The security-related elements of the agreement, 
as well as those portions of this Confirmatory Order that address those 
security-related elements, are described in an Appendix to this 
Confirmatory Order. The following description of the preliminary ADR 
agreement, and the required actions described in Section V of this 
Confirmatory Order include references to the Appendix to allow for 
public release of this Confirmatory Order.
    Pursuant to the NRC Office of Enforcement's ADR program, the 
following are the terms and conditions agreed upon in principle by CAN 
USA and the NRC relating to NRC Inspection Report 150-00017/2008-001 
issued by the NRC to CAN USA on January 27, 2010.
    Whereas, the NRC's inspection and investigation conducted between 
June 12, 2008, and January 27, 2010, identified apparent violations of 
NRC requirements;
    Whereas, the apparent violations involved were:
    (1) The failure to have present during radiographic operations a 
radiographer and at least one other qualified radiographer or an 
individual who has at a minimum met the requirements of 10 CFR 
34.43(c);
    (2) The failure to have a radiographer supervise and maintain 
direct observation of a radiographer's assistant during the assistant's 
use of a radiographic exposure device;
    (3) The failure to control and maintain constant surveillance of 
licensed material that is in a controlled or unrestricted area and that 
is not in storage; and
    (4) The failure to comply with NRC security-related requirements, 
as described in the Appendix to this Order.
    Whereas, the NRC is concerned that willfulness may be associated 
with three of the apparent violations above;
    Whereas, CAN USA agrees that apparent violations 1-4 did occur, but 
denies any willfulness was involved;
    Whereas, the NRC acknowledges the corrective actions CAN USA has 
already implemented associated with the apparent violations, which 
include:
    (1) Providing additional training to radiographers, assistant 
radiographers and trainees;
    (2) Implementing a checklist to be reviewed by each radiography 
crew prior to departing for a temporary job site. The checklist 
includes:
    a. Surveillance and security of exposure devices,
    b. A security-related provision that is described in the Appendix 
to this Order
    c. A security-related provision that is described in the Appendix 
to this Order.
    (3) A security-related corrective action that is described in the 
Appendix to this Order;
    (4) Conducting monthly audits of offshore radiographic operations 
as customer transport allowed; and
    (5) Providing more ``real-time'' notifications of changes in work 
schedules originally submitted in NRC-241 forms. These notifications 
consisted of detailed changes or clarified information via fax or e-
mail.
    Whereas, the NRC is interested in obtaining comprehensive 
corrective actions by CAN USA that would prevent recurrence of the 
apparent violations noted above;
    Whereas, these terms and conditions shall not be binding on either 
party until memorialized in a Confirmatory Order issued by the NRC to 
CAN USA relating to this matter;
    Therefore, the parties agree to the following terms and conditions:
    (1) Within 140 days of the date of the Confirmatory Order, CAN USA 
will develop, implement and provide training on new and/or revised 
operating procedures. This training shall be provided to new employees 
prior to working with licensed material for the first time, and to 
existing employees. Refresher training will be provided annually (at 
intervals not to exceed 12 months) thereafter for all employees 
involved in licensed activities. Records of training materials and 
course attendees shall be maintained for 5 years. The procedures shall 
address:
     Use of Radiography Checklist. Use procedures for the 
``Radiography Checklist'' prior to departure from the licensee's land-
based facilities. Additionally, the radiography crew will complete the 
checklist after arrival on the offshore facility. A radiography crew 
member will send documentation of the jobsite review by FAX or other 
available method to the RSO or another designated CAN USA individual at 
CAN USA's corporate offices no later than 8 hours after the completion 
of the checklist.
     Information to offshore ``customer.'' Use of the above 
checklist shall include a sign-off by the onsite Team Leader 
(Instructor/Radiographer) attesting that she/he has briefed the 
offshore facility jobsite sponsor, or other responsible individual on 
the offshore facility regarding CAN USA's proposed licensed activities.
     A security-related topic that is described in the Appendix 
to this Order.
     Radiographer's supervisory responsibilities (10 CFR 
34.46).
     Security of Licensed Material.
     Potential consequences for wrongdoing.
    CAN USA will provide an outline of the training to the NRC for 
review and approval within 90 days of the date of the Confirmatory 
Order.
    CAN USA will implement the training within 30 days of receipt of 
the NRC's approval of the training.
    (2) CAN USA will provide the following one-time training session(s) 
to employees involved in licensed activities before these individuals 
can participate in radiographic operations, until the training program 
described in Item 1 is implemented.
     Radiography Checklist--The radiography checklist is to be 
completed prior to departure for offshore jobsites and upon arrival at 
offshore jobsites.
     A security-related training session that is described in 
the Appendix to this Order.
    (3) CAN USA will develop, implement, and provide training on a 
procedure for additional oversight of radiography crews on offshore 
facilities. The RSO or another independent individual with audit and 
radiography experience, as designated by the RSO, must conduct the 
audits. Audits must be unannounced (by the Licensee) and conducted 
during actual industrial radiographic operations on an offshore 
facility. Offshore audit requirements and audit frequency will be 
included in the procedure.
    (4) CAN USA will provide an outline of the procedure for additional 
oversight of radiography crews working on offshore facilities to the 
NRC for review and approval prior to conducting any such audit.
    CAN USA will audit each individual involved in radiographic 
operations on offshore platforms between March 10, 2010 and September 
30, 2011.
    Audit records will contain, at a minimum, the following 
information:
     Date of audit.
     Name of person(s) who conducted the audit.
     Names of persons contacted by the auditor(s).
     Areas audited.

[[Page 22866]]

     Audit findings.
    For the years 2010-2014, CAN USA shall send a copy of its audit 
results to the Director, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety, U.S. 
NRC, Region IV, within 30 days of the completion of each audit.
    (5) CAN USA will pursue development and implementation of a written 
agreement with the Owner/Operator of offshore facilities prior to 
conducting radiographic operations on those facilities. In general, 
this agreement will include:
     A person may not attempt to hinder the conduct of 
radiographic operations and response to incidents occurring in 
accordance with 10 CFR part 34 and the requirements of the NRC general 
license granted pursuant to 10 CFR 150.20;
     A security-related provision that is described in the 
Appendix to this Order; and
     The employing customer or operator will facilitate direct 
CAN USA oversight (company audits) of radiography personnel on the 
operator's facilities.
    Appropriate CAN USA management, the RSO, or the Team Leader 
(Instructor/Radiographer) on the offshore facility will provide a copy 
of the agreement to the jobsite sponsor.
    CAN USA will provide a boilerplate agreement to the NRC for review 
and approval within 90 days of the date of the Confirmatory Order.
    Within 30 days of receipt of the NRC's approval of the boilerplate, 
CAN USA will implement the use of the agreement. If an Owner/Operator 
does not accept the agreement, CAN USA will document the refusal to 
accept the agreement and the Owner/Operator's reason for the refusal.
    (6) In consideration of the above actions on the part of CAN USA, 
the NRC agrees to limit the civil penalty amount in this enforcement 
action to $7,000. Accordingly, within 60 days of the date of the 
Confirmatory Order, CAN USA shall pay the civil penalty of $7,000 in 
accordance with NUREG/BR-0254 and submit to the Director, Office of 
Enforcement, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555, 
a statement indicating when and by what method payment was made. CAN 
USA will provide a copy of said statement to the Regional 
Administrator, NRC Region IV.
    (7) The NRC agrees not to pursue any further enforcement action in 
connection with NRC Inspection Report 150-00017/08-001, issued by the 
NRC to CAN USA on January 27, 2010.
    (8) Apparent violations in this matter will, however, be considered 
as previous enforcement for the purposes of assessing potential future 
enforcement action civil penalty assessments in accordance with Section 
VI.C. of the Enforcement Policy.
    (9) The NRC will consider the resulting Confirmatory Order for any 
assessment of CAN USA's performance, as appropriate.
    On April 12, 2010, CAN USA consented to issuing this Confirmatory 
Order with the commitments as described in Section V below. The 
Licensee further agreed that this Confirmatory Order is to be effective 
upon issuance and that it has waived its right to a hearing.

IV

    Since the Licensee has agreed to take additional actions to address 
NRC concerns, as set forth in Item III above, the NRC has concluded 
that its concerns can be resolved through issuance of this Confirmatory 
Order.
    I find that the Licensee's commitments as set forth in Section V 
are acceptable and necessary and conclude that with these commitments 
the public health and safety are reasonably assured. In view of the 
foregoing, I have determined that public health and safety require that 
the Licensee's commitments be confirmed by this Confirmatory Order. 
Based on the above and the Licensee's consent, this Confirmatory Order 
is immediately effective upon issuance.

V

    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 and 10 CFR parts 20, 30, 34, and 150, it is 
hereby ordered, effective immediately, that:
    (1) Within 140 days of the date of this Confirmatory Order, CAN USA 
will develop, implement and provide training on new and/or revised 
operating procedures. This training shall be provided to new employees 
prior to working with licensed material for the first time, and to 
existing employees. Refresher training will be provided annually (at 
intervals not to exceed 12 months) thereafter for all employees 
involved in licensed activities. Records of training materials and 
course attendees shall be maintained for 5 years. The procedures shall 
address:
     Use of Radiography Checklist. Use procedures for the 
``Radiography Checklist'' prior to departure from the licensee's land-
based facilities. Additionally, the radiography crew will complete the 
checklist after arrival on the offshore facility. A radiography crew 
member will send documentation of the jobsite review by FAX or other 
available method to the RSO or another designated CAN USA individual at 
CAN USA's corporate offices no later than 8 hours after the completion 
of the checklist.
     Information to offshore ``customer.'' Use of the above 
checklist shall include a sign-off by the onsite Team Leader 
(Instructor/Radiographer) attesting that s/he has briefed the offshore 
facility jobsite sponsor, or other responsible individual on the 
offshore facility regarding CAN USA's proposed licensed activities.
     A security-related topic that is described in the Appendix 
to this Order.
     Radiographer's supervisory responsibilities (10 CFR 
34.46).
     Security of Licensed Material.
     Potential consequences for wrongdoing.
    CAN USA will provide an outline of the training to the NRC for 
review and approval within 90 days of the date of this Confirmatory 
Order. CAN USA will implement the training within 30 days of receipt of 
the NRC's approval of the training.
    (2) CAN USA will provide the following one-time training session(s) 
to employees involved in licensed activities before these individuals 
can participate in radiographic operations, until the training program 
in Item 1 is implemented.
     Radiography Checklist--The radiography checklist is to be 
completed prior to departure for offshore jobsites and upon arrival at 
offshore jobsites.
     A security-related training session that is described in 
the Appendix to this Order.
    (3) CAN USA will develop, implement, and provide training on a 
procedure for additional oversight of radiography crews on offshore 
facilities. The RSO or another independent individual with audit and 
radiography experience, as designated by the RSO, must conduct the 
audits. Audits must be unannounced (by the Licensee) and conducted 
during actual industrial radiographic operations on an offshore 
facility. Offshore audit requirements and audit frequency will be 
included in the procedure.
    (4) CAN USA will provide an outline of the procedure for additional 
oversight of radiography crews working on offshore facilities to the 
NRC for review and approval prior to conducting any such audit.
    CAN USA will audit each individual involved in radiographic 
operations on offshore platforms between March 10, 2010 and September 
30, 2011.

[[Page 22867]]

    Audit records will contain, at a minimum, the following 
information:
     Date of audit.
     Name of person(s) who conducted the audit.
     Names of persons contacted by the auditor(s).
     Areas audited.
     Audit findings.
    For the years 2010-2014, CAN USA shall send a copy of its audit 
results to the Director, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety, U.S. 
NRC, Region IV, within 30 days of the completion of each audit.
    (5) CAN USA will pursue development and implementation of a written 
agreement with the Owner/Operator of offshore facilities prior to 
conducting radiographic operations on those facilities. In general, 
this agreement will include:
     A person may not attempt to hinder the conduct of 
radiographic operations and response to incidents occurring in 
accordance with 10 CFR part 34 and the requirements of the NRC general 
license granted pursuant to 10 CFR 150.20;
     A security-related provision that is described in the 
Appendix to this Order; and
     The employing customer or operator will facilitate/direct 
CAN USA oversight (company audits) of radiography personnel on the 
operator's facilities.
    Appropriate CAN USA management, the RSO or the Team Leader 
(Instructor/Radiographer) on the offshore facility will provide a copy 
of the agreement to the jobsite sponsor.
    CAN USA will provide a boilerplate agreement to the NRC for review 
and approval within 90 days of the date of this Confirmatory Order.
    Within 30 days of receipt of the NRC's approval of the boilerplate, 
CAN USA will implement the use of the agreement. If an Owner/Operator 
does not accept the agreement, CAN USA will document the refusal to 
accept the agreement and the Owner/Operator's reason for the refusal.
    (6) In consideration of the above actions on the part of CAN USA, 
NRC agrees to limit the civil penalty amount in this enforcement action 
to $7,000. Accordingly, within 60 days of the date of this Confirmatory 
Order, CAN USA shall pay the civil penalty of $7,000 in accordance with 
NUREG/BR-0254 and submit to the Director, Office of Enforcement, U.S. 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555, a statement 
indicating when and by what method payment was made. CAN USA will 
provide a copy of said statement to the Regional Administrator, NRC 
Region IV.
    The Regional Administrator, NRC Region IV, may, in writing, relax 
or rescind any of the above conditions upon demonstration by the 
Licensee of good cause.

VI

    Any person adversely affected by this Confirmatory Order, other 
than the Licensee, may request a hearing within 20 days of its 
publication in the Federal Register. 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 directed to the Director, 
Office of Enforcement, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, 
DC 20555-0001, and include a statement of good cause for the extension.
    All documents filed in NRC adjudicatory proceedings, including a 
request for hearing, a petition for leave to intervene, any motion or 
other document filed in the proceeding prior to the submission of a 
request for hearing or petition to intervene, and documents filed by 
interested governmental entities participating under 10 CFR 2.315(c), 
must be filed in accordance with the NRC E-Filing rule (72 FR 49139, 
August 28, 2007). The E-Filing process requires participants to submit 
and serve all adjudicatory documents over the Internet, or in some 
cases to mail copies on electronic storage media. Participants may not 
submit paper copies of their filings unless they seek an exemption in 
accordance with the procedures described below.
    To comply with the procedural requirements of E-Filing, at least 
ten (10) days prior to the filing deadline, the participant should 
contact the Office of the Secretary by e-mail at 
[email protected], or by telephone at (301) 415-1677, to request 
(1) a digital ID certificate, which allows the participant (or its 
counsel or representative) to digitally sign documents and access the 
E-Submittal server for any proceeding in which it is participating; and 
(2) advise the Secretary that the participant will be submitting a 
request or petition for hearing (even in instances in which the 
participant, or its counsel or representative, already holds an NRC-
issued digital ID certificate). Based upon this information, the 
Secretary will establish an electronic docket for the hearing in this 
proceeding if the Secretary has not already established an electronic 
docket.
    Information about applying for a digital ID certificate is 
available on NRC's public Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals/apply-certificates.html. System requirements for accessing 
the E-Submittal server are detailed in NRC's ``Guidance for Electronic 
Submission,'' which is available on the agency's public Web site at 
http://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html. Participants may 
attempt to use other software not listed on the Web site, but should 
note that the NRC's E-Filing system does not support unlisted software, 
and the NRC Meta System Help Desk will not be able to offer assistance 
in using unlisted software.
    If a participant is electronically submitting a document to the NRC 
in accordance with the E-Filing rule, the participant must file the 
document using the NRC's online, Web-based submission form. In order to 
serve documents through the Electronic Information Exchange (EIE), 
users will be required to install a Web browser plug-in from the NRC 
Web site. Further information on the Web-based submission form, 
including the installation of the Web browser plug-in, is available on 
the NRC's public Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html.
    Once a participant has obtained a digital ID certificate and a 
docket has been created, the participant can then submit a request for 
hearing or petition for leave to intervene. Submissions should be in 
Portable Document Format (PDF) in accordance with NRC guidance 
available on the NRC public Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html. A filing is considered complete at the time the 
documents are submitted through the NRC's E-Filing system. To be 
timely, an electronic filing must be submitted to the E-Filing system 
no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date. Upon receipt of 
a transmission, the E-Filing system time-stamps the document and sends 
the submitter an e-mail notice confirming receipt of the document. The 
E-Filing system also distributes an e-mail notice that provides access 
to the document to the NRC Office of the General Counsel and any others 
who have advised the Office of the Secretary that they wish to 
participate in the proceeding, so that the filer need not serve the 
documents on those participants separately. Therefore, applicants and 
other participants (or their counsel or representative) must apply for 
and receive a digital ID certificate before a hearing request/petition 
to intervene is filed so that they can obtain access to the document 
via the E-Filing system.
    A person filing electronically using the agency's adjudicatory E-
Filing system may seek assistance by

[[Page 22868]]

contacting the NRC Meta System Help Desk through the ``Contact Us'' 
link located on the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html, by e-mail at [email protected], or by a toll-free 
call at (866) 672-7640. The NRC Meta System Help Desk is available 
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, 
excluding government holidays.
    Participants who believe that they have a good cause for not 
submitting documents electronically must file an exemption request, in 
accordance with 10 CFR 2.302(g), with their initial paper filing 
requesting authorization to continue to submit documents in paper 
format. Such filings must be submitted by: (1) First class mail 
addressed to the Office of the Secretary of the Commission, U.S. 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, Attention: 
Rulemaking and Adjudications Staff; or (2) courier, express mail, or 
expedited delivery service to the Office of the Secretary, Sixteenth 
Floor, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 
Maryland, 20852, Attention: Rulemaking and Adjudications Staff. 
Participants filing a document in this manner are responsible for 
serving the document on all other participants. Filing is considered 
complete by first-class mail as of the time of deposit in the mail, or 
by courier, express mail, or expedited delivery service upon depositing 
the document with the provider of the service. A presiding officer, 
having granted an exemption request from using E-Filing, may require a 
participant or party to use E-Filing if the presiding officer 
subsequently determines that the reason for granting the exemption from 
use of E-Filing no longer exists.
    Documents submitted in adjudicatory proceedings will appear in 
NRC's electronic hearing docket which is available to the public at 
http://ehd.nrc.gov/EHD_Proceeding/home.asp, unless excluded pursuant 
to an order of the Commission, or the presiding officer. Participants 
are requested not to include personal privacy information, such as 
social security numbers, home addresses, or home phone numbers in their 
filings, unless an NRC regulation or other law requires submission of 
such information. With respect to copyrighted works, except for limited 
excerpts that serve the purpose of the adjudicatory filings and would 
constitute a Fair Use application, participants are requested not to 
include copyrighted materials in their submission.
    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 Confirmatory Order and shall address the 
criteria set forth in 10 CFR 2.309(d) and (f).
    If the hearing is requested by 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 Confirmatory Order should be 
sustained.
    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 V above shall be final 20 days from the date this 
Confirmatory Order was published in the Federal Register, without 
further order or proceedings. If an extension of time for requesting a 
hearing has been approved, the provisions specified in Section V shall 
be final when the extension expires if a hearing request has not been 
received. A request for hearing shall not stay the immediate 
effectiveness of this order.

    Dated this 16th day of April 2010.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Elmo E. Collins,
Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010-9956 Filed 4-29-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P