TMI Update: Jan 14, 2024


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TMI remains a danger and TMIA is working hard to ensure the safety of our communities and the surrounding areas.
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U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
ATTN: Document Control Desk
Washington , DC 20555-0001

 
 
Three Mile Island Nuclear Station, Unit 2 (TMl-2)
NRC Possession Only License No. DPR 73
NRC Docket No. 50-320

 
Subject: License Amendment Request - Three Mile Island, Unit 2, Decommissioning
Technical Specifications, Response to Request for Additional Information

 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission - News Release
No: 22-042 October 19, 2022
CONTACT: Office of Public Affairs, 301-415-8200
 
NRC Expands Social Media Platforms by Adding Instagram
 
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is adding Instagram as a new platform to its social media program. Beginning today, the NRC will post photos, short videos, and graphics on Instagram to provide a more creative approach to information regarding the NRC’s mission, with a focus on the skilled and diverse employees who carry it out.
 
“We’re adding Instagram to FacebookTwitterYouTube, LinkedIn and Flickr as social media tools to enhance our communication with the public,” said NRC Chair Christopher T. Hanson. “Social media augments our news releases, website and other means we use to provide timely and transparent communications.”
 
Individuals will be able reach the Instagram page or the agency’s other social media accounts through icons on the NRC homepage, without having an account. Those already on Instagram can follow us directly on the platform.
 
Updated comment guidelines, a social media disclaimer and other information can be found here.
 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission - News Release
No: I-22-013 October 14, 2022
CONTACT: Diane Screnci, 610-337-5330
Neil Sheehan, 610-337-5331
 
NRC Imposes Civil Penalty to Pennsylvania Company
 
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is issuing an order imposing a $25,600 fine against a Pennsylvania firm for work performed in West Virginia without obtaining agency permission.
 
On March 2, 2022, the NRC announced that Steel City Gamma LLC, based in Daisytown (Washington County), Pennsylvania, would be issued a Severity Level II violation and a civil penalty for performing industrial radiography work in West Virginia without obtaining agency permission. The work took place on Dec. 18, 2019, and between Jan. 1, 2020, and April 9, 2020, at a facility in Pleasant Valley, West Virginia.
 
In accordance with NRC practices, the company was provided with the opportunity to pay the fine or contest it via a written response. Since then, however, the NRC has not received either the payment or further communications on the matter from the company, leading the agency to take the step of issuing an order imposing the civil penalty.
 
The enforcement action stemmed from an investigation conducted between April 21, 2020, and March 1, 2021, the NRC’s Office of Investigations, which determined that Steel City Gamma did not abide by the applicable requirements, including conducting the work without a license from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania when it was amended to possession and storage only. In addition, the investigation found that the company’s then-owner engaged in deliberate misconduct by knowingly violating regulations pertaining to reciprocity.
 
On Feb. 3, 2022, the NRC Region I Office, in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, conducted a predecisional enforcement conference with Steel City Gamma to discuss the violations, causes and corrective actions. During this conference, the company’s current owner acknowledged the violations. In addition to the fine, the NRC at that time also issued an order prohibiting the firm’s former owner from participating in NRC-licensed activities for five years because of the deliberate misconduct.
 
The violations did not result in any actual safety or security consequences.
 
As an NRC “Agreement State,” the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania oversees the use of nuclear materials within its borders that would otherwise be regulated by the NRC. Under a reciprocity requirement, if Agreement State-licensed materials are used in a state where nuclear materials are regulated by the NRC, including West Virginia, approval must first be obtained from the agency.
 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission - News Release
No: 22-040 October 3, 2022
CONTACT: David McIntyre, 301-415-8200
 
NRC Approves Probation for Mississippi’s Agreement State Regulatory Program
 
The Commission has approved placing the state of Mississippi on probation for deficiencies in its agreement state program regulating the use of radioactive materials. This move does not affect oversight of the Grand Gulf nuclear power plant in Mississippi, which remains under NRC authority, or state responsibilities related to emergency preparedness at Grand Gulf.
 
Probation ensures continued protection of public health and safety while program weaknesses are addressed. Placing a state on probation requires approval by the NRC’s Commissioners. The weaknesses identified in Mississippi do not pose an immediate risk to public health and safety.
 
Mississippi is one of 39 states that have entered into agreements with the NRC giving them authority to license and regulate certain nuclear materials users within their borders. A recent NRC review of Mississippi’s program concluded it was “adequate to protect public health and safety but needs improvement and not compatible with the NRC’s program.” The NRC review found the state’s performance unsatisfactory in several performance areas. The report on Mississippi’s program can be found here.
 
Pending the Commission’s decision, the state has been on “Heightened Oversight,” a condition requiring increased interaction with NRC staff, preparation of a program improvement plan, bimonthly conference calls and periodic status reports. Mississippi’s program improvement plan has been reviewed and approved by NRC staff. The NRC will remain closely involved with state program managers as they implement improvements during the probationary period.
 
The Mississippi program will be re-evaluated in February 2023.
 
Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3 - Material Control and Accounting Program Inspection Report 05000277/2022401 and 05000278/2022401 (Cover Letter Only)
 
ADAMS Accession No. ML22269A406
 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission - News Release
No: IV-22-013 September 23, 2022
Contact: Victor Dricks, 817-200-1128
 
NRC Proposes $96,000 Civil Penalty to the U.S. Air Force
 
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has proposed a $96,000 civil penalty to the U.S. Air Force for 14 violations of NRC requirements associated with their use of radioactive materials.
 
The NRC identified 14 apparent violations of NRC requirements during inspections conducted Oct. 26-28, 2021, at the Air Force Medical Readiness Agency’s facility in Falls Church, Virginia; and Sept. 27-30 and Oct. 22, 2021, at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. These inspections reviewed activities authorized under the Department of the Air Force’s Master Materials License.
 
The violations involved: four failures related to the implementation of the Master Materials License; seven failures related to the environmental use of thorium-232 source material at Kirtland Air Force Base; and three failures related to NRC’s security requirements.
 
The NRC held a regulatory conference with Air Force officials on June 30, during which they had an opportunity to provide additional information about the inspection findings and answer questions from NRC staff. Based on all the information gathered, NRC officials determined all the apparent violations were appropriately characterized and merited a $96,000 civil penalty.
 
The NRC made its enforcement decision after reviewing the circumstances surrounding the event, the immediate actions taken in response, the apparent cause and corrective actions taken to prevent recurrence.
 
The Air Force has 30 days to pay the fine, dispute the fine, or request involvement from a neutral third-party mediator to resolve the issue.
 
Security related information will not be publicly available. However, the non-security related information is posted on the NRC website.
 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission - News Release
No: I-22-012 September 14, 2022
CONTACT: Diane Screnci, 610-337-5330
Neil Sheehan, 610-337-5331
 
 
NRC Names New Resident Inspector at Peach Bottom Nuclear Power Plant
 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region I officials in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, have selected Corey Dukehart as the resident inspector at the Peach Bottom nuclear power plant in Delta, Pennsylvania. He joins Senior Resident Inspector Scott Rutenkroger at the two-unit site, which is operated by Constellation Nuclear.
 
“Corey has gained invaluable experience during his time with the NRC through his participation in our rigorous training program and by virtue of his earlier time served in the Navy,” said NRC Region I Administrator Dave Lew. “He will provide the region with an additional front-line inspector as he puts his acquired skills to use.”
 
Dukehart joined the NRC in 2020 as part of the Nuclear Regulator Apprenticeship Network, where he completed several apprenticeships in different areas of the agency. He also served as the acting resident inspector at the Ginna nuclear power plant in New York before moving to the Region I Office as a project engineer.
 
Prior to joining the NRC, Dukehart served six years in the Navy as an enlisted nuclear operator. He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a bachelor’s degree in nuclear energy engineering technology from Thomas Edison State University.
 
Each operating U.S. commercial nuclear power plant has at least two NRC resident inspectors who serve as the agency’s eyes and ears at the facility, conducting inspections, monitoring safety-significant work projects and interacting with plant workers and the public. Resident inspectors can serve at a reactor site for up to seven years.
 

Subject: Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Unit 2 - Authorization and Safety Evaluation for Alternative Request I5R-14, Revision 1, (EPID L-2022-LLR-0006)

ADAMS Accession No.: ML22236A670

ADAMS Hyperlink: https://adamswebsearch2.nrc.gov/webSearch2/main.jsp?AccessionNumber=ML22236A670

Using Web-based ADAMS, select “Advanced Search”
Under “Property,” select “Accession Number”
Under “Value,” enter the Accession Number
Click Search

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