U.S. nuclear plants face fines

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34146, 6 May 1976, Page 21

U.S. nuclear plants face fines

(N Z. Press Assn —Copyright) WASHINGTON. America’s Nuclear Regulatory Commission proposes jto fine two Pennsylvania [atomic fuel plants $U526,500 for their alleged failure to [adequately protect against [intruders and the theft of | »omb-grade nuclear material. The civil penalty proposed for the Babcock and Wilcox 'plants at Apollo and Leechburg. is the largest yet sought by the agency in connection with physical security violations. The two plants process .uranium and plutonium for • use in experimental reactor* and for the country’s national security programmes. I The N.R.C. office of inspections and enforcement has proposed the fines, an inspection of the plants having disclosed 12 alleged violations of security rules [dealing with such things as laiarm systems, storage practices, and searches of packages. N.R.C. officials ray that ithe plants have had repeated [problems with security requirements in recent years. The plants were fined .$12,170 for violations m [1974, just before the physfica! security regulation* • were tightened in response to growing concern about nuclear safeguards, and a [notice of violation* was [issued in 1975 without any I fine.