In the Matter of Alaska Industrial X-Ray, Inc., Anchorage, AK; Order Modifying License (Effective Immediately), 50651-50655 [E8-19831]

Agencies

• NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 167 (Wednesday, August 27, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50651-50655]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-19831]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No.: 030-10346; License No.: 50-16084-01; EA-08-196]


In the Matter of Alaska Industrial X-Ray, Inc., Anchorage, AK; 
Order Modifying License (Effective Immediately)

I

    Alaska Industrial X-Ray, Inc. (AIX or Licensee) is the holder of 
Materials License No. 50-16084-01 issued by the Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission (NRC or Commission) pursuant to 10 CFR Parts 30-36, 39, 40, 
and 70 and last amended on November 2, 2007, and due to expire on March 
31, 2011. The license authorizes AIX to possess and use sealed 
radioactive sources in conducting industrial radiography activities in 
accordance with the conditions specified therein.

II

    In June 2007, the NRC conducted an onsite inspection and began an 
investigation into AIX activities to determine whether deliberate 
violations of NRC requirements occurred. During the investigation, the 
NRC discovered that AIX radiographers had conducted radiography 
activities in violation of 10 CFR 34.41(a) on multiple occasions at the 
Arctic Slope Regional Corporation Energy Services (ASRC) site and the 
Golovin site, both temporary jobsites. Of concern is that the NRC 
previously had issued an identical violation of 10 CFR 34.41(a) 
involving deliberate misconduct at the ASRC site on April 25, 2001 (EA-
01-015). Based on the preliminary information from the investigation, 
the NRC issued an Order Suspending Licensed Activities (EA-07-261) on 
October 19, 2007, which, among other conditions, required that AIX 
suspend its radiography activities until adequate assurance could be 
provided by independent means that AIX would comply with NRC 
requirements when conducting licensed activities. On November 8, 2007, 
the NRC relaxed the Order based on several actions taken and 
commitments made by AIX to the NRC. The Order was a temporary measure 
while the NRC completed its investigation and reviewed the results. 
Once completed, the results of the inspection and investigation were 
discussed with AIX during a telephonic exit briefing on April 23, 2008, 
and were documented in NRC Inspection Report No. 030-10346/07-01 dated 
May 20, 2008.
    On June 5, 2008, a predecisional enforcement conference (PEC) was

[[Page 50652]]

conducted with AIX in Anchorage, Alaska, to discuss with the company 
and its employees the apparent violations, their significance, their 
root causes, and any corrective actions. The individuals of concern 
included two full-time radiographers, a part-time radiographer, and the 
former radiation safety officer (RSO) who, at the time of the PEC, was 
employed by AIX as a full-time radiographer. During the PEC, the four 
individuals admitted to committing deliberate violations of 10 CFR 
34.41(a) at the ASRC site on multiple occasions over a period of 
several years. This information was substantively consistent with their 
sworn statements provided to the NRC Office of Investigations. Based on 
the investigation, the NRC concluded that this violation had occurred 
on multiple occasions from about 2004 until the investigation in June 
2007.
    In addition, during the PEC, the NRC staff discussed with the 
president of AIX that during his first interview on July 24, 2007, he 
denied that violations of the two-person rule had occurred at the ASRC 
site. Later, on July 25, 2007, when confronted with information that 
showed that his radiographers had indeed deliberately violated the two-
person rule at the ASRC site, the company president stated that he 
suspected violations of the two-person rule had occurred at the ASRC 
site, but took no action to investigate his suspicions or discuss this 
with his personnel. As a result, the NRC has concluded that the AIX 
president, with careless disregard, provided the NRC with information 
about the company that was incomplete or inaccurate, in violation of 10 
CFR 30.9(a).
    During the PEC, the NRC noted that in 2001 it had issued a Severity 
Level III violation of 10 CFR 34.41(a) to AIX for deliberate failures 
to follow the two-person rule at the ASRC site.\1\ The fact that a 
prior enforcement action had been issued for the same violation at the 
same location was a significant concern to the NRC because it raised 
questions about the effectiveness of AIX management oversight to 
prevent recurrence of violations.\2\ In fact, a few years later in 
about 2004, the former AIX RSO, and almost all of AIX's radiographers 
and assistant radiographers who worked at the ASRC site, began 
deliberately failing to follow the two-person rule at the ASRC site. 
Further, the reason the violations reoccurred in 2004-2007 were very 
similar to the reasons the violations occurred in 2001: The 
radiographers felt that one-person radiography was safe at the ASRC 
site, and following the two-person rule was unnecessary because 
radiographic exposures were performed inside a structure that AIX had 
built prior to 2001, intended to meet NRC specifications for a 
permanent radiographic installation.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ On April 25, 2001, the NRC issued a Notice of Violation for 
a Severity Level III violation involving a failure to meet the 
requirements of 10 CFR 34.41(a) (EA-01-015).
    \2\ As part of the corrective actions for the 2001 violation 
involving deliberate failures to follow the two-person rule at the 
ASRC site, the AIX company president, its former RSO, and all 
radiographers and assistant radiographers signed a memorandum, in 
February 2001, acknowledging that the two-person rule was to be 
followed at the ASRC site. A copy of the memorandum was presented to 
the NRC in March 2001.
    \3\ In 2001-2002, AIX had requested that the NRC approve the 
structure it had built at the ASRC site as a permanent radiographic 
installation. However, the structure required extensive 
modifications in order to meet NRC requirements. AIX did not make 
the modifications and, as a result, the NRC never approved it. If 
the structure had been approved, then AIX would have been authorized 
to conduct radiography with only one individual instead of two.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    During the PEC, the company president stated that he could 
understand why AIX personnel failed to follow the two-person rule and 
that he (the company president) might have done it himself if he were 
conducting radiography. One of the reasons for this was the general 
belief that the structure provided a similar level of protection as a 
permanent radiographic installation.
    The company president stated that he ``probably suspected'' that 
AIX radiographers were not abiding by the two-person rule, but that he 
``never went [to the ASRC site] and tried to catch anybody at it.'' 
Thus, NRC representatives also questioned AIX regarding the lack of 
management oversight from both the former AIX RSO and the company 
president.
    In addition to the deliberate violations of 10 CFR 34.41(a) and the 
willful violation of 10 CFR 30.9(a), the NRC representatives noted 
three additional concerns during the June 2008 PEC. First, during a 
tour of the ASRC site, the day prior to the June 5th conference, the 
two trailers which formed the sides of the structure were found to be 
unlocked and open. This was of concern to the NRC staff because of the 
potential that ASRC personnel (considered members of the public for 
purposes of the regulations) might access the trailers during 
radiography and be exposed to radiation or remove some of the trailer 
contents, which could reduce the level of shielding. In addition, this 
undermined NRC's confidence in AIX to meet its commitments because in 
its letter dated November 1, 2007, AIX committed to keep the trailers 
locked and to control access to the trailers. This commitment was made 
to the NRC as a consideration for lifting the Order Suspending License 
dated October 19, 2007. On June 4, 2008, the NRC staff requested that 
AIX review the issue and provide additional assurance it would meet its 
commitments to the NRC. Second, the NRC staff was concerned that 
radiation streaming could occur through the back of the structure 
because there was an opening in between the two trailers which formed 
the back of the structure. The staff questioned whether radiation 
surveys were conducted to establish that the radiation rope boundaries 
were adequate. This was important because of the possibility that ASRC 
personnel (considered members of the public) might at times be present 
behind the structure and could be exposed to radiation areas in excess 
of NRC limits. And third, the NRC staff noted that although the focus 
of the June 5th PEC was deliberate violations associated with 
radiography at the ASRC site, other examples of failures to comply with 
10 CFR 34.41(a) were identified at AIX's Golovin site. Although the NRC 
did not find any deliberate misconduct associated with the 10 CFR 
34.41(a) violations at the AIX Golovin site, corrective actions were 
needed to correct the violations at that site.
    AIX's corrective actions presented at the June 5th PEC included: 
(1) Continuing to contract with an independent contractor to conduct 
inspections of AIX radiographers, as AIX committed in response to the 
NRC's Order Suspending Licensed Activities (EA-07-261) dated October 
19, 2007; (2) changing the RSO in November 2007; (3) reducing the 
number of radiographic exposures at the Golovin site with NRC-licensed 
material; (4) modifying contractual agreements with ASRC to reduce 
schedule pressures and to ensure compliance with 10 CFR 34.41(a); and 
(5) instituting a disciplinary policy to terminate any radiographer who 
did not follow the two-person rule. The NRC representatives also 
discussed concerns about whether the independent oversight was as 
effective as it could or should be.
    These corrective actions did not address the NRC's concerns about 
AIX's lack of management oversight in AIX's radiography activities 
including the failure to ensure that its employees, including the 
former AIX RSO, were following NRC requirements, despite the company 
president's suspicions that violations were occurring, as well as the 
fact that corrective actions for the 2001 enforcement action were not 
effective. As a result, the NRC representatives provided AIX with more 
time to provide

[[Page 50653]]

any additional corrective actions. By letter dated June 9, 2008, AIX 
provided additional corrective actions which included: (1) Conducting 
monthly safety meetings; (2) a commitment from the company president to 
independently and personally review (audit) each crew on a quarterly 
basis at a minimum; (3) performing surveys around the ASRC radiation 
exposure area, where instantaneous dose rates were found to exceed 20 
millirem/hour in several areas, and AIX applying additional dirt 
(shielding) to the perimeter of the structure; and (4) locking and 
rebolting the doors to the trailers at the ASRC site which AIX uses as 
shielding around the area where radiographic exposures are performed.
    In summary, based on the information developed during the 
inspection, the investigation, and the PEC, the NRC has determined that 
two violations of NRC requirements occurred. These violations are cited 
in the enclosed Notice of Violation and Proposed Imposition of Civil 
Penalty (Notice) dated the same day as this Order, and the 
circumstances surrounding them are described in detail in the subject 
inspection report and the cover letter accompanying this Order. The 
violations involve: (1) Performing radiography at a location other than 
a permanent radiographic installation without the presence of two 
qualified individuals, in violation of 10 CFR 34.41(a), and (2) failing 
to provide the NRC with information that was complete and accurate in 
all material respects, in violation of 10 CFR 30.9(a). The NRC has 
determined that willfulness was associated with both violations.
    In assessing the safety significance of the violations, the NRC 
notes that, absent deliberate misconduct, performing radiography in 
violation of the two-person rule is significant because the use of two 
qualified persons during radiographic operations not only provides for 
a high level of assurance that members of the public will be prevented 
from entering the restricted area during those operations, but also 
provides additional protection for the radiographers should one of them 
become incapacitated while the source is unshielded. The second 
violation, providing the NRC with incomplete or inaccurate information, 
impacts the NRC's ability to perform its regulatory function. The 
violations were more significant given the pervasive deliberate 
misconduct on the part of the AIX radiographers and assistant 
radiographers, as well as a senior company official, the RSO at the 
time; and the careless disregard on the part of the president of the 
company, in providing the NRC with information that was incomplete or 
inaccurate. Therefore, these violations have been categorized in 
accordance with the NRC Enforcement Policy at Severity Level II.
    The NRC has determined that additional actions \4\ are needed to 
provide reasonable assurance that the public health and safety, as well 
as the health and safety of AIX employees, will be maintained. The 
circumstances in this case raise serious concerns about AIX company 
management's ability or desire to ensure licensed activities are 
conducted without undue risk to the public's health and safety, and 
that commitments made to the NRC are honored. Therefore, the NRC is 
issuing an Order to require (1) Continued independent oversight with 
additional specific conditions to ensure AIX's radiographers follow NRC 
requirements, (2) that the trailers be locked and that AIX maintain 
control over the key, (3) that AIX contract with an independent 
consultant to evaluate the AIX radiation safety procedures for 
effectiveness, and to provide training to AIX radiographers and 
assistant radiographers, and (4) that the president of AIX, perform 
quarterly audits of your radiographers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ These actions are in addition to, and separate from, the 
attached Notice, which imposes a civil penalty at twice the base for 
the Severity Level II problem in the total amount of $20,800. As 
fully set out in the Notice, the civil penalty was issued to 
emphasize the importance of not engaging in deliberate misconduct, 
self-identifying violations, and taking prompt and comprehensive 
corrective actions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

III

    Based on the above, the NRC has determined that AIX company 
management, including the company president, have not provided the 
level of oversight needed for the company to conduct its activities in 
compliance with NRC requirements and to meet all its commitments to the 
NRC. Consequently, I lack the requisite reasonable assurance that the 
Licensee's current operations can be conducted under License No. 50-
16084-01 in compliance with the Commission's requirements and that the 
health and safety of the public, including the Licensee's employees, 
will be protected. Therefore, the public health and safety interest 
require that License No. 50-16084-01 be modified to require additional 
actions so as to provide reasonable assurance that the health and 
safety of the public will be protected. Furthermore, pursuant to 10 CFR 
2.202, I find that the significance of the violations described above 
is such that the public health and safety interest require that this 
Order be immediately effective.

IV

    Accordingly, pursuant to Sections 81, 161b, 161i, 161o, 182, and 
186 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, the Commission's 
regulations in 10 CFR 2.202, 2.205, 10 CFR parts 20, 34, and 10 CFR 
150.20, it is hereby ordered, effective immediately, that License No. 
50-16084-01 is modified as follows:
    (1) AIX shall continue use of an independent contractor to provide 
independent oversight of AIX operations.
    (a) AIX shall notify the NRC by fax and the contractor documented 
in AIX's letter dated November 1, 2007, by phone, fax or e-mail, on a 
weekly basis, of the anticipated AIX work schedule for that week. AIX 
will immediately notify the contractor daily, by phone, fax and or 
email, as requested by the contractor, of any changes to AIX scheduled 
activities. AIX must inform the contractor in writing that the 
provisions of 10 CFR 30.10 apply to the contractor.
    (b) The contractor must conduct unannounced audits and observations 
of AIX radiography crews during radiographic exposures in a manner and 
location where he is undetected by the radiography crew. After 
observing the crews, the contractor may announce himself to the crew in 
order to complete his audits of the jobsite. The audits must verify 
that AIX personnel are conducting all operations in a safe manner and 
in compliance with NRC requirements. The contractor must, to the extent 
possible, prevent violations from occurring or continuing as he 
observes the radiography crews, even in situations where the crew has 
not detected his presence prior to the violation.
    (c) The unannounced audits shall be conducted at least twice a 
month when work is being performed.
    (d) At least 50 percent of the time, on average over a year, the 
contractor must conduct unannounced audits during the second half of 
work that is scheduled outside of normal business hours. Normal 
business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    (e) The contractor will provide AIX a monthly report of his audit 
activities. The information will be provided to NRC Region IV at the 
same time the contractor provides the results to AIX. At a minimum, the 
information provided shall include: The date and times of the audit; 
the hours (time of the day) in which the crew worked; the names of the 
radiographers and assistant radiographers involved in the work;

[[Page 50654]]

whether the contractor was detected by the crew prior to the contractor 
announcing his presence; and whether or not radiographic operations 
were performed safely and in compliance with NRC requirements. The 
monthly reports will be sent to the Director, Division of Nuclear 
Materials Safety, U.S. NRC Region IV.
    (f) Individuals with whom AIX contracts to meet this requirement, 
must be approved in advance. AIX currently contracts with an individual 
who has received prior approval and further approval for this 
individual is not needed. In order to receive prior approval for 
another individual to perform these independent audits, AIX must 
provide the NRC with information regarding the individual's 
qualifications and information concerning any prior working 
relationships the individual has had with AIX. This information should 
be sent to the Director, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety, U.S. NRC 
Region IV.
    (2) The trailers that surround the radiographic site at ASRC will 
be locked during the conduct of radiography. AIX must maintain control 
over the key such that ASRC personnel cannot obtain the key without the 
AIX company management's approval.
    (3) AIX will contract with an independent consultant to evaluate 
the effectiveness of its radiation safety and compliance programs.
    (a) Within 60 days of the date of this Order, AIX will submit to 
the NRC for approval, the name(s) and qualifications of an independent 
consultant to review and evaluate AIX's radiation safety program and 
compliance program;
    (b) Within 30 days of NRC approval of the consultant, the 
consultant will commence an assessment of AIX's radiation safety 
program;
    (c) The consultant's assessment will review AIX's training program 
as follows:
    (i) Physical observation of each of AIX's radiographers and 
assistant radiographers, on multiple occasions, during the conduct of 
radiographic operations, verifying their actions ensure radiation 
safety and compliance with NRC requirements. At least 25 percent of the 
observations will be conducted at the ASRC site. The purpose of the 
observation is to evaluate compliance with NRC requirements and to 
provide recommendations to AIX management about improving the work 
practices of AIX radiographers to comply with NRC requirements. The 
consultant should consider providing recommendations to AIX for 
complying with NRC requirements during inclement weather (e.g., winter 
conditions) during radiographic operations.
    (ii) Perform independent radiation measurements around AIX's 
structure used at the ASRC site, taking into account changes in the 
shielding characteristics as material inside the trailers that form the 
walls of the structure vary. The purpose of the measurements will be to 
demonstrate compliance with 10 CFR part 20 limits.
    (iii) Evaluate AIX's Operating and Emergency Procedures.
    (iv) Evaluate the effectiveness of the current AIX RSO to oversee 
the AIX radiation safety program and to ensure compliance with NRC 
requirements;
    (v) Within 30 days following completion of its reviews, the 
consultant will provide AIX a report discussing its findings and 
recommendations for program improvements. At the same time the 
consultant provides its report to AIX, the consultant will send a copy 
to the Director, Division of Nuclear Material Safety, U.S. NRC Region 
IV.
    (d) Within 30 days of receiving the consultant's report, AIX will 
provide the NRC, in writing, its position on how it will address the 
consultant's findings. In its correspondence to the NRC, AIX will 
identify which of the consultant's recommendations it will implement 
and the time frame in which it will implement the recommendations. For 
those recommendations AIX does not accept, AIX will provide the NRC 
with its justification.
    (e) The consultant will provide training to all AIX employees, 
managers, and officials. The training will include:
    (i) A review of the radiation mishaps involving radiography devices 
or gauges;
    (ii) A review of the potential actions that NRC may take against an 
individual;
    (iii) A review of NRC requirements, AIX's license conditions; and
    (iv) A review of AIX's Operating and Emergency Procedures.
    (4) The president of AIX shall perform quarterly audits of his 
radiographers as they conduct radiography. The audits shall include 
observations of his crew during radiographic exposures and, to the 
extent possible, must include observations such that the crew cannot 
detect his presence. At least 25 percent of the observations will be 
conducted at the ASRC site during the second half of work that is 
scheduled outside of the normal business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 
president of AIX must, to the extent possible, prevent violations from 
occurring or continuing as he observes the radiography crews, even in 
situations where the crew has not detected his presence prior to the 
violation. These audits must be separate and apart from any required 
audits performed for compliance with 10 CFR 34.43(e). Records shall be 
maintained documenting these audits and the results of his 
observations.
    (5) Information that is required to be sent to the NRC in 
Conditions 1-4 above shall be addressed to: Director, Division of 
Nuclear Materials Safety, U.S. NRC Region IV; 612 East Lamar Blvd., 
Suite 400, Arlington, TX 76011.
    The Regional Administrator, Region IV, may, in writing, relax or 
rescind any of the above conditions upon demonstration by the Licensee 
of good cause.

V

    In accordance with 10 CFR 2.202, the Licensee must, and any other 
person adversely affected by this Order may, submit an answer to this 
Order within 20 days of its issuance. In addition, the Licensee and any 
other person adversely affected by this Order 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 answer or request 
a hearing. A request for extension of time must be directed to the 
Director, Office of Enforcement, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
and include a statement of good cause for the extension.
    A request for a hearing must be filed in accordance with the NRC E-
Filing rule, which the NRC promulgated in August 2007, 72 FR 49139 
(Aug. 28, 2007). The E-Filing process requires participants to submit 
and serve documents over the Internet or, in some cases, to mail copies 
on electronic optical storage media. Participants may not submit paper 
copies of their filings unless they seek a waiver in accordance with 
the procedures described below.
    To comply with the procedural requirements associated with E-
Filing, at least five (5) days prior to the filing deadline the 
requestor must contact the Office of the Secretary by e-mail at 
HEARINGDOCKET@NRC.GOV, or by calling (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 NRC proceeding in which it is participating; and/or (2) 
creation of an electronic docket for the proceeding (even in instances 
when the requestor (or its counsel or representative) already holds an 
NRC-issued digital ID certificate). Each requestor will need to 
download the Workplace Forms ViewerTM to access the 
Electronic

[[Page 50655]]

Information Exchange (EIE), a component of the E-Filing system. The 
Workplace Forms ViewerTM is free and is available at https://
www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals/install-viewer.html. Information 
about applying for a digital ID certificate also is available on NRC's 
public Web site at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals/apply-
certificates.html.
    Once a requestor has obtained a digital ID certificate, had a 
docket created, and downloaded the EIE viewer, it can then submit a 
request for a hearing through EIE. Submissions should be in Portable 
Document Format (PDF) in accordance with NRC guidance available on the 
NRC public Web site at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html. 
A filing is considered complete at the time the filer submits its 
document through EIE. To be timely, electronic filings must be 
submitted to the EIE 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 EIE 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 document on those participants separately. 
Therefore, any others who wish to participate in the proceeding (or 
their counsel or representative) must apply for and receive a digital 
ID certificate before a hearing request is filed so that they may 
obtain access to the document via the E-Filing system.
    A person filing electronically may seek assistance through the 
``Contact Us'' link located on the NRC Web site at https://www.nrc.gov/
site-help/e-submittals.html or by calling the NRC technical help line, 
which is available between 8:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m., Eastern Time, 
Monday through Friday. The help line number is (800) 397-4209 or 
locally, (301) 415-4737.
    Participants who believe that they have good cause for not 
submitting documents electronically must file a motion, 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.
    Documents submitted in adjudicatory proceedings will appear in 
NRC's electronic hearing docket which is available to the public at 
https://ehd.nrc.gov/EHD_Proceeding/home.asp, unless excluded pursuant 
to an order of the Commission, an Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, or 
a 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. 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 works.
    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 Order and shall address the criteria set 
forth in 10 CFR 2.309(d).
    If a hearing is requested by a Licensee or a person whose interest 
is adversely affected, the Commission will issue an Order designating 
the time and place of any hearings. 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), the Licensee, or any 
other person adversely affected by this Order, may, in addition to 
demanding a hearing, at the time the answer is filed or sooner, move 
the presiding officer to set aside the immediate effectiveness of the 
Order on the ground that the Order, including the need for immediate 
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 20th day of August 2008.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Cynthia A. Carpenter,
Director, Office of Enforcement.
[FR Doc. E8-19831 Filed 8-26-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P