E.P. firm fined for nuclear-site work

ROCKVILLE, Md. – The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has proposed an $11,200 civil penalty for East Providence firm Geisser Engineering Corp. for performing work at both a federal facility in the state and in Connecticut without obtaining proper permission.
According to the NRC, Rhode Island oversees the use of nuclear materials within its borders that would otherwise be regulated by the commission. However, such activities performed at federal facilities and in “nonagreement states” such as Connecticut are under the jurisdiction of the commission and must be approved by the agency.
This requirement is known as “reciprocity.”
The commission said in a statement that Geisser Engineering did not adhere to that requirement and used portable nuclear gauges in Connecticut between Oct. 21, 2009, and June 23, 2011. The company also performed work at the Newport Naval Station, which is also under NRC jurisdiction because it is a federal facility. •