DOE to Launch Safety Investigation at Pacific Northwest National Lab
WC Monitor
6/27/2014
The Department of Energy’s Office of Enforcement is gearing up to launch an investigation into potential violations of DOE regulations at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The investigation could lead to financial penalties for the lab’s managing contractor, Battelle Memorial Institute. The investigation will examine “the facts and circumstances associated with potential deficiencies in Battelle Memorial Institute’s (Battelle) implementation of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Chronic Beryllium Disease Prevention Program,” DOE Office of Enforcement Director Steven Simonson wrote in a June 24 letter to PNNL Director Michael Kluse. The letter adds, “Battelle reported noncompliances in the DOE noncompliance Tracking System under NTS-PNSO–PNNL-PNNLBOPER-2014-0001 – Management Concern Related to Beryllium Monitoring.”
When asked what prompted DOE to launch its planned investigation, a Department official said late this week that “the Office of Enforcement continuously evaluates available information, including (but not limited to) DOE’s reporting systems and ongoing discussions with managers and staff at DOE Field Offices and contractor organizations, to determine if enforcement interest is warranted if potential violations of DOE’s worker safety and health regulations (10 CFR Part 851), which requires compliance with 10 CFR Part 850 (‘Chronic Beryllium Disease Prevention Program’), become evident. The Notice of Investigation letter that was issued to Battelle Memorial Institute is the result of indications of potential problems with the CBDPP being implemented by Battelle Memorial Institute’s (Battelle) at PNNL.”
For its part, PNNL is working to take action to address concerns identified with its beryllium program, lab spokeswoman Susan Bauer said in a written response this week. “Earlier this year, we identified significant deficiencies with our beryllium program. PNNL takes this very seriously and our first concern is for our workers,” Bauer said. “PNNL reported our findings to DOE and immediately established interim protective actions to assure ongoing work at PNNL is conducted safely for all workers. We have completed a causal analysis, a compliance assessment and are implementing a comprehensive corrective action plan to address all program deficiencies.”
