NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

 Office of Public Affairs, Region I

 475 Allendale Road, King of Prussia, Pa. 19406

 www.nrc.gov

No. I-03-051 August 27, 2003

CONTACT: Diane Screnci, 610/337-5330 Email: opa1@nrc.gov

Neil Sheehan, 610/337-5331

NRC ISSUES LICENSE FOR IRRADIATOR IN MILFORD TOWNSHIP, PA.

 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued a license to a Pennsylvania company for

the operation of a commercial underwater irradiator at its Milford Township (Bucks County),

Pa., cold storage facility. The company, CFC Logistics, Inc., stated in its application that the

irradiator would be employed primarily for the irradiation of food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical

products. CFC also said it might be used to irradiate a wide range of other materials.

 NRC reviews irradiator applications with respect to the safety of employees and the

public in the vicinity of the facility from radiation. Other federal agencies, such as the Food and

Drug Administration, are responsible for the safety of food and determine whether food may be

irradiated.

 CFC applied to the NRC for a license on February 25. The NRC staff performed a 

thorough review of the application, including:

  An acceptance review to ensure the application contained sufficient information;

  A technical review of the radiological health, safety and security aspects of the

application using the agency’s regulations and guidance;

  Inspections of the facility several times during its construction by NRC inspectors

with backgrounds in health physics, electrical engineering and geotechnical

engineering;

  An internal peer review of the technical thoroughness of the staff’s review; and

  Visits to the site by senior managers from the NRC’s Region I Office.
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 NRC staff members participated in a public information meeting about the proposed

irradiator on July 16 in Quakertown, Pa. It was attended by approximately 400 citizens. In

addition, NRC staff conducted a public meeting in Quakertown on August 21, which drew about 

250 citizens, to provide an update regarding the agency’s review of the application, answer

questions and listen to concerns. The agency has carefully considered the issues and concerns

raised at those meetings and believes they have been addressed in the review of the application

and licensing decision.

 Based on this detailed review, the NRC has decided to issue a license to CFC allowing

receipt of cobalt-60 sources and use of the irradiator. The license requires CFC to inform the

NRC at least five days before the receipt of cobalt-60. The license also requires the company to

notify the NRC in writing, after completion of cobalt-60 loading and testing, that the facility

meets applicable agency requirements prior to use of the irradiator. The NRC will inspect the

loading and testing of the irradiator. The agency will also inspect the initial operation of the

facility to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the license. Further, the NRC will

continue to perform periodic unannounced inspections of the facility to ensure its operations

adhere to NRC requirements.

 In addition to complying with NRC regulations, the company must comply with other

applicable regulations governing the siting, zoning, land use and building code requirements for

industrial facilities.

 A request for a hearing on the CFC application was submitted to the NRC on June 23 by

a group known as Concerned Citizens of Milford Township. The Chairman of the Atomic Safety

and Licensing Board Panel has designated a Presiding Officer to rule on the petition and to

preside over a hearing should the hearing request be granted. However, while the review of the

petition is being carried out by the Presiding Officer, the NRC is not barred from issuing a

license to the applicant. 

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