UNITED STATES 

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION 

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS 

WASHINGTON, DC 20555-0001 

May 1, 2008 

NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 2008-10 RESPONSE TO INDICATIONS OF POTENTIAL 

TAMPERING, VANDALISM, OR MALICIOUS 

MISCHIEF 

ADDRESSEES 

All fuel cycle facilities and uranium recovery licensees. 

PURPOSE 

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this information notice (IN) to inform 

addressees of how important it is to recognize the early indications of possible acts of 

tampering, vandalism, or malicious mischief, and to respond to them rapidly and appropriately. 

It is expected that recipients will review this information, for applicability to their facilities, and 

consider actions, as appropriate. However, suggestions contained in this IN are not NRC 

requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response is required. 

DESCRIPTION OF CIRCUMSTANCES 

In August 2007, an incident occurred at an NRC-licensed fuel cycle facility, that highlights the 

importance of recognizing the potential significance of early indications of tampering, vandalism, 

or malicious mischief. A licensee found a portable gamma monitor with a damaged cord. The 

technician who found the monitor then performed a calibration check and discovered an 

incorrect energy peak was programmed into the instrument. The technician entered the 

problem into the corrective action program. The instrument had been calibrated 2 days earlier. 

This incident and previous problems within this calibration lab, regarding unplugged or damaged 

gamma monitors, caused the NRC Resident Inspector to raise the possibility of intentional 

tampering. The licensee implemented corrective actions to investigate the occurrence, raise 

employee awareness of vandalism, and verify that other instruments did not have evidence of 

tampering. The licensee did not have formal instrument sign-out accountability. This instrument 

was considered an item relied on for safety (IROFS) in the integrated safety analysis and 

therefore had safety implications. However, the licensee believed the instrument could perform 

its intended function in the as-found condition. 

DISCUSSION 

The significance of this issue is the importance of identifying the possibility of intentional 

tampering with safety-significant plant equipment. Although there was no known compromise of 

plant safety, since the instrument, in this case, was believed still capable of performing its 

function, NRC still remains very concerned about possible tampering of IROFS 

ML072970816 
IN 2008-10 

Page 2 of 3 

or with other security or safety-related equipment. 

The potential implications of this incident include the following: 

• Tampering, vandalism, or malicious mischief could have adverse impacts to plant operations 

safety, and security; 

• Incident investigations designed to identify and correct root causes of process and operational 

safety concerns may not be adequate for identifying intentional acts; and 

• The licensees staff’s ability to identify the perpetrator of an intentional act and institute 

protective measures diminishes as time elapses. 

Some protective measures that recipients of this IN should consider taking include: 

• Establishing a procedure/process to identify, evaluate, and follow up on possible tampering, 

vandalism, and malicious mischief incidents, and considering such factors as safety and 

security significance, overtness, intent, sophistication of method, and history of similar incidents; 

and 

• Licensees periodically refreshing their Operations and Security staff’s sensitivity to and 

awareness of the process of evaluating deliberate acts, since the Operations staff may be the 

first to encounter signs of tampering, vandalism, or malicious mischief during its tours and 

surveillance activities. 

• Consider additional control measures for IROFS as an impediment to tampering, vandalism 

and malicious mischief. 

Based on the events described above, licensees should consider implementing a program to 

respond to indications of tampering, vandalism, or malicious mischief. Licensees should 

evaluate, develop, or revise site policies and procedures, and train and educate all appropriate 

facility personnel regarding the importance of recognizing potential signs of tampering, 

vandalism, or malicious mischief. 

When assessing their programs, licensees should consider reviewing the guidance NRC had 

previously issued in: (1) IN 96-71, “Licensee response to indications of tampering, vandalism, 

or malicious mischief”; (2) NUREG/CR-4462 PNL-5690, “A ranking of sabotage/tampering 

avoidance technology alternatives (1980’s)” ;and (3) IN 83-27; “Operational response to events 

concerning deliberate acts directed against plant equipment.” 
IN 2008-10 

Page 3 of 3 

CONTACT 

This IN does not require any specific action nor written response. Please direct any questions 

about this matter to the technical contact listed below, or to the appropriate NRC project 

manager. 

 /RA/ 

Robert C. Pierson, Director 

Division of Fuel Cycle Safety 

 and Safeguards 

Office of Nuclear Material Safety 

 and Safeguards 

Technical Contact: Amy Luebbering, NMSS 

Phone: 301-492-3231 

E-mail: acl2@nrc.gov

Attachment: “List of Recently Issued NMSS Generic Communications” 

Note: NRC generic communications may be found on the NRC public Web site, 

http://www.nrc.gov, under Electronic Reading Room/Document Collections. 
IN 2008-10 

Page 3 of 3 

CONTACT 

This IN does not require any specific action nor written response. Please direct any questions 

about this matter to the technical contact listed below, or to the appropriate NRC project 

manager. 

 /RA/ 

 

Robert C. Pierson, Director 

Division of Fuel Cycle Safety 

 and Safeguards 

Office of Nuclear Material Safety 

 and Safeguards 

Technical Contact: Amy Luebbering, NMSS 

Phone: 301-492-3231 

E-mail: acl2@nrc.gov

Attachment: List of Recently Issued Generic Communications 

Note: NRC generic communications may be found on the NRC public Web site, 

http://www.nrc.gov, under Electronic Reading Room/Document Collections. 

ML 

OFC FCSS Tech Ed FSME FCSS FCSS 

NAME ALuebbering EKraus AMcIntosh PHabighorst MTschiltz 

DATE 10/ 25 /07 10/ 29 /07 11/ 06 /07 10/ 25 /07 11/ 07 /07 

OFC NRR/DPR RII via email NSIR NSIR 

NAME DCollins DDorman THolahan RPierson 

DATE 11/ 06 /07 11/09/07 11/13/07 5/01/08 

OFFICAL RECORD DOCUMENT 
Enclosure 

IN 2008-10 

Page 1 of 4 

Recently Issued FSME/NMSS Generic Communications

Date GC No. Subject Addressees 

02/02/07 IN-07-03 Reportable Medical Events Involving 

Patients Receiving Dosages of 

Sodium Iodide Iodine-131 less than 

the Prescribed Dosage Because of 

Capsules Remaining in Vials after 

Administration 

All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

medical use licensees and NRC Master 

Materials Licensees. All Agreement State 

Radiation Control Program Directors and 

State Liaison Officers. 

02/28/07 IN-07-08 Potential Vulnerabilities of Timereliant Computer-based Systems 

Due to Change in Daylight Saving 

Time Dates 

All U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

licensees and all Agreement State 

Radiation Control Program Directors and 

State Liaison Officers. 

03/13/07 IN-07-10 Yttrium-90 Theraspheres® and 

Sirspheres®

 Impurities 

All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

(NRC) Medical Licensees and NRC Master 

Materials Licensees. All Agreement State 

Radiation Control Program Directors and 

State Liaison Officers. 

04/04/07 IN-07-13 Use of As-Found Conditions to 

Evaluate Criticality-related Process 

Upsets at Fuel Cycle Facilities 

All licensees authorized to possess a 

critical mass of special nuclear material. 

05/02/07 IN-07-16 Common Violations of the Increased 

Controls Requirements and Related 

Guidance Documents 

All licensees who are implementing the 

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

(NRC) Order Imposing Increased Controls 

(EA-05-090), issued November 14, 2005 

and December 22, 2005. 

05/21/07 IN-07-19 Fire Protection Equipment Recalls 

and Counterfeit Notices 

All holders of operating licenses for nuclear 

power reactors and fuel cycle facilities; 

except those licensees for reactors that 

have permanently ceased operations and 

who have certified that fuel has been 

permanently removed from the reactor 

vessel; and except those licensees for 

decommissioned fuel cycle facilities. 

06/11/07 IN-07-20 Use of Blank Ammunition All power reactors, Category I fuel cycle 

facilities, independent spent fuel storage 

installations, conversion facility, and 

gaseous diffusion plants. 
Enclosure 

IN 2008-10 

Page 2 of 4 

Date GC No. Subject Addressees 

07/19/07 IN-07-25 Suggestions from the Advisory 

Committee on the Medical Use of 

Isotopes For Consideration to 

Improve Compliance With Sodium 

Iodide I-131 Written Directive 

Requirements in 10 CFR 35.40 and 

Supervision Requirements in 10 

CFR 35.27 

All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

(NRC) medical-use licensees and NRC 

Master Materials Licensees. All Agreement 

State Radiation Control Program Directors 

and State Liaison Officers. 

08/08/07 IN-07-23 Inadvertent Discharge of Halon 

1301Fire-suppression System from 

Incorrect and/or Out-of-date 

Procedures 

All holders of operating licenses for nuclear 

power reactors, except those who have 

permanently ended operations and have 

certified that fuel has been permanently 

removed from the reactor vessel. All 

holders of licenses for fuel cycle facilities. 

08/13/07 IN-07-26 Combustibility of Epoxy Floor 

Coatings at Commercial Nuclear 

Power Plants 

All holders of operating licenses for nuclear 

power reactors and fuel cycle facilities 

except licensees for reactors that have 

permanently ceased operations and who 

have certified that fuel has been 

permanently removed from the reactor 

vessel. 

09/13/07 IN-07-30 Radiological Controls Create 

Criticality Safety Accident Scenario 

for Fissile Solution Container 

Transport at Fuel Cycle Facility 

All licensees authorized to possess a 

critical mass of special nuclear material. 

09/28/07 IN-07-33 Exposures To Members Of The 

Public Caused By Inadequate 

Controls Over Well Logging 

Sources 

All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

Well Logging Licensees. All Agreement 

State Radiation Control Program Directors 

and State Liaison Officers. 

10/15/07 IN-07-32 Out-of-Service Equipment 

Connected to In-service Process 

Line Results in Fissile Solution Spill 

at Fuel Cycle Facility 

All licensees authorized to possess a 

critical mass of special nuclear material 

10/17/07 IN-07-35 Varian Medical Systems 

Varisource HDR Events: 

Iridium-192 Source Pulled From 

Shielded Position 

All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

medical use licensees and NRC Master 

Materials Licensees authorized to possess 

or use a Varian Medical Systems 

VariSource High Dose Rate Remote 

Afterloader (VariSource HDR). All 

Agreement State Radiation Control 

Program Directors and State Liaison 

Officers. 

03/01/07 RIS-07-03 Ionizing Radiation Warning Symbol All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

licensees and certificate holders. All 

Radiation Control Program Directors and 

State Liaison Officers 
Enclosure 

IN 2008-10 

Page 3 of 4 

Date GC No. Subject Addressees 

03/09/07 RIS-07-04 Personally Identifiable Information 

Submitted to the U.S. Nuclear 

Regulatory Commission 

All holders of operating licenses for nuclear 

power reactors and holders of and 

applicants for certificates for reactor 

designs. All licensees, certificate holders, 

applicants, and other entities subject to 

regulation by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission of the use of source, 

byproduct, and special nuclear material 

03/20/07 RIS-07-05 Status and Plans for Implementation 

of NRC Regulatory Authority for 

Certain Naturally-occurring and 

Accelerator-produced Radioactive 

Material 

All NRC materials licensees, Radiation 

Control Program Directors, State Liaison 

Officers, and NRC’s Advisory Committee 

on the Medical Uses of Isotopes 

04/05/07 RIS-07-07 Clarification of Increased Controls 

for Licensees That Possess 

Collocated Radioactive Material 

During Transportation Activities 

All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

(NRC) licensees issued NRC’s Order 

Imposing Increased Controls and all 

Radiation Control Program Directors and 

State Liaison Officers 

05/04/07 RIS-07-09 Examples of Recurring Requests for 

Additional Information (RAIs) for 10 

CFR Part 71 and 72 Applications 

All holders of, and applicants for, a: (1) 10 

CFR Part 71 certificate of compliance 

(CoC) for a radioactive material 

transportation package; (2) 10 CFR Part 72 

CoC for a spent fuel storage cask; and (3) 

10 CFR Part 72 specific license for an 

independent spent fuel storage installation 

(ISFSI). 

06/27/07 RIS-06-27, 

Suppl. 1 

Availability of NRC 313A Series of 

Forms and Guidance for Their 

Completion 

All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

(NRC) medical-use licensees and NRC 

Master Materials licensees. All Radiation 

Control Program Directors and State 

Liaison Officers. 

05/15/07 RIS-07-10 Subscriptions To New List Server 

For Automatic Notifications Of 

Medical-Related Generic 

Communications, Federal Register 

Notices And Newsletters 

All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

(NRC) medical-use licensees and NRC 

Master Materials licensees. All Radiation 

Control Program Directors and State 

Liaison Officers. 
Enclosure 

IN 2008-10 

Page 4 of 4 

Date GC No. Subject Addressees 

08/31/07 RIS-07-13 Verification of the Authenticity of 

Materials Possession Licenses 

All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

materials licensees. All Agreement State 

Radiation Control Program Directors and 

State Liaison Officers. 

09/07/07 RIS-07-18 Data for Updating the Interim 

Inventory of Radioactive Sources 

All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

(NRC) Part 40, Part 50, Part 70, Part 72, 

and Part 76 licensees and certificate 

holders who are authorized to possess 

sources of radioactive material 

at the Category “3.5" (as defined below) 

activity or higher. 

10/04/07 RIS-07-22 Status Update For Implementation 

Of Nrc Regulatory Authority for 

Certain Naturally-Occurring and 

Accelerator-Produced Radioactive 

Material 

All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

materials licensees, radiation control 

program directors, State liaison officers, 

and the NRC’s Advisory Committee on the 

Medical Uses of Isotopes. 

10/04/07 RIS-07-23 Date For Operation Of National 

Source Tracking System 

All licensees authorized to possess 

Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of 

radioactive materials. 

All Radiation Control Program Directors 

and State Liaison Officers. 

Note: A full listing of generic communications may be viewed at the NRC public website at the following address:

http://www.nrc.gov/Electronic Reading Room/Document Collections/Generic Communications