Nuclear agency cites Walmart

Walmart cited by NRC for lost, misplaced tritium signs at stores, including one here

Date published: 11/9/2009

By RUSTY DENNEN

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has cited Walmart for improper disposal and transfer of exit signs containing tritium, a radioactive hydrogen isotope.

But the agency decided against a hefty fine, saying the company was quick to take action when notified that there was a problem at its stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, including the Central Park store in Fredericksburg.

The four violations issued Oct. 28 stemmed from the improper transfer or disposal of 2,462 signs between 2000 and 2008, and the transfer of another 517 signs between various Walmart sites.

Missing signs are not usually much of a concern, but in the post-9/11 world they have become an issue for Walmart and others as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission keeps stricter tabs on all types of radioactive substances.

Tritium is used to illuminate signs without the need for electricity.

The NRC emphasized that the minimally radioactive signs pose little or no threat to public health and safety, and are not a security risk.

But the NRC requires proper record keeping and disposal of the signs because a damaged or broken one could cause minor radioactive contamination of the immediate vicinity, requiring environmental cleanup.

The improper transfer and disposal of the signs, and Walmart's failure to appoint someone to be responsible for them, was deemed to be a Severity Level III problem under the NRC's enforcement policy.

Walmart's failure to report damaged signs is a Level IV violation, the lowest on the NRC's enforcement scale.

The Level III finding could have resulted in a $369,300 fine, but the penalty was waived based on Walmart's corrective action.

The NRC said the company inventoried the signs nationwide, cleaned up contamination from damaged signs at several stores and replaced all tritium signs with non-radioactive models.

The NRC's special inspection of Walmart began in December 2008 and concluded in August.

Between 2000 and 2007, Walmart purchased about 70,000 tritium signs. A 2006 audit found that some were missing.

Along with the Fredericksburg store, Walmarts in Harrisonburg, Williamsburg, Norfolk and Norton reported lost or missing signs.

Walmart is not the only one with the problem.

The NRC in January asked more than 60 companies and organizations to account for their signs, and now says additional violations could be forthcoming.

"Our inspection and the extensive actions Walmart had to undertake to resolve our concerns should stand as a warning to other organizations and corporations not to be lax in their handling of devices containing radioactive material," Cynthia Carpenter, NRC's director of enforcement, said in a press release.

Rusty Dennen: 540/374-5431
Email: rdennen@freelancestar.com

According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, tritium emits low-energy beta radiation that cannot penetrate a sheet of paper or clothing. If inhaled, it leaves the body relatively quickly and has a short half-life of 12 years. More than 2 million tritium exit signs are in use in the United States. They do not require electricity or batteries, and are commonly used in areas where it is difficult to install electric signs. Tritium gas is contained in sealed glass tubes. The insides of the tubes are lined with a phosphor. The beta particles emitted by the tritium bombard the phosphor, causing it to glow.

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Date published: 11/9/2009

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