ML19256C745
| ML19256C745 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 01/18/1979 |
| From: | Bidinger G, Higginbotham L NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-79-009, PNO-79-9, NUDOCS 7910120413 | |
| Download: ML19256C745 (2) | |
Text
I.
PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION
,'/^
January 18, 1979
/
PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE--PNO-79-09
_This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of an event of
_POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance.
The information p_ resented is as initially received witnout verification or evaluation and is basically all that is known by IE staff on this date.
Facility:
Allied Chemical Corporation Metropolis, Illinois License No. SUB-526
Subject:
TRUCK ACCDENT INVOLVING YELLOWCAKE (U308)
On January 17,1979 at 5:30 p.m., twelve D0T 17-H 55 gallon drums containing yellowcake fell from a trailer truck along Interstate I-70 East near the St. Louis Lambert Airport.
All twelve drums remained intact.
A minimal dusting of yellowcake (estimated as a handful) leaked from two of the drums due to stress on the drum lids and gaskets resulting from the impact when the drums hit the road surface. The truck was enroute from the Lucky McUranium Mill to Allied Chemical in Metropolis, Illinois.
Representatives of REAC (A DOE Radiological Assistance Team contractor),
the Missouri Bureau of Radiological Health, the Missouri State Police, the Missouri Civil Defense, and Allied Chemical Corporation responded to the incident.
Radiation surveys identified no ground contamination after the small dusting of yellowcake was recovered.
Radiation levels at the lids of the two leaking drums were 1 1/2 to 2 mR/hr.
Weather conditions were cold and dry with no wind so spread of material was not a problem.
Traffic was diverted around the accident scene for about one hour.
The drums were loaded onto another trailer and sent on to Allied Chemical Corporation plant.
There was heavy media interest of the incident.
Two television channels and a St. Louis Dispatch Editor were at the scene shortly after the accident.
It was reported by the REAC representative that television coverage was factual, positive and helped minimize traffic problems due to the blocked highway.
NRC, Region III, was notified of this event at 8.50 p.m. by the NRC, Region IV Duty Officer.
Region IV wa.s notified by a representative of the Lucky McUranium Mill at 8:22 p.m.
=
NRC, Region III, monitored the event by direct contact via a mobile gv radio at the scene of the accident.
g Continued 7910120 9/ 3
Preliminary Notification - Continued PN0-79-09
Contact:
GHBidinger IE, 492-8788; LBHigginbotham IE, 492-8454 Distribution:
Transmitted H St.!.'2 h $
Chairman Hendrie Comissioner Bradford S. J. Chilk, SECY Comissioner Kennedy Comissioner Ahearne C. C. Kammerer, CA Comissioner Gilinsky (For Distribution)
Transmitted: MNBB!.h h k P Bldg /.Il-(E J. G. Davis, IE L. V. Gossick, EDO H. R. Denton, NRR Region 7/T
/ CD H. L. Ornstein, ED0 R. C. DeYoung, NRR J. J. Fouchard, PA R. J. Mattson, NRR N. M. Haller, MPA V. Stello, NRR (MAIL)
NRR J. J. Cummings, OIA R. G. Ryan, OSP R. S. Boyd,$ 6 6 R. Minogue, SD (SS Bldg /
H. K. Shapar, ELD W. J. Dircks, NMSS PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION 4
1448 561 L
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