ML19256C769
| ML19256C769 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/26/1979 |
| From: | Bidinger G, Higginbotham L NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-79-062, PNO-79-62, NUDOCS 7910120446 | |
| Download: ML19256C769 (1) | |
Text
.E PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION
/
March 26, 1979 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE--PNO-79-62 This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of an event of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance.
The information presented is as initially received without verification or evaluation and is basically all that is known by IE staff on this date.
FACILITY:
Exxon Company, U.S. A., Converse County, Wyoming ~
License No. 1139
SUBJECT:
AIRBORNE EXPOSURE TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC Two welders at a shop in Glen Rock, Wyoming were exposed to airborne concentrations of natural uranium during the period of March 1,1979, to March 16, 1979.
The exposure resulted from sandblasting of a contaminated filter press that had been inadvertently shipped from the Highland Uranium Mill located in Converse County, Wyoming.
The sand used in sandblasting (550 pounds) has a concentration of 2% uranium oxide (U 0 )'
38 Preliminary investigation by the licensee shows that bioassay (urine) measurements taken from the two welders on March 22, 1979, were 29 and 5 micrograms uranium per liter, respectively. The bioassay results can be compared to the NRC recommen1ed control level of 130 micrograms per liter for a single intake of uranium (WASH 1251).
The licensee plans to have whole tndy counting performed for the two exposed individuals.
The licensee has issued a press release.
The State of Wyoming has been notified by Region IV.
Region IV received notification of the incident by telephone from the licensee's corporate radiation safety office in Houston, Texas at 3:15 p.m. on March 23, 1979.
Region IV plans to have an inspector at the licensee's facility on March 28, 1979.
Contact:
GHBidinger, IE x28188; LBHigginbotham, IE x28188 Transmitted H St 4.' [ Bradford Distribution:
Commissioner S. J. Chilk, SECY Chairman Hendrie Commissioner Kennedy Commissioner Ahearne C. C. Kamerer, CA Commissioner Gilinsky (For Distribution)
Transmitted: MNBB L{R P Bldg 4 /C J. G. Davis, I,E L. V. Gossick, EDO H. R. Denton, NRR Region \\d ll. 2.7 H. L. Ornstein, EDO R. C. DeYoung, NRR J. J. Fouchard, PA R. J. Mattson, NRR N. M. Haller, MPA V. Stello, NRR (MAIL)
R. G. Ryan, OSP R. S. Boyd, NRR J. J. Cummings, OIA H. K. Shapar, ELD (SS Bldg t/l2d R. Minogue, SD W. J. Dircks, NMSS 1452.542 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION
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