ML20151U362
| ML20151U362 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/04/1977 |
| From: | Gower G, Roy G, Thompson D NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-77-038, PNO-77-38, NUDOCS 9809100365 | |
| Download: ML20151U362 (2) | |
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PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION f;' 'h March 4, 1977 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE--
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: Columbia Fuel Fabrication Plant .
Westinghouse Electric Company Columbia, South Carolina
Subject:
URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE (UF6) LEAK On Thursday, March 3, 1977, the Manager, Radiological and Environmental Services, notified Region II that a leak developed in a UF6 cylinder
" pigtail" connection allowing UF6 to escape into the cylinder steam chest. Efforts to stop the leak were hampered by problems encountered in closing the cylinder valve and cooling the cylinder.
The control area was immediately evacuated and the emergency ventilation system was initiated.
When it was determined that the leak could not be immediately were evacuated.brought under control, the mechanical and laboratory areas i Personnel wore contained breathing air equipment in ggy bringing the leak under control which took approximately 1 3/4 hours (11:10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.). . .
j In a few places in the uncontrolled areas contamination levels exceeded the licensee's internal control limit of 55 dpm/100 cm2, however none were greater than 220 dpm/100 cm2. These areas were, decontaminated.
Urine sampics have been collected from personnel involved in controlling the leak and are currently being analyzed, however, it is believed no personnel were exposed to excessive concentrations. Results of stack air samples indicate that the concentration of radioactive material released to the unrestricted area would not exceed 11.5 percent of the valve give . in 10 CFR 20. Based upon the allowed annual averaging, this release ~~
would have little impact on the total annual discharge.
The Department of Radiological Health for the State of South Carolina was notified.
Continued 9809100365 PDR I&E 770304 O j PNG-77-038 PDR /-
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Continued PNSi7-38 March 4, 1977 l
1 A press release is not planned by the licensee or NRC.
3< Re81 on II received notification of this occurrence by telephone from the Manager, Radiological and Environmental Services, Westinghouse, Columbia '
Fuel Fabrication Plant at 4:05 p.m. on March 3, 1977.
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Contact:
GCGower, IE x27261 GWRoy, IE x27261 DThompson, IE x27541 Distribution:
Chairman Rowden C. C. Kammerer, CA Cezcissioner Gilinsky G. F. Murphy, JCAE S. J. Chilk, SECY H. H. Whiteside, SCNR Commissioner Kennedy H. R. Myers, HCEE L. V. Gossick, EDO K. R. Chapman, NMSS S. H. Hanauer, EDO R. G. Ryan, OSP E. Volgenau, OIE J. A. Harris, PA B. C. Rusche, NRR H. K. Shapar, ELD i T. J. McTiernan, OIA Transmitted: PBldg 8lt/dp ; HSt3/ME,5 SS 8'76 ; Land #
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PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION O
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