ML20151U627

PNO-77-048:on 770331 Train Wrecked Near Rockingham,North Carolina.Wreck Involved 29 Cars,Two of Which Were Flatbed Cars Carrying 4 UF6 Cylinders.Teams from Erda & Fort Bragg Sent to Wreck Scene.Region II Inspector Dispatched to Scene

ML20151U627
Person / Time
Issue date:	03/31/1977
From:	Gower G, Roy G, Thompson D NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE)
To:
References
PNO-77-048, PNO-77-48, NUDOCS 9809110085
Download: ML20151U627 (1)

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_ PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION

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Ha. A 31., 1977 y[bfh j

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-v PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE.-PNO-77-48

..g This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of an event of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The.informatioq a

presented is as initially received without verification or evaluation and is basically all that is known by IE staff on this date.

i Licensee: Transnuclear - Import License 1079

Subject:

TRAIN WRECK INVOLVING SHIPMENT OF URANIUM-HEXAFLUORIDE (UF )

6 ERDA-EOC reportied to IE Headquarters today that they had been informed of a train wreck near Rockingham, N. C. at 0845 this morning. The wreck involved the derailment of 29 cars, i.vo of which.are flatbed cars o, n ca. _

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carrying a total of 4 cylinders of UF. Additional information from 6

our Region II office in -Atlanta indicates 'thati'the UF6 was being shipped " " ~ - ~ "

from its port of entry,- Portsmouth, VA to -Padacah,-Kentucky by Trans nuclear. The UF6 is reported to be unenriched (natural U) and is owned by COMURHEX, of France.

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Response information indicates that ERDA, ' Savannah River Plant (SRP),

has sent a 4 man team to the wreck site and ERDA-Cak Ridge has sent a l

3 man team of experts to the site by plane. A Radiation Health Team j-from Ft. Bragg is reported to be at the wreck scene.

It is reported that a Transnuclear representative at the scene has stated

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that there has~not been any leakage of UFg from any of the cylinders.

The intact'cylind~rs_do.not represent a threat ro health and safety,

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i Should a cylinder be breeched, inhalation of its contents represents a ei hazard both from a radiological and a chemical toxicity standpoint.

Of these hazards, chemical toxicity is greater.

'I A Region II inspector has been dispatched to Rockingham by charter air-l craft. The State of North Carolina has been informed and has also

-i.. _. m --.- -dispatched representatives to the scene. DOT is aware of the wreck and is keeping informed of developments.

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It is reported that both ERDA-OR and SRP have made news releases of 1

this event.

It is expected that there will be both local and national j

-news coverage of this wreck because of the involvement of UF ' All 6

i press. inquiries are being referred to ERDA, PA as per agreement

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between ERDA..and'NRC Public Affairs Offices.

Contact:

GCGower, IE x27261 GWRoy, IE x27261 DThomp' son, IE x2754'1 Distribution:

Transmitted 11 St.3.'O80 Chairman Rowden C. C. Kammerer, CA

~G. F. Murphy, JCAE Commissioner Gilinsky S. J. Chilk, SECY H. H. Whiteside,'SCNR g/

H. R. Myers, HCEE

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Transmitted:

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L.'V..Cossick, EDO B. C. Ruscha, NRR K. R. Chapman, NMSS S. H. Hanauer, EDO R. K. Shapar, ELD blU J. - A. Harris, PA W. G. Mcdonald; MIPC Luge. ' (maill ;

E. Volgenau IE R. G. Ryan, OSP T. J. McTiernan, OIA Region ff,, f//~'r ;

d 9809110085 770331 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION PDR I&E

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