PNO-III-99-018, on 990408,failure of Transfer at Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant Caused 9,500 Gallons of Oil to Leak Into Onsite Drainage Pond.Pond Is Designed to Prevent Matl from Entering Offsite Waterways.Nrc Notified of Event

PNO-III-99-018:on 990408,failure of Transfer at Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant Caused 9,500 Gallons of Oil to Leak Into Onsite Drainage Pond.Pond Is Designed to Prevent Matl from Entering Offsite Waterways.Nrc Notified of Event

ML20205K481
Person / Time
Site:	Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant
Issue date:	04/08/1999
From:	Hiland P, Kniceley J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:
References
PNO-III-99-018, PNO-III-99-18, NUDOCS 9904130240
Download: ML20205K481 (2)

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. April 8, 1999 l PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO-III-99-018 This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE sbfety 'or public interest significance. The information is as initially received without verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is

! known by Region III staff (Lisle. Illinois) on this date.

Facility Licensee Emergency Classification PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT Notification of Unusual Event Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant X Alert Piketon 0hio Site Area Emergency l Dockets: 07070002 General Emergency Not Applicable

Subject:

OIL SPILL CAUSED BY TRANSFORMER FAILURE At approximately 4:30 a.m. (CDT) on April 8.1999, failure of a transformer at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion plant caused 9.500 gallons of oil to leak into an onsite drainage pond. The pond is designed to prevent material from entering offsite waterways.

As a result of environmental concerns, U.S. Enrichment Cor) oration (USEC) l declared an Alert at 6:10 a.m. (CDT), the lowest level in JSEC's emergency classification.

l The transformer failure affected two electrical buses. such that power was lost to seven of the largest cascade cells and the water treatment facility. The cells, as designed, automatically shut down. The plant continued to operate, l l

At 8:10 a.m. (CDT)'USEC terminated the emergency declaration as a result of successfully containing the oil spill to the plant site. There were no injuries and no fire as a result of the event.

i l l

USEC notified the two NRC resident inspectors at 5:00 a.m. (CDT). The i inspctors immediately responded to the site and were present at the site l l when USEC made the Alert declaration.

! USEC issued a press release and made notifications to local, state and j federal agencies as required under the emergency declaration.

At this time, the cause of the transformer failure is unknown.

The plant uses a gaseous diffusion process to enrich uranium hexaflouride gas in the uranium-235 isotope, so that the material can be used as nuclear fuel in civilian nuclear power plants.

The State of Ohio Emergency Management Agency dispatched an inspector to the plant site.

The State of Ohio and the NRC Office of Nuclear Materials Safety and Safeguards have been notified. The information in this preliminary notification has been reviewed with USEC management.

The NRC was notified of this event at 5:00 a.m. (CDT) on April 8.1999. A N

9904130240 990408 ~

PDR I4 E k(k PNO..-II.I 99-018 PDR ".

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I s PNO-III-99-018 .

This information is current as of 10:00 a.m. (CDT).

Contact:

PAT HILAND JIM KNICELEY (630)829-9603 (630)829-9874 l

l I