ML20217A036
| ML20217A036 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/16/1978 |
| From: | Higginbotham L, Sly D NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-78-190A, NUDOCS 9804220134 | |
| Download: ML20217A036 (1) | |
Text
Pos u m a cp' L
7 Q41, q
November'16, 1978
[j) -
PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE--PNO-78-190A et2%
This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of an event of LOSSIBLE safety or public interest significance.
The information presented _is as initially received without verification or evaluation and is basically all that is known by lE staff on this date.
Facility:
Privately Owned Landfill Norton, Massachusetts
Subject:
RADI0 ACTIVE MATERIAL IN PRIVATE DUMP This supplements PNO-78-190 dated November 8,1978.
On November 9, Region I personnel met with Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Norton town officials and the owners of the land on which the landfill is located to inform them of the results of the radiation surveys conducted on October 24, 1978 and October 31-November 2,1978.
Adoitional signs i
restricting unauthorized entry to the landfill area were immediately posted by Norton town officials and included Caution-Radioactive Materials signs provided by NRC Region I.
1 j
i Preliminary analysis by Region I and DOE's Radiological and Environmental Services Laboratory indicates that the radioactivity appears to be natural and depleted processed uranium compounds of unknown composition.
Work is continuing on the initial and subsequent samples to identify the compounds d%
involved.
On November 14, Region I inspectors initiated an investigation to determine the source of radioactive material which was found in the privately owned landfill.
In an interview with the initial alleger, NRC was informed that there are 12 additional industrial dump sites within a 1-2 square' mile area which may possibly contain radioactive material.
The locations of these dump sites is being confirmed and radiation surveys will be conducted.
i There is significant news media interest regarding radioactive material in the public domain and media interest is expected to continue.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and local governments have been kept informed.
Contact:
DSly, IE.x28188 LHigginbotham, IE x28188
_ Distribution:
TransmittedHStd'09 Chairman Hendrie Commissioner Bradford S. J. Chilk, SECY Connissloner Kennedy Commissioner Ahearne C. C. Kammerer, CA
~
i Commissioner Gilinsky (For Distribution)
/
4 i
Transmitted:
MNBB d -lO P. Bldg 2. M J.G. Davis,If:/G L. V. Gossick, ED0 H. R. Denton, NRR Region.7 LI-S. H. Hanauer, EDO R. C. DeYoung, NRR J. J. Fouchard, PA R. J. Mattson, NRR S
N. M. Haller, MPA V. Stello, NRR (MAIL) l R. G. Ryan, OSP H. K. Shapar, ELD. 1. 500 R. S. Boyd, NRR, J. J. Cummings, 0IA SS Bldg 4.j. I b R. Minogue, SD oj l:
C. V. Smith, NMSS g42g34781116 PRELIMlHARY NOTIFICATION gg PNO-78-190A PDR