ML20217A264

PNO-78-203:on 781203,approx 60 Individuals Evacuated Facility Re U Hexafluoride Gas Leak in Vaporization Area. Licensee Performing Accountability Measurements & Inspector Will Be Onsite to Review Occurence.State of Nc Informed

ML20217A264
Person / Time
Site:	07001113
Issue date:	12/05/1978
From:	Bidinger G, Higginbotham L NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE)
To:
References
PNO-78-203, NUDOCS 9804220217
Download: ML20217A264 (1)

Text

-

P n R cun as Q r am m nnni nu i ir im i im h3SMp December 5,1978 g , PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE--PNO-78-203 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 as of~ this date.

FACILITY: General Electric Company Fuel Fabrication Facility Docket'No. 70-1113 .

Wilmington, North Carolina

SUBJECT:

URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE LEAK IN THE VAPORIZATION AREA At 12:55 p.m. on December 3, approximately 60 individuals evacuated the facility because of a uranium hexafluoride (UF-6) gas leak in the vapori-zation area. Four individuals were examined by the plant physician and were released without treatment. One individual who complained af a sore throat and nausea was sent to a local 'ospital but was released without requiring treatment. Surveys of th. five individuals showed no evidence of contamination. Two other individuals who entered the area to stop the leak were treated by the plant physician for minor UF-6 burns on the legs and released. Contamination was not spread outside the building and preliminary air sampling data indicated that airborne m ,

concentrations in unrestricted areas were below MPC. The licensee ""

^ estimates that about 550 pounds of UF-6 leaked out of process equipment.

Most of the UF-6 was deposited on area and equipment surfaces in the vaporization area or collected on filters, scrubbers, and associated '

duct work. The licensee is performing accountability measurements. An IE inspector will be onsite December 5 to review this occurrence.

There has been local media. interest in this event. The licensee issued i a news release on December 4. A news release is not planned by NRC.

The State of North Carolina has been informed.

This Preliminary Notification is issued due to inedia interest and information developed since the initial licensee notificccion; no further action by IE is anticipated.

Region II (Atlanta) received initial notification of this occurrence by telephone from the licensee at 2:00 p.m. on December 3. This information is current as of 12:30 p.m. on December 5.

, gContact: GHBidinger, IE x28188 LBHigginbotham, IE x28454 0 Q.

9 Distribution: TransmittedHSt.h!k)-

to Chairm8n Hendrie Commissioner Bradford S. J. Chil k, SECY

• Commissioner Kennedy C. C. Kammerer, CA Commbsioner Ahearne C; @ Commissioner Gilinsk gj , (For Distribution) gp Transmitted: MNBB $(f P. BW Q. q J. G. Davis,2IG reto L. V. Gossick, EDO

@ 7 S. H. Hanauer, EDO H. R. Den ton, URR R. C. DeYoung, NRR Region W 1 k

,gg@J.J.Fouchard,PA o a.o. N. M. Haller, MPA R. J. Mattcon,.NRR O/

q V. Stello, URR (PAIL R. G. Ryan, OSP .....'-

O R.S. Deed,y,iR JX) Cunnings, DI A H. K. Shapar, ELD SS D1dp S 7 9 R. Minogue, SD ggb U. J. Dir t ,, NtiSS

~ - -~

- - ~

^

__= -. -

= . . . . - -

PRELIMINnRY TET .'ICf. TION