ML20249B344
| ML20249B344 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/13/1976 |
| From: | Bryan S, Galen Smith, Thompson D NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-76-037B, PNO-76-37B, NUDOCS 9806220342 | |
| Download: ML20249B344 (2) | |
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'N March 13, 1976 QQ {.
PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE --PNO-76-37B t'
This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of pRa4 i
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 OIE staff as of 5:00 p.m. on date of this notification.
IT SHOULD BE SPECIFICALLY NOTED THAT THIS NOTIFICATION MAY CONTAIN INFORP.ATION THAT LATER MAY BE DETEPJIINED TO BE INACCURATE OR INCONSISTENT. AN OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT NOTIFICATION OF AN INCIDENT OR OCCURRENCE (BLUE SHEET) SUBSEQUENTLY WILL BE ISSUED IF WARRANTED.
Facility: Nuclear Engineering Company, Inc. (NECO), Beatty, Nevada Waste Burial Facility
Subject:
RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL REMOVED FROM LICENSEE PREMISES This information supplements information contained in PNO-76-37 dated March 11, 1976, and PNO-76-37A dated March 12, 1976.
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Alpha contamination found on a scale (14,000 cpm) has been identified as plutonium (NRC licensed material). House to house survey for alpha k e.,
l contamination is continuing. The State and NRC are continuing their l
field activities with survey assistance of ERDA contractors and EPA.
l Host of the contamination is limited to equipment and materials found at the residences of employees and former employees. Approximately
-2.0419mes of the 200 in Beatty have had contaminated articles. However,
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a por' tion of a rug in the residence of a local motel operator is con-taminated with radium (110 mrad /hr at the surface). Additional pieces i
of equipment have been identified with alpha contamination, but identifi-cation of the specific radionuclides has not been made.
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The Director of Region V (Robert Engelken) and a technical assistant will go to the Beatty site Sunday to evaluate the situation prior to their attendance at a meeting with Governor O'Callaghin which is scheduled for' Monday.
Because of the possibility of criminal involvement, the Office of Inspector and Auditor has been;kept informed in order to coordinate with the FBI.
Preliminary results from the investigation of NECO activities at the Richland site have not indicated cny removal of items from the Richland site. The investigation at the Shefficid, Illinois site has been completed.
Surveys of 16 of 19 of the amployee's homes plus interviews of these employees indicate that there has been no removal of contaminated items from that site. Local police have stated that there has been no i
prior indication of theft or pilferage fro. the Sheffield site.
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Continued March 13, 1976 Page 2 PNO-76-37B r
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The State of California has licensed a NECO waste collection station where waste is stored prior to transport to the Beatty site.
IE will initiate inspections at Chem-Nucicar, Barnwell, South Carolina, on March 15, 1976. Kentucky, New York, California, Washington, Nevada and Illinois are being kept informed of the results of our investigations and inspections. NMSS will also obtain the results of any respective l
state investigations at the NECO site at Maxey Flats, Kentucky, and the NFS site at West Valley, New York.
IE is continuing to keep EPA, ERDA apprised of the progress of the various investigations.
A plan of action for NRC has been developed to consider short and long term actions of the field and headquarters staff. A summary version of that action plan is attached.
Contact:
GHSmith, IE x 27261 SEBryan, IE x27353 DThompson, IE x27541 Distribution:
J Chairman Anders Commissioner Mason S. J. Chilk, SECY Commissioner Gilinsky Commissioner Rowden G. F. Murphy, JCAE Commissioner Kennedy C. C. Kammerer, CA L. V. Gossick, EDO J. G. Davis, OIE J. A. Harris, PA B. C. Rusche, NRR J. La Fleur, ISP T. J. McTiernan, AIA K. R. Chapman, NMSS H. K. Shapar, ELD H St i
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PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION - NOT FOR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE Y
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