PNO-I-88-028, on 880309,contaminated Individual Entering Facility Alarmed Portal Monitor.Surveys Identified Shoe & Clothing Contamination.Individual Worked W/Hot Cell Windows at Cintichem,Inc During Period 880225-0303

PNO-I-88-028:on 880309,contaminated Individual Entering Facility Alarmed Portal Monitor.Surveys Identified Shoe & Clothing Contamination.Individual Worked W/Hot Cell Windows at Cintichem,Inc During Period 880225-0303

ML20196K474
Person / Time
Site:	05000054, 07000687
Issue date:	03/11/1988
From:	Bellamy, Congel, Shanbaky NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:
References
PNO-I-88-028, PNO-I-88-28, NUDOCS 8803150333
Download: ML20196K474 (2)

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DCSlo: 50548880309

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' Date: March 11, 1988 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE--PNO-I-88-28 This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The information is as initially received without verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by the Region I staff on this date.

Facility: CINTICHEM, INC. Licensee Emergency Classification:

Tuxedo, New York Notification of Unusual Event Docket No. 50-54 Alert 70-687 Site Area Emergency General Emergency X Not Applicable

Subject:

Contaminated Individual leaving the Facility .

At about 5:00 a.m. on March 9, 1988, a contractor individual entering the West Valley Project, West Valley, New York alarmed a portal monitor. Surveys performed by West Valley Radiation Protection personnel identified shoe and clothing contamination on the individual measuring up to 20,000 counts per minute per 15cm2 . Gamma isotopic analysis of the contamination identified mixed fission products including I-131. Whole body and thyroid counts did not identify any apparent intake of radioactive materials. West Valley personnel interviews of the individual indicate he had last worked at the CINTICHEM facility, Tuxedo, New York. He was apparently involved with repair of Hot Cell windows at CINTICHEM during the period of February 25 - March 3,1988. The Hot Cell is used to process highly radioactive materials. CINTICHEM personnel indicated the individual performed a hand and foot frisk prior to leaving. Whole body frisking was not required. No indication of contamination was found by hand and foot frisking.

He lef t CINTICHEM on March 3,1988, and flew to Seattle, Washington prior to returning to New York.

NRC dist.~sions with CINTICHEM management on March 11, 1988, indicated the event is being evairated and corrective actions are being developed to preclude recurrence. NRC Region I personnel are closely monitoring the licensee's actions to ensure timely and effective corrective actions are being taken to preclude recurrence of such incidents, and will be on-site during the week of March 14, 1988. The contamination does not appear to have spread outside the controlled area because the work clothes and shoes were not worn except at the facilities. This aspect will be evaluated during the on-site review. "

This information is current as of 11:00 a.m. on March 11, 1988. The state of New York has been notified. The NRC is prepared to respond to inquiries.

CONTACT: Shanbaky Bellamy Congel 346-5258 346-5200 346-5280 O -fC

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PDR ILE  %- - (

PNO-I-88-028 DCD

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DISTRIBUTION: '

H. St. MNBB Phillips E/W' Willste Mail: ADM:DMB Chiffm$n 2ech EDO NRR NMSS D0T:Trans only Comm. Roberts PA OIA RES Comm. Bernthal OGC AE00 NRC Ops Crt Comm. Carr Comm. Rogers ACRS Air Rights INP0----

SECY SP NSAC----

CA .

PDR Regional Offices TMI Re:ident Section RI Resident Office Licensee:

(Reactor Licensees)

Region I Form 83 .

(Rev. August 1987) i i

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