PNO-I-91-074, on 911030,radioactive Matl Spill Involved Tritium H-3.Licensee Continues to Perform Bioassays (Urinalysis) of Potentially Exposed Individuals.Currently Evaluating Results of bioassays.H-3 Intake Was Minimal
| ML20203C652 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 03014526 |
| Issue date: | 10/31/1991 |
| From: | Courtomanche S, Shanbaky M NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-I-91-074, PNO-I-91-74, NUDOCS 9712150379 | |
| Download: ML20203C652 (1) | |
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3 Date:
October 31, 1991 PRELIMINARY NOT!r!cAttoN OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL ocCURRWCE -P This preliminary notificatmon constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSS!DLE safety or public interest significance.
The information is and in basically initially received without verification or avaluation.
all that. in known by the 84gion I staff on this date.
om Licensee Eme,rgensy Clasasification Veteran a Administration M/ dical Contar Notification of IJnusual Event Fac111tp Alert University and Woodland Ave nue Site Area Emergency Philadelphia,} Pennsylvania 19104
_ General Emergency fC,bh
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~~T Not Applicable DN 030-14526 IL7'31G M M nAD10 ACTIVE SP!LL AT THE VA RESEARCH BUILDING IN PHILADELPHIA subjecti the Licensee's Radiation Safety Officer on october 30, 1991 at 2 pmffice of a radioactive material spill involving informed the t?RC Region I oppeared to have occurred in one of the research The spill t Tritium (H-3).
The second floor of the VA Research Building.
laboratories on the licensee reported that the' spill caused the spread of contamination in several areas on the first through fourth floors of the five floors of the The research bu 1 ding is connected to the clinical building of building.
the VA Hospital by means o walkways and a tunnel.
Region ! 1mmediately liconeam's emergency dispatched a team of health physicists to monitor the c response.
licensee's initial evajuation of areas contaminated with H-3 indiepted The that the presence of removsble H-3 was confined to neveral laboratory arnau Upon identification of elevated H-3 and possibly adjacent hallways.
the license, restricted access to the contaminated laboratories and levels.
curtailed personnel access to the research building.
of potentially The 11cannee continues to Norform bionssays (urinalysis) expumed individuals.
The licensee is currently evaluating the results of these bioansays.
The licensee initial assessment indicated the contamination did not spread to the clinical building of the facility and personnel H-3 intake was minimal.
NRC Health Physicists performed independent area surveys throughout the The research building.
The aanples taken are still being measured and evaluated.
On oct.ober 31, 1991. the licensee will be decontaminating all potentially The NRC onsite Health Physicists will contaminated areas in the building.
cont.inua to monitor the 114ensee decontamination activities and assessment Th6 NPC site team reported that, although the H-3 of personnel expenure.
contamination van wade spread, contamination levele were low and posed a minimal potential radiological hazard.
1 Media interest is expected) since the licenses has issued a press release.
TheCommonwealthofPennsykvaniaandtheCityofPhiladelphiaofficials O were notified.
M W,.,l; if RL j 7 \\W' CONTACTS
- 3. Courtemanche '
'... shanbaky 215 337 5075 215-337-5209 g21 79 911031 PNO-I-91-074 PDR
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