PNO-I-98-037, on 980807,thorium Bearing Waste at Hazardous Waste Site Occurred.Pa Dept of Environ Protection Stated, They Have Been in Contact W/Hazardous Waste Facility Concerning Matl for About Three Wks.Pa Has Been Notified
| ML20236X948 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 08/07/1998 |
| From: | Brown K, Raymond Gibson NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-I-98-037, PNO-I-98-37, NUDOCS 9808110045 | |
| Download: ML20236X948 (2) | |
'
i -
l DCS No. 99990001980807 Date:. August 7, 1998 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PN1-98-037 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: Licensee Emergency Classification:
Reading Alloy. Inc.
Reading Alloy. Inc. Notification of Unusual Event Robesonia.-Pennsylvania Alert Site Area Emergency General Emergency x Not Applicable Docket No.: 99990001 License No.: General Event.No.: N/A
' Event Location Code: N/A
SUBJECT:
THORIUM BEARING WASTE AT HAZARDOUS WASTE SITE On Friday. August 7.1998 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) 1 informed NRC Region I office that Philips Services. Republic Division.in Hatfield. PA. t had received hazardous waste in forty-seven 35 gallon drums and a B-25 box from one of its customers. Reading Alloy, Inc., in Robesonia. PA. The material in these drums contained high levels of thorium. PADEP stated that they have been in contact with the !
hazardous waste facility concerning this mater.ial for about three weeks.
In a telephone conversation between Matt Smith Facility Manager for Philips Services
' and NRC Region I. Mr Smith stated that the waste was delivered on about July 15, 1998 for characterization and waste processing. He said when the waste was sampled, it L indicated a high level of thorium. The waste was then analyzed'by Safety and Health
- personnel who found one-of the drums to contain 651 picocuries per gram. The material in the B-25 box contained 20 picocuries per gram. Mr. Smith stated that the drums contained soil type material, zirconium dust, white chips and gravel type material. He i
said that he notified PADEP on about July 20. 1998 and PADEP sent its inspector to the facility that day. The material is currently being controlled at the facility.
NRC Region I contacted Brian Higgens.. Vice President of Reading Alloy. Inc. and he
. stated that the material in the drums consists of old raw ores containing natural uranium / thorium in zirconium oxide ore (Baddeleyite), which he had decided were not needed during a house cleaning of the plant. He said that the ore is hazardous because of chromium that is introduced when the ore is used in the production of other metal l
alloys. Mr. Higgens stated that the natural uranium / thorium ore received at their l plant'are within the 15 pounds limits for a general license under 10 CFR 40.22(a).
l This general license allows any entity to use and transfer up to this amount of material for research, development, educational, commercial, or operational purposes.
Region I sent an inspector to Readin Alloy Inc. . to confirm that the material does meet the requirements for the genera license.
g81g45980807 PNO~I-98-037 PDR em d l
i . . The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has been notified. Region I Office of Public Affairs
- 15 prepared to respond to media inquiries.
This information is current as of 3:30 p.m. on August 7,1998.
Contact:
R. Gibson, Jr. K. Brown (610) 337-5071 (610) 337-5048 i I
DISTRIBUTION:
OWFN TWFN LST Mail: DOT:Trans only**
Chairman Jackson AE00 PDR Comm. Dicus IRM
)
Comm. Diaz ACRS 1 Comm. McGaffigan Jr. j OIP OCA NMSS OGC OIG INPO**
ED0 OE OSP j NRR SECY Regional Offices X RI Resident Office Licensee:
I (Reactor Licensees) a General 11st for sending PNs by FAX Region I Form 83 l (Rev. July 14. 1997)
I 1
l L.