PNO-II-81-045, on 810621,fire Occurred in Former Amax Acid Pit.Fire Believed to Be Supported by Zirconium Sponge Which May Have Been Contaminated W/Thorium.Fire Burned Out in 3 H. No Evidence of Radioactivity Found in Smoke
| ML20204F228 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 04008355 |
| Issue date: | 06/22/1981 |
| From: | Peery W, Potter J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-II-81-045, PNO-II-81-45, NUDOCS 8304290172 | |
| Download: ML20204F228 (1) | |
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(v, Lq PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION June 22, 198.1 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO-II-81-45 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 lE staff as of this date.
FACILITY: AMAX Specialty Metals Corporation Washington, West Virginia Former License SMA-1219 %gg
SUBJECT:
APPARENT ZIRCONIUM SPONGE FIRE IN PIT A guard for the L. B. Foster Company Plant located on the AMAX property, reported an underwater fire in a former AMAX acid pit following a heavy rain around 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 21. Local officials responded and the fire burned out within three hours.
The fire is believed to have been supported by zirconium sponge which may have been contaminated with thorium. The thorium at the plant is a residue from the extraction of zirconium from ore. Previous fires of this nature have not produced detectable spread of radioactivity. Surveys by local officials revealed no evidence of radio-activity in the dense black smoke. A representative of the State Health Department has been sent to the site for confirming surveys.
Neither the former licensee nor the NRC plan a press release. Region II will respond to media inquiries if they occur.
Region II (Atlanta) received hotification of this occurrence by telephone frcm R. Sandy, West Virginia Department of Natural Resources at 11:30 p.m. on June 21. This information is current as of 9:30 a.m. on June 22.
Contact:
J. Potter, RII 242-5553; W. Peery, RII 242-5536 Distribution: Transmittal H. St.
Chairman Hendrie Commissioner Ahearne S. J. Chilk, SECY Commissioner Gilinsky Commissioner Bradford C. C. Kammerer, CA ACRS (For Distribution)
Transmitted: MNBB P. Bldg. [ W IE:TAS (IE:HQ Dist.)
W. J. Dircks, EDO H. R. Denton, NRR C. Michelson, AEOD R. H. Vollmer, NRR Landow (6 min /page)
J. J. Fouchard, PA T. E. Murley, NRR J. J. Cummings, OIA N. M. Haller, MPA R. Mattson, NRR H. K. Shapar,. ELO D. Eisenhut, NRR MAIL Air Rights ~
S. H. Hanauer, NRR IE:TAS G. W. Kerr, SP Willste Document Mgt. Br. (PDR)
Applicable Resident Site J. G. Davis, NMSS S. Ebbin, NSOC Regional Offices . R. Minogue, RES Applicable Utility s/'m
' /'I .NSAC INPO l Facsimile 415/856-6621 Facsimile 404/952-6728 l Confirmation 415/855-2998 Confirmatico 404/953-5348 !
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