PNO-II-86-047, on 860707 10-ton Cylinder,Containing Natural U Hexafluoride in Solid Form,Fell Off Tractor Trailer When tie-down Strap Broke.No Matl Released to Atmosphere & No Obvious Damage to Cylinder Occurred

PNO-II-86-047:on 860707 10-ton Cylinder,Containing Natural U Hexafluoride in Solid Form,Fell Off Tractor Trailer When tie-down Strap Broke.No Matl Released to Atmosphere & No Obvious Damage to Cylinder Occurred

ML20207J494
Person / Time
Site:	07001201
Issue date:	07/07/1986
From:	Barr K, Mcalpine E NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II)
To:
References
PNO-II-86-047, PNO-II-86-47, NUDOCS 8607290144
Download: ML20207J494 (1)

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July 7, 1986 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO-II-86-47 This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The information is as initially received without verifi-caticn or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by the Region II staff on this date.

FACILITY: Babcock & Wilcox Company Licensee Emergency Classification:

Commercial Nuclear Fuel Plant Notification of Unusual Event Docket No. 70-1201 Alert Lynchburg, Virginia Site Area Emergency General Emergency X Not Applicable

SUBJECT:

UF6 CYLINDER FALLS OFF VEHICLE A 10-ton cylinder containing natural uranium hexafluoride in solid form fell off a tractor-trailer rig about 1 p.m. (EDT) today. B&W management and safety personnel who r:sponded reported that a survey saowed no material released to the atmosphere and no obvious damage to the cylinder.

Tha accident occurred inside the Lynchburg, Virginia, city limits about six to eight miles from the plant. The cylinder, one of two on the tractor-trailer, was being shipped from B&W to a Department of Energy enrichment facility at Paducah, Kentucky. B&W reported that tha cylinder fell off the vehicle when a tie-down strap broke. The other cylinder on the v:hicle remained in place. Lynchburg police cordoned off a 400-foot area on Lynchburg's Mayflower DrivA where the accident happened.

A R gion II inspector who was at another B&W facility also went to the scene. Other inspectors have been dispatched. B&W has reloaded the cylinder on the tractor-trailer and r: turned it to the plant. The company plans additional surveys and a thorough examination of the cylinder, and has further agreed not to resume shipment of this cylinder until the i

pr:paration for shipment has been examined by NRC inspectors.

The accident attracted both broadcast and newspaper coverage in Lynchburg. B&W, which sent a public information staffer to the scene, is responding to inquiries.

B&W informed Region II of this incident by telephone at 1:15 p.m. today.

The Coninonwealth of Virginia has been notified.

i

Contact:

E. J. McAlpine, 242-5547 K. P. Barr, 242-5612 DISTRIBUTION:

H. Street MNBB Phillips E/W Willste MAIL:

Chairman Palladino ED0 NRR IE NMSS ADM:0MB Comm. Roberts PA OIA RES DOT: Trans Only

Conin. Asselstine MPA AE0D Applicable State Comm. Bernthal ELD Comm. Zech SECY Air Rights SP INP0-[.4[

NSAC ACRS ~

-/8 h R Regions: T 30 3 h~

Licensee:

b 0607290144 e60707 PDR

[E86-047

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