PNO-III-86-134, on 861111,contractor,installing Water Main, Encountered Buried Ore Waste.Thorium Ore Contamination Found on Shoes of Two laborers.Kerr-McGee Notified & Assisted W/ Survey of Area & Decontamination of Equipment
| ML20214F695 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/17/1986 |
| From: | Schumacher M, Shafer W NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-III-86-134, NUDOCS 8611250400 | |
| Download: ML20214F695 (1) | |
'~~PRIDMIRRY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL 0CCURRENCE--PNO-III-86-134 Date Novemb;r 17, 1986 9
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This preliminary notification constitutas EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety cr public inttrest significance. The information is as initially r:ceived withtut v;rification or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by the Region III staff on this date.
Facility: West Chicago Park District Licensee Emergency Classification:
West Chicago, IL Notification of an Unusual Event (Non-licensee) Alert Site Area Emergency General Emergency X Not Applicable Subjtct: THORIUM WASTE IN PARK AREA In the 1930s and 1940s, prior to any federal regulation, thorium ore residues were disposed of in a refuse area that is now part of c. park in West Chicago, Illinois. The source of the ere residues was a processing plant which was later acquired by Kerr-McGee Chemical Corp.,
an NRC licensee. The plant has not operated since 1972, and deconsnissioning plans are pending.
In 1976 Region III (Chicago) learned of the presence of the ore residues in an undeveloped s2ction of the park. The area containing the residues was fenced and posted. (The ore residues in the park and at other locations in West Chicago -- predating federal regulation --
are considered to be under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency.
On November 11, 1986, a contractor for the park district, installing a water main about 100 feet from the fenced area, encountered buried ore wastes during the trench excavation.
Kirr-McGee was notified of the incident by the park district, and has assisted in surveying the area and decontaminating equipment used in the excavation. Two laborers were found to have thorium ore contamination on their shoes, which were decontaminated by Kerr-McGee personnel. The worker's vehicle was not contaminated. The area has been barricaded and posted, and the work has been suspended pending further review.
In previous instances, ore residues, found in the comunity, have been excavated and removed by the licensee and the city of West Chicago in a program conducted under the jurisdiction of tha EPA and the Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety.
Region III was notified of the incident on November 14, 1986, by Kerr-McGee personnel.
R;gional personnel were dispatched to the park area to observe conditions and to perform independent surveys.
The EPA has been notified and the State of Illinois will be notified.
This information is current as of 9 a.m. (CST), November 17, 1986.
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CONTACT: M. Schumachee W. D. Sh fer FTS 388-5514 FTS 388-5656 DISTRIBUTION:
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Region III e61125040o E
861117 Rev. November 1985 h-I 134 PDR
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