PNO-III-89-058, on 890829,potential UF6 Release Through Hydrogen Fluoride Scrubber Stack Serving UF6 Conversion Process Sys.Process Closed Down,Equipment Dismantled & Cracks Found in Filters Preceeding Scrubber

PNO-III-89-058:on 890829,potential UF6 Release Through Hydrogen Fluoride Scrubber Stack Serving UF6 Conversion Process Sys.Process Closed Down,Equipment Dismantled & Cracks Found in Filters Preceeding Scrubber

ML20246M666
Person / Time
Site:	07000036
Issue date:	08/30/1989
From:	Mallett B, Sreniawski D NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:
References
PNO-III-89-058, PNO-III-89-58, NUDOCS 8909070218
Download: ML20246M666 (1)

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p PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PN0-III-89-58 Date August 30, 1989 This eliminary 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 III staff on this date.

Facility: Combustion Engineering, Inc. Licensee Emergency CE Hematite Classification:

Hematite, Missouri Unusual Event Alert Docket No. 70-0036 Site Area Emergency General Emergency

_x_Not Applicable

Subject:

POTENTIAL UF RELEASE 6

On August 29, 1989, the license <t notified Region III (Chicago) that uranium hexafluoride

-(UF6 ) may have been released through th? hydrogen fluoride (HF) scrubber stack serving the UF6 conversion process system. The scrubber is a component of the gaseous effluent cleanup system. The release was detected by a health physics technician who discovered high radiation levels (75,000 dpm/100cm2) and discoloration of limestone, a filtering agent, after it had been removed from the HF scrubber.

The licensee closed down the process, dismantled the equipment, and found cracks in the filt:rs which precede the scrubber. While the investigation into the incident is still ongoing, the licensee feels the filter damage may have permitted uranium and fluorine compounds to be released from the stack.

Lic:nsee sampling of air, water, soil and vegetation onsite have indicated no release of

. uranium offsite.

A NRC augmented inspection team (AIT) has been dispatched to the site; initial onsite review will begin on August 30, 1989, to review the incident and licensee's actions.

The State Department of Natural Resources and the State Bureau of Radiological Health were notified.

This information is current as of 3:30 p.m. on August 30, 1989.

CONTACT:

As D."J.Sr&swski eni h B. S.%ddf>

Mallett FTS 388-5611 FTS 368-5612 DISTRIBUTION:

HEADQUARTERS OFFICES Ch31cman C6rr (INRC1718/CARRPN) NMSS (lNRC0506 &

Comm. Roberts (INRC1718/ WRIGHT) INRC0304/NRRPN)  ;

Comm. Rogers (INRC1718/VANCISE) GPA: SLIP (INRC0304/SLIPN)

Comm. Curtiss (INRC1718/CURTISPN) GPA:PA (1NRC02/0PAPN)

ED0 (INRC1718/ED0PN) AE0D (NRCRM/AE0DPN) 2 GPA:CA INRC1718/0CAPN) *ASLAP (NRCRMP/ASLAPDW) g L#g Gen. Counsel INRC1516/0GCPN) *0lG (NRCRMP/0IGDW) V NRR INRC1112/NRRPN) *Inv. (NRCRMP/01DW) o Enforcement (INRC0708/0EPN) Research (NRCRES/RESPN) {

REGIONS MAIL T0: FAX T0:

R:gion I NRCRI/RIPN) DCS (Orig.) INPO f R:gion II NRCRII/RIIPN) DDT (Trans. NSAC Regfo691H RRCRIII/RIIIPN) Only) LIC R:gion IV NRCRIV/RIVPN) NRC OPS CTR Y . g Region V (NRCRV/RVPN) PDR (8/634-3343) @ W /

OD: notes a Displaywriter/PC not an IBM 5520 Terminal. .

8909070218 890830 l

-2 89-_05A PDC _ _ . _ _ _ _ ._ }ev. }7/20/89 ________