PNO-III-97-078, on 970918,empty 10-ton Cylinder Used to Transport UF6 Dropped by Mechanical Cylinder Hauler.Cylinder Did Not Appear to Be Breached & No Matl Released to Environ. Root Cause Investigation Initiated

PNO-III-97-078:on 970918,empty 10-ton Cylinder Used to Transport UF6 Dropped by Mechanical Cylinder Hauler.Cylinder Did Not Appear to Be Breached & No Matl Released to Environ. Root Cause Investigation Initiated

ML20206R268
Person / Time
Site:	07007001
Issue date:	09/19/1997
From:	Hiland P, Reidinger T NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:
References
PNO-III-97-078, PNO-III-97-78, NUDOCS 9901190215
Download: ML20206R268 (1)

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September 19, 1997 <

PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO-III-97-078 ,

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 Region III staff (Lisle, Illinois) 1x1 this date.

Facility Licensee Emergency Classification PADUCAH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT Notification of Unusual Event U. S. Enrichment Corporation Alert Puducah, Kentucky Site Area Emergency General' Emergency X'Not Applicable

Subject:

EMPTY 10-TON CYLINDER DROPPED

'On September 18, 1997, at approximately 8:45 a.m. (CST), an empty 10-ton cylinder used to transport uranium hexafluoride was dropped by a mechanical cylinder hauler just south of Building C-400. Various types of cylinder haulers (front-end' loaders with hydraulically operated clamshell ~

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arms for grasping cylinders) are used onsite to transport cylinders containing either solid uranium hexafluoride or heel material (the 50

. pounds or less of uranium-bearing material remaining in a cylinder after

.it is fed into the cascade).

The resident inspectors responded to the scene and observed that the ,

linchpin which connects the clamshell arms'to the boom of the cylinder ,

hauler had sheared, causing the cylinder to drop approximately 2 feet, l 1The resident inspectors noted that the cylinder did not appear to be I breached and there were no indications that any of the heel material in the cylinder was released to the environment. The certificatee quarantined the cylinder hauler and cylinder and a root cause investigation was initiated.

Region III (Chicago) is assembling a Special Inspection Team to follow up the event and assess the generic. implications of the cylinder hauler failure.

I l The State of Kentucky will be notified. The information in this preliminary notification has been reviewed with the certificate holder.

Region III was notified of this event at 9 a.m. (CDT) on September 18, 1997. This information is current as of 1 p.m. on September 18, 1997.

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Contact:

TIM REIDINGER PAT HILAND 7 (630)829-9816 (630)829-9603 3L' i

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.9901190215 970919A 4

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