PNO-III-98-036, on 980720,small Release of UF6 Occurred from Vacuum Pump in First Floor of Feeds Bldg.Licensee Declared Alert & Is Investigating the Cause of Release
| ML20199F182 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 07/21/1998 |
| From: | Kniceley J, Reidinger T NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-III-98-036, PNO-III-98-36, NUDOCS 9901210231 | |
| Download: ML20199F182 (1) | |
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- d' July 21, 1998 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO-III-98-036 This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The inforeation is as initially received without verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by Region III staff (Lisle, Illinois) on this date.
Facility Licensee Emergency Classification ALLIED-SIGNAL, INC. Notification of Unusual Event Allied-Signal, Inc. X Alert Metropolis, Illinois Site Area Emergency License No: sub-256 General Emergency Not Applicable
Subject:
RELEASE OF URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE ON PLANT SITE At 5: 15 p.m. (CT), on July 20, 1998, a small release of uranium hexafluoride (UF6) occurred from a vacuum pump in the first floor of the feeds building. The release lasted about ten minutes and the licensee estimates a total of 50 grams of UF6 was released. There were no injuries and the licensee reported that no UF6 was released from the plant site.
The licensee converts yellowcake (processed uranium ore) into uranium hexafluoride for further processing at an enrichment facility.
At 5:30 p.m. the licensee declared an alert, which is the lowest category in its emergency response plan. Appropriate governmental agencies were notified. At 6:30 p.m., the licensee terminated the alert declaration.
The licensee is investigating the cause of the release. The NRC Region III (Chicago) has dispatched the resident inspector from the nearby Paducah gaseous diffusion plant to review the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The State of Illinois has been notified. The information in this preliminary notification has been reviewed with licensee management.
The licensee notified the NRC Operations Center of this incident at 6:42 p.m. (CT) on July 20, 1998. This information is current as of 10:00 a.m.
on July 21, 1998.
Contact:
JAMES KNICELY TIMOTHY REIDINGER (630)B29-9874 (630)829-9816 9901210231 980721 PDR I&E PNO-III-98-036 PDR _
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