PNO-III-99-005, on 990202,truck with Empty UF6 Cylinders Involved in Traffic Accident.Local Fire & Police Personnel Responded Immediately to Scene of Accident.Driver of tractor-trailer Received Minor Injuries

PNO-III-99-005:on 990202,truck with Empty UF6 Cylinders Involved in Traffic Accident.Local Fire & Police Personnel Responded Immediately to Scene of Accident.Driver of tractor-trailer Received Minor Injuries

ML20206S371
Person / Time
Site:	Framatome ANP Richland
Issue date:	02/03/1999
From:	Hiland P, Jeffery Lynch NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:
References
PNO-III-99-005, PNO-III-99-5, NUDOCS 9902050376
Download: ML20206S371 (1)

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9 _d February 3. 1999 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO-III-99-005 This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE saf.ety 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) on this date.

Facility Licensee Emergency Classification Siemens Power Corporation Notification of Unusual Event Siemens Power Corporation Alert Richland. Washington Site Area Emergency License No: SNM-1227 General Emergency X Not Applicable

Subject:

TRUCK WITH EMPTY UF6 CYLINDERS INVOLVED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENT On February 2. 1999, at approximately 4:30 p.m. (CST) a tractor-trailer

. truck loaded with 25 empty uranium hexafluoride cylinders struck an overpass on Interstate 90/94 in Chicago. Illinois. As a result of the impact the tractor-trailer overturned, allowing seven of the cylinders to break loose from the trailer onto the interstate. Local fire and police personnel responded immediately to the scene of the accident.

The U.S. Department of Transportation and Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety (IDNS) were also called to the scene of the accident.

The cylinders are large steel cylinders (approximately 80 inches long by 30 inches wide with 0.5 inch thick steel walls) used to transport uranium hexafluoride. Uranium hexafluoride is a gas which is eariched and converted to fuel for commercial nuclear power plants The cylinders on this shipment had been emptied cleaned, and re-certified at the Siemens Power Corporation facility in Richland.

Washington. The cylinders were en route to Harvey. Illinois, for connection to the Canadian National Railroad and eventual overseas shipment to Germany.

The cylinders were all intact after the accident and precautionary measurements taken by IDNS confirmed no release of radioactive material had occurred.

The driver of the tractor-trailer received minor injuries and remained at the accident scene. A driver of a 3rivate passenger vehicle also received minor injuries, was examined at a lospital and released. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

The NRC Office of Nuclear Materials Safety and Safeguards. Office of

' State Programs. and Region IV have been notified. The information in this preliminary notification has been reviewed with IDNS.

- NRC Region III was notified of this event by the IDNS at 8:00 p.m. (CST) on February 2, 1999. This information is current as of 2:00 p.m. (CST) on February 3. 1999.

Contact:

James L. Lynch Patrick L.Hiland L

(630)829-9661 (630)829-9603 gk

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