PNO-IV-86-002E, final Update on Ruptured U Hexafluoride Cylinder.Results of Soil & Vegetation Samples & Aerial Surveys Show No Deposition of U Beyond Immediate Property Area.Cylinder Decontaminated W/O Incident on 860110

PNO-IV-86-002E:final Update on Ruptured U Hexafluoride Cylinder.Results of Soil & Vegetation Samples & Aerial Surveys Show No Deposition of U Beyond Immediate Property Area.Cylinder Decontaminated W/O Incident on 860110

ML20137J337
Person / Time
Site:	04008027
Issue date:	01/13/1986
From:	Baird J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
To:
References
PNO-IV-86-002E, PNO-IV-86-2E, NUDOCS 8601220387
Download: ML20137J337 (2)

. . .

8f January 13, 1986 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE -- PNO-IV-86-02E 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 NRC staff on this dat-FACILITY: Sequoyah Facility Licensee Emergency Classification:

Sequoyah Fuels Corporation Notification of Unusual Event (formerly Kerr-McGee Nuclear Corp.) Alert Gore, Oklahoma Site Area Emergency License No. SUB-1010 General Emergency X Not Applicable

SUBJECT:

RUPTURED URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE CYLINDER (FINAL UPDATE)

The NRC's response team has begun to receive results of soil and vegetation samples taken from more than 100 locations in a broad area extending as far as 10 miles south of the facility (in the direction of the plume). Samples are being analyzed by the Kerr-McGee Technical Center, the state of Oklahoma Department of Health and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (on behalf of NRC). Sample results to date indicate no deposition of uranium in detectable quantities beyond property owned by the licensee.

Preliminary results of aerial radiation surveys in a 25-square-mile area confirm the absence of uranium in concentrations above background except in the immediate areas of the facility. NRC and state of Oklahoma officials continue to analyze soil and vegetation samples for uranium and fluorine content. Company medical consultants also continue to analyze the results of branium analyses done on the urine of both plant employees and members of the public.

The initial decontamination of the ruptured cylinder was completed without incident on Friday, January 10. As expected, a small amount of hydrogen fluoride vapor was released to the air during the operation of flushing residual materials from the UF6 cylinder. As a precaution, the state of Oklahoma Department of Health notified local officials prior to this activity. Other decontamination activities performed over the weekend focused on returning plant office space and the main gate area to normal conditions.

The company plans to develop a program to periodically resurvey areas that have been cleaned to ensure that contamination is not spread during cleanup operations.

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PN0-IV-86-02E With the exception of radiation specialists who will maintain coverage during the deconta:nination of the facility, the remaining members of the response team plan to complete their onsite activities on Tuesday, January 14, and depart the site that afternoon.

The team plans a final news briefing at 3 p.m. Monday in Gore and a final briefing of U.S. Representative Mike Synar's staff on Tuesday. The team prepared a letter to the president of the Gore school board describing ti.e results of radiation surveys of the Carlile School in preparation for a Monday evening meeting of the board to decide whether to move Carlile students to other. facilities. All surveys at the school confirmed that no radiological contamination was present.

This information is current as of 1 p.m. on Monday, January 13, 1986. This is the final PN on this subject.-

CONTACT: J. B. Baird (FTS: 728-8100)

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