PNO-IV-99-046, on 991020,State of Wa Notified NRC Operations Ctr by e-mail of Transportation Event Involving Shipment of Poly Liners Originally Used to Contain Condensate Resin from Nuclear Power Plants.Resin Hold Fission & Activation
| ML20217M225 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/22/1999 |
| From: | Mclean L NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-IV-99-046, NUDOCS 9910270171 | |
| Download: ML20217M225 (2) | |
- 1 October 22,1999
. PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO-IV-99-046 I l
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 ie basically all that is known by Region IV staff in Arlington, Texas on this date.
Facility Licensee Emeroency
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Classification 4 Allied Technology Group Notification of Unusual Event WA Division Of Radiation Protection Alert Richmond, Washington Site Area Emergency General Emergency X Not Applicable
Subject:
CONTAMINATED SHIPMENT (STATE OF WASHINGTON)
On October 20,1999, the State of Washington notified the NRC Operations Center by e-mail of a transportation event involving a shipment of poly liners originally used to contain condensate resin from nuclear power plants. The resins hold mixed fission and activation productr. The shipment of liners came from Allied Technology Group (ATG), a Tennessee licensee located in Oak Ridge. The shipment left the Tennessee facility on October 13, )
1999, and was received at an ATG facility in Richland, Washington, on October 18,1999.
On October 20,1999, the Richland ATG facility notified the Washington Department of Health that a shipment received at ATG was contaminated with loose radioactive material.
Condensate resin was observed on the outside of four of seven poly liners in the shipment 1 and on the bed of the vehicle. The contamination was identified during the initial offloading l of the liners on October 19,1999. ATG performed surveys of the trailer bed, and the l highest contamination level found on the trailer bed was 80,000 disintegrations per minute l per 100 square centimeters. l l
A state inspector was dispatched to the ATG facility on October 20,1999. On October 21, 1999, ATG completed offloading the poly liners Inspection of the contaminated liner found that there was additional contamination in the form of bright orange condensate resin. A liner package consists of the large. poly liner, a lid, and a metal ring structure that is used to lift the liner from the shipping cask. Once the spent resin is pumped from the liner at the Oak Ridge ATG facility, the liners are prepared for shipment to the Richland ATG facility where they are either refurbished or disposed. Shipment preparation includes the use of a l foam sealant around the poly liner, the lid, and the lifting mechanism. The liners are loaded on a flat bed truck, covered by a tarp, and transported to the Richland ATG facility.
After final unloading of the liners, ATG found additional radioactive material around the lid and lifting ring on only one of the seven liners received. It was determined that resin beads from this one liner migrated and contaminated two other liners during the transport. The licensee removed approximately 1.5 liters of the condensate resin from under the liner lid of liner No.4. Calculations by the licensee indicated that the total volume possible in the space between the lid ring and.the liner is 8 liters.
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Visual inspection of the vehicle indicated potential dispersal of contamination while in transiti therefore, the State requested the assistance of the Department of Energy's (DOE)
Radiological Assessment Program to conduct limited mobile surveys of the roads leading into the ATG facility. Preliminary results of the DOE road surveys conducted on October 21, 1999, indicated no detectable. contamination.
The State of Tennessee dispatched an inspector to the ATG facility in Oak Ridge and the
. trucking company's depot on October 21,1999. Surveys at the depot showed no contamination. Likewise, areas where the shipment was loaded at ATG were free of contamination. Additional inspection activities were ongoing.
The State of Washington has been keeping NRC informed of updated information through
. regular conference calls. In addition, a conference call was conducted on October 21,1999, which included the NRC and the seven states potentially affected by the event and other
- regional offices. Also, on October 21,1999, Region IV conducted a briefing for the Commissioners' Technical Assistants.
~
A second briefing was conducted on October 22, with participation of the seven affected states, and several NRC offices. The states discussed DOE plans for conducting surveys
. and sought additional information regarding surveys provided by DOE.
The State of Washington issued a press release on October 21,1999.
Region IV received the initial notification of this occurrence by e-mail from the State of Washington and the.NRC Operations Center at 4:45 p.m. (CDT) on October 20,1999.
Region IV has informed EDO, NMSS, OSP, OPA, Ril, and Rill. This information has been
- discussed with the State of Washington and is current as of 12
- 30 p.m. (CDT) October 22,
'1999.
Co' ntact: L. McLean (817)860-8116 L. Howell - (817)860-8213 l