At 0245
CST, a small release of
UF6 occurred lasting approximately 45 minutes. At 0300
CST the licensee declared a Site Area Emergency. The release has been terminated at the time of the notification. All personnel were evacuated within a 1 mile radius. At the time of notification, the evacuated personnel were allowed to return to their homes. The local sheriff has responded to the scene. NRC HQ and Region 2 NRC personnel are responding and a NRC Inspector is in transit to the site. The NRC entered Monitoring phase of Normal Mode at 0515 EST. The Acting NRC Chairman (Commissioner Merrifield) has been informed. There is no indication at this time of any malevolent activity.
Initial reports indicated that there were no injuries at the plant, but three individuals offsite were taken to the hospital. Two have been released, and the third is being evaluated further prior to release. About 25 people offsite were temporarily evacuated and some 75 persons remained sheltered for a time in their homes. The licensee is evaluating the amount of material released.
Licensee notified State of Illinois. NRC Headquarters also notified DHS-DOE (Mike Wyatt)
The licensee terminated the Site Area Emergency at 0650 CST on 12/22/03. The release is over, the plant is stable and the licensee is in the recovery mode. The NRC exited the Monitoring Phase of the Normal Mode for this event at 1230 ET.
Notified DIRO (S. Frant),
NMSS EO (F. Brown), R2DO (T. Decker), USDA (L. Jensen),
HHS (J. Little),
EPA (Rawls),
DHS (Frost),
FEMA (D. Barden) regarding exiting Monitoring Phase of the Normal Mode.