PNO-IV-97-064, on 971103,licensee Experienced Fire in Hot Cell,Undergoing Decommissioning.Elephant Trunk Burned,Caused Substantial Smoke & Resulted in Evacuation of Hot Cell Facility.Licensee Currently Analyzing Air Samples

PNO-IV-97-064:on 971103,licensee Experienced Fire in Hot Cell,Undergoing Decommissioning.Elephant Trunk Burned,Caused Substantial Smoke & Resulted in Evacuation of Hot Cell Facility.Licensee Currently Analyzing Air Samples

ML20212F522
Person / Time
Site:	07000734
Issue date:	11/04/1997
From:	Scarano R, Wenslawski F NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
To:
References
PNO-IV-97-064, PNO-IV-97-64, NUDOCS 9711040320
Download: ML20212F522 (1)

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. 1 Novemb:r 4,1997

.- fMELIMINARY.. NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO IV 97 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 Region IV staff in Arlington, Texas on this dets.

Facility Licensee Emeroency Classification General Atomics Notification of Unusual Event Ge.1eral Atomics Alert San Diego, California Site Area Emergency Dockets: 07000734 License No: FNM 696 General Emergency X Not Applicable

Subject:

FIRE IN HOT CELL UNDERGOING DECOMMISSIONING At approximately 11:30 a.m. (PST) on November 3,1997, the licensee experienced a fire in a bot cell that is undergoing decommissioning. The f acility has been substantially decontaminated and the licensee was in the process of using a cutting torch to cut the steelliner for re noval. Hot slag from the cutting operation apparently ignited an " elephant trunk" exhaust duct that was being used to exhaust fumes. The elephant trunk burned, caused substantial smoke, and resulted in an evacuation of the hot cell f acility. An individual assigned as a firewatch extinguished the fire and was subsequently taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. A particle of contamination (300,000 dpm) was identified in the individual's hair and removed prior to his being transported to the hospital. Nasal smears were negative. No other personnel contamination occurred. The offsite fire department responded to the fire, but the fire was extinguished prior to their arrival and firemen did not enter the facility. The licensee is currently analyzing air samples, including a stack sample. The ventilation HEPA pre-filters were reported to have a high differential pressure, and probably clogged, but the main HEPA filter bank was still operational.

The licenseo s hot ce'l f acility is licensed by the State of California for byproduct material and by the NRC for special nuclear material (SNM). The facility has been undergoing decontamination and decommissioning for about two years and essentially all SNM has been removed from the facility and the remaining residual contaminants are primarily

- byproduct materials of low concentrations.

Region IV received notification of this event at 1:00 p.m. from an NRC inspector who was onsite to begin a routine inspection.

The state of California has been informed.

The licensee issued a press release af ter receiving several information requests from the media.

This information has been discussed with the licensee and is current as of 2:45 p.m. (PST) on November 3,1997.

Contact:

Fiank A.Wenslawski Ross A. Scarano ,,_,

-(5.10)975 0219- (817)860'-8106 -

W ofg= 97t:04_ _

6'i PNO-IV-97-064 PDR OklIt;