Morning Report for November 16, 2005

Headquarters Daily Report

• REGION II

REGION II

Small UF6 Leak at Honeywell Uranium Conversion Facility

Licensee/Facility: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC. HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC. METROPOLIS, Illinois Dockets: 04003392 License No: SUB-526

Notification: MR Number: 2-2005-0013 Date: 11/15/2005 Call from inspector onsite

Discussion:

At approximately 10:47 a.m. (CST), on November 15, 2005, Honeywell declared a Plant Emergency (an emergency level below the Alert and Site Area classifications required by the NRC) after a small uranium hexafluoride (UF6) release occurred in the basement of the Feeds Material Building. There were no injuries to personnel or release of radioactivity to the environment. At the time of the release, personnel were performing maintenance on a valve on a flush pot line for a UF6 vaporizer. The plant had been placed in a standby condition in support of the maintenance evolution. In response to the release, maintenance personnel re-tightened the valve bonnet, which isolated the release. The licensee remained in the Plant Emergency until the bonnet was replaced and the valve successfully leak tested at 2:22 p.m. (CST). NRC inspection staff were on site and monitored the licensee's actions in response to the event. The licensee will perform a root cause investigation of the event.

Accession Numbers:

Accession No	Accession Date
ML053200530	11/15/2005

Contacts:

Name	Office Abbrev	Phone No	E-Mail
PELCHAT, JOHN M	R2	(404) 562-4729	JMP2@nrc.gov