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	NRC NEWS U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGION III 801 Warrenville Road, Lisle IL 60532
	CONTACT:	Jan Strasma (630) 829-9663/e-mail: rjs2@nrc.gov
		Angela Greenman (630) 829-9662/e-mail: opa3@nrc.gov

NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT: RIII-98-61

December 30, 1998

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will hold a public meeting on January 13 on the request by Shelwell Services, Inc., to terminate its NRC license. The Shelwell facility is located at 645 East Main Street, Hebron, Ohio.

The meeting will start at 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, 733 Hebron Road, in Heath, Ohio.

The NRC staff will discuss the license termination process, present an update on its reviews and inspections of the company, receive comments from members of the public, and respond to questions.

Shelwell is licensed by the NRC to use radioactive material in well-logging and tracer studies of oil and gas wells. In January of this year, the company asked the NRC to terminate its license, as it will no longer be using radioactive material in its business.

NRC inspectors in November conducted radiological surveys at Shelwell along with an NRC contractor, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education. The special inspection was observed by a representative from the Ohio Department of Health. Results from the inspection will be discussed at the meeting.

A small volume of contaminated soil and nine sealed radiation sources stored at the facility will need to be removed prior to NRC terminating the company's license. After removal of the waste and sources, NRC inspectors will survey the storage building to ensure that the site is suitable for unrestricted use.

In 1983, Shelwell accidentally drilled into a cesium-137 sealed source which caused the spread of radioactive contamination. The company substantially decontaminated the site following the event and recently completed additional cleanup activities.

NRC is currently preparing an environmental assessment of Shelwell's license termination request and the final findings will be published in a Federal Register notice prior to a decision by the NRC staff.

There is an opportunity for a public hearing regarding the company's license termination plans. A request for a hearing up to January 14 may be filed with the NRC Office of the Secretary by mail or telegram addressed to Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555-0001. Attention: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff.