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NRC NEWS
U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGION I
475 Allendale Road, King of Prussia, Pa. 19406 | | CONTACT: |
Diane Screnci (610)337-5330/ e-mail: dps@nrc.gov
Neil A. Sheehan (610)337-5331/e-mail: nas@nrc.gov |
I-96-66 September 30, 1996
Contact: Diane Screnci FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NRC STAFF SENDS INSPECTOR TO INS FACILITY IN SPRINGFIELD, MA
TO LOOK INTO WEEKEND WATER SPILL
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has dispatched an inspector to the INS
nuclear laundry facility in Springfield, Massachusetts, where some 180,000 gallons of
slightly radioactively contaminated water was spilled over the weekend.
INS holds an NRC license to clean work clothes used at nuclear facilities. It also
has an industrial laundry which handles items from non-nuclear customers.
INS notified the NRC that the facility was flooded between the time workers left on
Saturday and returned yesterday morning, when a valve on a washing machine stuck open.
INS estimates that a maximum of 180,000 gallons of water flowed through the washer,
through the building, through the dock area and into the storm sewer, which empties into
the Dimmick Pond next door. INS representatives tested the water flowing into the storm
sewer and determined the levels of radioactive material were less than the allowable release
limits. INS has told the NRC that samples of the pond were below the minimal detectable
activity.
Some of the water also flowed into the underground low level waste storage facility
in the basement of the building. The floor of the laundry was also under water. INS has
taken samples throughout the facility as each area was cleaned. According to INS, all of
those samples were below the detectable activity level.
The NRC inspector will take independent samples and monitor the licensee's
activities.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts was notified and has sent a representative to
the site.
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