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-1- Date: May 24, 1995

EBR IMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCI PH0-III-95-26 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 the Region III staff on this date.

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Facility Licensee Emeraency Classification | Allied-Signal, Inc. General Emergency i Metropolis, Illinois Site Area Emergency : Alert ' License No. SUB-526 Unusual Event - X Not Applicable

Subject: CHEMICAL RELEASE FROM FACILITY-

' On May 24, 1995, the licensee tified Region III that a leak of approximately 2,000 pounds of iodine pentafluoride nad occurred at its Metropolis Works facility. The leak occurred in a chemical production building which is not associated with NRC activities. The release started at approximately 9:30 a.m. (CST) and was terminated approximately one hour later. The leak occurred from or near a chemical reaction vessel in the iodine pentafluoride area in the fluorine products building. Iodine pentafluoride is a corrosive, fuming liquid used in the manufacture of a commercially available fabric protector. When released, it reacts with moisture in the air to form hydrogen fluoride gas and iodic acid crystals. + The licensee activated its Plant Emergency Plan for responding to chemical releases. The chemical plume traveled about 50 feet above ground in a northward direction toward Route 45, a highway directly outside the plant. The licensee notified the Sheriff's Department, and access to the road in front of the plant was restricted. The licensee sampled offsite for hydrofluoric acid after the release was terminated and none was detected. A guard was also dispatched to approximately 15 near residences to advise residents to take shelter or evacuate. Six workers who were onsite at the time of the release were provided first aid treatment for exposure to hydrofluoric acid, but had no significant injuries. Two local residents reported to a nearby hospital with minor irritations, but the physicians - including a plant physician - were not able to attribute any injury to hydrofluoric acid exposure. One woman is being kept overnight because of stress-related conditions apparently unrelated to chemical exposure. The release occurred in the licensee's fluoride products building and did not affect operations in buildings associated with the NRC-licensed portion of the plant which converts uranium ore concentrates into uranium hexafluoride. ,

' The NRC Region III (Chicago) will monitor the situation and will review the circumstances of the event. - The State of Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the NRC Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards have been notified. The information in this preliminary notification has been reviewed with licensee management. 9506060019 950524 There has been local media interest. g-Iy95-026PDR NRC Region III was notified of the release at 10:05 a.m. on May 24, 1995. The information is current as of 4:00 p.m. (CDT) May 24, 1995.

CONTAC dh George M. Franc6/[ _ b6 Gary Shear 708/829-9828 708/ 9-9876 05G039 _ - .