Thursday, October 21, 1999
Energy Dept. faults contractors for not telling of Paducah risks
BY JOBY WARRICK
The Washington Post
WASHINGTON — The Energy Department, ending the first phase of its investigation of the troubled Paducah, Ky., uranium plant, faulted contractors Wednesday for failing to warn the public about radioactive hazards, including “relatively high” levels of plutonium in ditches outside the plant.
Investigators wrapping up a six-week probe of the plant also pointed to the “theoretical” risk of an accidental nuclear chain reaction at the plant, citing large quantities of “uncharacterized” radio active material stored there.
The problems were among dozens listed in a final report on environmental conditions at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, one of two U.S.-owned facilities that produce enriched uranium.
The report gives the plant's managers 30 days to come up with a plan for addressing problems ranging from lax safeguards to radioactive seepage from a half-mile-long pile of contaminated scrap metal.
“We have concerns about exposure, but we don't think any of them reach the level of imminent danger,” said Da vid Michaels, assistant energy secretary for environment, safety and health.
Mr. Michaels promised quick action to eliminate any risk of a “criticality” — an inadvertent nuclear reaction similar to last month's serious accident at the Tokaimura uranium plant in Japan. Agency officials said the chances were remote.
Wednesday's report contained the first results from independent laboratory tests that confirmed the presence of plutonium and other radioactive metals in ground water as well as in ditches and streams outside the plant.
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