METROPOLIS, Ill. (AP) – The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is conducting a special inspection at a southern Illinois uranium-conversion plant after a weekend leak.
The (Carbondale) Southern Illinoisan reports that the uranium hexafluoride leak was discovered Saturday night at the Honeywell plant in Metropolis, about 5 miles northwest of Paducah, Kentucky.
Uranium hexafluoride is a gas used to produce enriched uranium for nuclear power plants, and can be toxic when exposed to moisture in the air. Honeywell’s Metropolis plant is the only place in the U.S. that converts uranium ore to uranium hexafluoride.
NRC officials say there were no injuries and the leak didn’t leave the site. But they say the inspection will analyze the details of the incident because any release is potentially serious.
A Honeywell spokesman says the company is cooperating fully.
