Tagged: Nuclear Regulatory Commission

The Honeywell Uranium Processing Facility is allowing some plant workers to leave while law enforcement and plant management continue investigating a report of an explosive device in the plant.

Honeywell went on lockdown after receiving the report this afternoon. Honeywell spokesman Peter Dalpe said law enforcement and members of the state bomb squad are on scene. 

Honeywell officials say they could restart production at the Metropolis, Illinois nuclear fuel refinery next June. The plant shut down in July this year after a Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspection found a need for safety upgrades. The move laid off 212 union workers. Honeywell spokesman John McCarthy says a staff of a little over a hundred remains at the facility. Plant officials hope to begin recalling workers for retraining and certification in April.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission plans talks next week in Atlanta with executives from Honeywell’s Metropolis, Ill., plant. The Paducah Sun reports they’ll meet Monday to discuss apparent violations associated with the company’s alleged failure to identify the kinds of accidents significant earthquakes or tornadoes might cause. NRC Public Affairs Officer Roger Hannah says the agency is especially concerned about the potential release of large amounts of uranium hexafluoride.   The meeting will review information presented by the plant.

United Steelworkers officials who represent the hourly workers at the Honeywell nuclear facility in Metropolis say they were not notified beforehand of the company’s decision to not re-open the plant to perform upgrades. 

The Honeywell nuclear facility in Metropolis will not restart production until they reach an agreement on facility upgrades with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.