[NukeNet] Fissile Uranium Truck Overturns on Major Highway
Mike Ewall
catalyst at actionpa.org
Sat Dec 23 10:59:44 CST 2006
A truck overturned Thursday evening on Interstate 95 in North
Carolina. It was carrying 6,600 pounds of uranium powder, described
as "packaged fissile" in a few media reports, but also described
(universally in the mass media) as "low-grade uranium." The uranium
was being transported by Portsmouth Marine Terminal from Portsmouth,
Va., to Global Nuclear Fuels in Wilmington, NC -- where nuclear
reactor fuel is made. According to news reports, no radiation was released.
Bloggers have made an issue out of how this is being censored in the
media, how fissile material is not "low-grade," how NRC should have
stepped in right away instead of letting the North Carolina state
environmental agency handle it as an "agreement state." They've also
claimed that it's yellow cake and is related to reprocessing and that
the shipment came from Japan and is going to the Gaseous Diffusion
Plant in Portsmouth, Ohio. This last part may just have been a
misunderstanding between the two "Portsmouth" towns.
Below are some news stories and blogger accounts of this...
Mike Ewall
Energy Justice Network
215-743-4884
catalyst at actionpa.org
http://www.energyjustice.net
=================================
http://www.wxii12.com/news/10587013/detail.html
Truck Hauling 6,000 Pounds Of Uranium Overturns On I-95
POSTED: 12:18 am EST December 22, 2006
UPDATED: 9:21 am EST December 22, 2006
BENSON, N.C. -- A tractor-trailer hauling about 6,000 pounds of
low-grade uranium overturned as it exited Interstate 95 in Johnston County.
Authorities said the truck crashed onto its side after the driver
lost control while exiting onto Interstate 40. One of two people in
the truck suffered minor injuries, and no other vehicles were involved.
Highway Patrol spokesman Everett Clendenin said the truck was
carrying a radioactive material called packaged fissile. He said
powdered uranium was packed in containers that weren't breached by
the accident.
The accident happened just before 9 p.m. Thursday. Traffic was
diverted and the exit ramp was closed for several hours, but it was
expected to open by Friday morning.
The uranium was being transported by Portsmouth Marine Terminal from
Portsmouth, Va., to Global Nuclear Fuels in Wilmington.
http://www.dunndailyrecord.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=83507
12/22/2006 11:12:00 AM
Uranium Truck Flips Near Benson
Steve Reed, Reporter
sreed at mydailyrecord.com
Interstate 40 near Benson reopened at 3 a.m. this morning after a
tractor-trailer truck transporting 6,000 pounds of low-grade powdered
uranium overturned while exiting off of Interstate 95 onto the exit
ramp of eastbound I-40.
[Photo: A tractor-trailer transporting 6,000 pounds of low-grade
powdered uranium overturned last night on the Interstate 40 eastbound
ramp near Benson. The uranium was securely packed in steel and the
container was not breached. The interstate re-opened at 3 a.m. -Daily
Record Photo/Steve Reed]
Uranium is a radioactive chemical element that is an important
nuclear fuel. One pound of uranium yields as much energy as 3 million
pounds of coal.
According to the state Highway Patrol, the accident happened at 8:58
p.m., when the driver lost control of the vehicle.
The vehicle overturned on its side on the shoulder of the exit 328
ramp at the I-40/I-95 interchange.
The product on the truck was identified by Highway Patrol
spokesperson Lt. Everett Clendenin as Packaged Fissile, Placard No.
3327, and was in powder form.
The container was not breached and was not a threat to the public.
The threat level was low because the uranium was securely packed in steel.
There were three levels of containment, an outer layer of thick
steel, followed by a thinner, second layer of steel and the cylinders
that were containing the uranium.
The product was being transported by Portsmouth Marine Terminal from
Portsmouth, Va., to Global Nuclear Fuels in Wilmington.
According to The News & Observer, the truck's driver, Ken Brotsche,
63, said his brakes did not seem to be working when he headed onto
the ramp at 30 to 35 mph.
He attempted to shift gears but overcorrected, and the truck overturned.
Mr. Brotsche, from Joplin, Mo., said he was not injured. But his
wife, Nancee, who was sleeping in the back of the cab, was bumped
around, he said.
Johnston County Fire Marshal Harold Henrich said Mrs. Brotsche, 51,
was taken to Betsy Johnson Regional Hospital with minor injuries.
No other vehicles were involved.
Troopers detoured eastbound traffic off I-40 around the crash scene.
http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/524653.html
Published: Dec 23, 2006 12:30 AM
Modified: Dec 23, 2006 03:22 AM
No radiation in I-95 wreck
The exit where a truck carrying uranium overturned is reopened
Jean P. Fisher and Catherine Clabby, Staff Writers
State law enforcement and safety officials reopened the Interstate 40
eastbound exit on Interstate 95 in Benson about 3 a.m. Friday, six
hours after a tractor-trailer carrying 6,000 pounds of low-grade
uranium powder overturned on the exit ramp.
Lee Cox, radioactive materials manager with N.C. Radiation
Protection, a branch of the state Division of Environmental Health,
said tests confirmed that cargo containers were not breached during
the accident and no radioactive material escaped.
"There was no material, no contamination, no risk," Cox said.
The uranium powder had been en route to Global Nuclear Fuel Americas
in Wilmington, which uses it to make fuel for reactors at nuclear power plants.
Charges may be filed against the driver of the truck, said Lt.
Everett Clendenin of the Highway Patrol. Clendenin said it appears
the driver, Ken Brotsche, 63, may have taken the exit too fast.
Neither Brotsche nor his wife, Nancee, who was riding in the truck's
sleeper compartment, was seriously injured.
David Bennett, executive vice president of Tri-State Motor Transport,
Brotsche's employer, confirmed that the state Department of
Transportation's investigation found no mechanical defects with the
wrecked truck.
"We suspect it may have been driver error," Bennett said. He said the
company will review the details of the accident with the driver and
determine whether additional training or discipline is warranted.
Tom Rumsey, a spokesman for Global Nuclear, said the overturned truck
was one of four on its way to Global Nuclear on Thursday. The
facility receives up to 15 shipments a month. Global Nuclear, which
is jointly owned by GE Energy, Hitachi and Toshiba, employs about 800
people in Wilmington.
Cox, of the state radiation protection branch, said the company has a
spotless safety record going back to 1994, the earliest year for
which Cox had inspection records. The federal Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, which issued Global Nuclear's federal license, could not
provide details about the company's federal record Friday.
Uranium is shipped to Global Nuclear in polycarbonite-lined stainless
steel drums, which in turn are placed inside heavy metal shipping
containers secured to a flatbed trailer, Cox said. The outermost
containers of the overturned truck remained securely bolted to the
trailer after the crash, Cox said. Soil testing around the crash site
and tests of the cargo containers confirmed that no material escaped.
A second truck collected the uranium and carried it to Wilmington.
Staff writer Jean P. Fisher can be reached at 829-4753 or
jfisher at newsobserver.com.
http://www.news14charlotte.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=131949
Uranium truck overturns on I-95
12/22/2006 7:24 AM
By: Associated Press
BENSON, N.C. -- A tractor-trailer hauling about 6,000 pounds of
low-grade uranium overturned Thursday as it exited Interstate 95 in
Johnston County, authorities said.
The truck crashed onto its side after the driver lost control while
exiting onto Interstate 40, said Jason Barbour, the county's
emergency communications director. One of two people in the truck
suffered minor injuries, and no other vehicles were involved, he said.
Highway Patrol spokesman Lt. Everett Clendenin said the truck was
carrying a radioactive material called packaged fissile. The powdered
uranium was packed in containers that weren't breached by the
accident, he said.
"There's no threat to the public," Clendenin said. "It's a low grade uranium."
The accident happened just before 9 p.m. Traffic was diverted and the
exit ramp was closed for several hours. Clendenin said the ramp
should reopen early Friday morning.
The uranium was being transported by Portsmouth Marine Terminal, from
Portsmouth Va., to Global Nuclear Fuels in Wilmington, a coastal city
about 130 miles southeast of Raleigh.
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1114715/
These shipments go directly to the GE Plant in Castle Hayne, north of
Wilmington. The
uranium is delivered in these huge steel drums that look kind of like bank
vaults...practically indestructible. There isnt anything at all shady
about it, the
uranium arrives and is processed into the fuel rods which then get
shipped out to GE's
nuclear power plant customers.
Posted by: sauron at ec.rr.com
December 22, 2006 12:25 a.m.
From:
http://congressmanjohnhall.blogspot.com/2006/12/major-nuke-accidenti-95-just-in-from.html
via: http://endindianpoint.blogspot.com
Thursday, December 21, 2006
MAJOR NUKE ACCIDENT....I-95 JUST IN FROM CNN
Just in from CNN as reported on Porgie's News and Views....a truck
hauling Uranium (Believed to be FUEL RODS, and perhaps heading to
Indian Point/Entergy plant) has tipped over on Interstate 95...more
as this story develops...if someone that has access to John can get
him on the phone, he needs his staff on this one IMMEDIATELY.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
HOLY CHIT...Truck Hauling Uranium Tipped Over on ! 95!
Safe NUCLEAR ENERGY....a truck hauling Uranium has TIPPED OVER ON
I-95...was it heading to an ENTERGY PLANT? Have we just averted what
could have been the BIG ONE we all have feared? DETAILS AS THEY
DEVELOP! Indian Point Must be closed.
Posted by Porgie Tirebiter
roycepenstinger@ aol.com
Royce Penstinger and Pinto Bean at 11:25 PM
Below from:
http://theporgietirebiter.blogspot.com
Friday, December 22, 2006
http://theporgietirebiter.blogspot.com/2006/12/global-ge-nuclear-fuelalmost-disaster.html
Global (GE) Nuclear Fuel...Almost a Disaster
Update from Washington Scandal on last nights horrid situation in
North Carolina when a truck hauling reactor grade nuclear fuel powder
tipped over. Government's EXCLUSION ZONE kept a lid on the news and
video getting out. Which explains why we never saw and update from
Anderson Cooper.
http://washingtonscandal.blogspot.com/2006/12/reactor-grade-uranium-fuel-accidentmore.html
Friday, December 22, 2006
Reactor Grade Uranium Fuel Accident...MORE BREAKING NEWS.
First, before I break what I have uncovered so far, find it
interesting that the Pro-Nuke People RACED to this blog to put up a
PROPAGANDA PIECE. Now, let's share what I have found out so far.
Did We Just Dodge A Nuclear BULLET?
What's wrong with the story that there is no story in the National
News when a flat bed truck carrying a container of Fuel Grade Uranium
Dioxide tips over coming down the exit ramp at the intersection of
I-95 and I-40 in Johnson County, North Carolina? The story briefly
broke on Anderson Cooper's 360 last night with a singular photo of
the truck laying over on it's side, and Anderson Cooper telling us
that a truck hauling uranium fuel had tipped over, more details to
follow. Problem is, those details never came forward, the story is
almost NON-Existent in the news loops. Speaking with an unidentified
staffer in Congressman Hinchey's office, they said they could find
nothing on the accident, and only had what I had sent them.
As a grassroots person opposed to the re licensing of Entergy's
failing nuclear reactors at Indian Point here in New York, the story
instantly caught my attention, and when no additional reporting was
forthcoming, I started to tract the story down myself...what is being
found out is very disturbing, and raises serious concerns about both
the NRC, and our National Security Response in the case of a NUCLEAR
INCIDENT. They (NRC) seem to have dropped the ball in their own
response to the accident (there was NONE) and the people at Homeland
Security apparently took DRASTIC STEPS to kill the story, keep it out
of the news cycle.
Lee Cox with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Health
provided much of the base details of the incident and it's aftermath
to me over the phone today. According to Mr. Cox, the driver of the
truck (Ken Brotsche who is 63) stated in his statement on the
accident, that as he began coming down the ramp the brakes went out,
and when he tried to shift gears to correct the problem he over
compensated and the truck went over. In speaking with David Bennett
and Donny Lester of Tri-State Border Transport (They said this was
the first accident of its type in the 55 years they have been hauling
radioactive materials for the nuclear industry and DOE) said this was
the first they had heard of the drivers comments, and suggested that
there was a terminology mix up in how the driver described things.
Their contention is that the driver went to apply the Jake Brake
while the driver was in neutral, and that a Jake Brake will not work
if the truck is in neutral. They went on further to state their
oldest trucks are 2003 Peterbilt's, and that Ken Brotsche was driving
a 2004 Peterbilt at the time of the incident. The driver went on to
say that his wife Nancy had been sleeping in the back bunk, and
though removed to a local hospital she had only received minor
injuries. So, did the brakes go out suggesting inadequate
maintenance, or was this driver error...where is the truck, and who
is examining it?
Lee Cox went on further to state, that the materials on said truck
were high level powdered uranium and not within the jurisdictional
control of North Carolina as an Agreement State with the NRC, but
within the control of the NRC. However because the NRC had not
dispatched any one to the scene, the North Carolina Environmental
Health people had acted as lead agency for the safety of their
citizens and the environment of North Carolina. In short, they
COVERED NRC's ASS. This was/is interesting, as when NRC's emergency
response people were contacted last night around 10:30, they, when
pressed, admitted that the accident had indeed occurred, but that
they were not investigating it as it was the responsibility of the
state of North Carolina as a Agreement State to act as lead agency.
Simply put, WRONG. Once uranium becomes ENRICHED, it is the NRC's
duty and responsibility...which is why the NRC in a phone
conversation with Lee Cox this morning said they would be taking over
as the lead agency. What is disconcerting in this, is that the NRC
had a MAJOR INCIDENT going on with one of their licensee's, and never
put one boot on the ground in North Carolina. What is more alarming,
is this was not just ANY Nuclear Fuel, but spent fuel from a Japanese
reactor...more on that later.
Digging further, it was learned that the licensee charged with the
safety for these materials was Global Nuclear Fuel (GE) out of
Wilmington, North Carolina. The person handling DAMAGE CONTROL is one
Alan Mabbry and I believe Tom Rumsy, who admitted the truck was
carrying Reactor Grade Uranium Fuel in powdered form, but that the
container was not breached. Or was it? Donnie Lester from the
trucking company admitted this set of facts to be the case, stating
that the container had been locked down onto the flat bed trailer,
and though tipped over on it's side, it had never broke lose from the
lock down mechanism...the trailer was hoisted right side up by not
one, but two cranes, and eventually the container of high level fuel
was placed onto another flatbed. Alan Bennett said that East Bound
I-40 had been shut down for safety reasons, and that the response
team for this incident involved several hundred emergency
responders...any one at this point wondering where video at eleven
is, or something in the way of video first thing this morning? This
should be FRONT PAGE NEWS across the entire United States, so who is
sitting on this story? More on this later in the article, as it would
take all day for that answer to emerge.
Bennett was not overly forth coming with information, and suggested I
contact the trucking company...they were very frank and honest, and
as I spoke with them, more details came out about the incident, and
the materials in question. The materials had been picked up in
Portsmouth, Virginia, and we are talking some seriously LETHAL STUFF
HERE. You see, what this truck was hauling, was SPENT FUEL being sent
back to Global Nuclear Fuel for REPROCESSING...but wait a minute, we
do not reprocess our fuel here in the United States...Donnie Lester
explained that one for me...the spent fuel was from OVER SEAS, had
been shipped into America on a cargo vessel for reprocessing from
some foreign country. They would not, or could not identify the
country of origin for these materials, so I called back Lee Cox who
verified that the material was from a reactor in Kurihama,
Japan...now, explain this one to me....Lee was adamant that it was
not spent uranium from the reactor, yet agreed it was here for
reprocessing. Seems you cannot have your cake and eat it too. Maybe
someone from the NRC who so far has had no comment, though I left my
number with three people could clarify this for us?
I was still confused (as I stated earlier) though on how such an
accident could occur, that CNN could briefly break it, then have the
whole thing POOF up into thin air...enter Homeland Security, one
incident Commander, and Lt. E Mark Dalton of the North Carolina
Highway State Patrol, first on the scene. This axis of security is a
perfect example of the Bush Administration's desire to keep us in the
general public STUPID. These three in some combination as yet
unknown, though Lee said Lt. Dalton made the call, decided to throw
up and implement and EXCLUSION ZONE...now, this is a scary thing in a
free society...you see, the press was CUT OFF, denied access to the scene.
Lt. Dalton so far has refused to comment, refused to let me know if
this Exclusion zone included aerial access to the area, though
looking at the size of the on the ground force involved in the cover
up (I mean clean up), one has to assume it included keeping aerial
equipment away from the scene...otherwise, how does one explain no
follow up on CNN? A spokesperson for the North Carolina Highway State
Patrol verified that numerous members of the press were denied access
to the area, were not allowed to get even close to it. Which is odd,
since Lt. Dalton had also made the decision that there had been NO
BREACH of the CONTAINER, decided there was no need to evacuate any
one in the general area...if it was so SAFE, why was the press kept
away, other than someone(s) trying to cover up the whole event, keep
it from becoming MAJOR NEWS. Was this the ACCIDENT that the Nuclear
Industry and NRC have tried to convince us for years could never
happen...did we just miss a disaster of biblical proportions?
There is a SKUNK in the wood pile here, and this blogger does not
have the tools or manpower to get to all of it, though have uncovered
what I can. To that end, I am listing here all the contacts I have so
far been able to dig up, in the hopes that someone out there can get
this story the coverage it deserves.
Lt. E. M. Dalton 1 (800) 412-9532 I tried this number, but it is a
limited area access number than cannot be reached from my area. (fax#
919 737 9528)
Alan Maybry (With Global Nuclear) 910 675-5601
Donnie Lester and David Bennett Tri-State Motor Transport Company
(417) 621-2658
Lee Cox and Beverly Hall (North Carolina Division of Environmental
Health 919 571-4141
North Carolina Emergency Response Hot Line (Verified the accident) 800 858 0368
Tom Rumsy 910 646-6004
Number to access North Carolina Public Relations Department 919 733 5027
Posted by Porgie Tirebiter, Royce Penstinger and Pinto Bean at 8:05 PM
Labels: Entergy, GE, Global Nuclear Fuel, I 95, Kurihama Japan, NRC,
nuclear fuel, politics, Uranium Dioxide, USEC
http://theporgietirebiter.blogspot.com/2006/12/update-on-uranium-accident-nrc-trying.html
UPDATE on Uranium ACCIDENT! NRC Trying To HIDE IT.
WE ARE TALKING YELLOW CAKE/Uranium Powder here folks...in from
Washington Scandal, it appears that the truck has CRASHED on the off
ramp of I-95 and I-40 in Johnson County, North Carolina...the driver
apparently made IMMEDIATE CONTACT with the Portsmouth Ohio Gaseous
Diffusion Plant, owned by USEC after President Bush Senior privatized
the former DOD/DOE site in the 1992 Energy Policy Act. The NRC is NOT
GIVING OUT ANY INFO, refused to identify the location of the
accident...this information came from Division of Environmental
Health in North Carolina.
http://washingtonscandal.blogspot.com/2006/12/update-on-uranium-accident.html
Friday, December 22, 2006
UPDATE ON Uranium ACCIDENT
BREAKING NEWS.....the truck that CRASHED in North Carolina was
carrying uranium powder, which leads one to believe it was YELLOW
CAKE, and on it's was to the Gaseous Diffusion Plant in either
Portsmouth, Ohio or Paducah, Ohio. This is speculation, but
Portsmouth was almost IMMEDIATELY contacted by the driver of the
truck according to and unidentified phone operator at North
Carolina's Division of Environmental Health.
The accident occurred at the off ramp of 1-95 and I 40. The truck is
currently laying on it's side awaiting a tow truck...the NRC is
trying to keep this quiet, and refused to give this blogger any
useful information on the incident.
For reporters needing more information, you can call Beverly Hall at
(919) 571-4141, though no one is there right now. You can call the
Emergency Response people for the Division of Environmental Health in
North Carolina at (800) 858-0368. My advice...if you want more on
this story, you are going to have to put a reporter on the scene at
I-95 and I-40 or you are NOT going to get the story, or the truth in this.
Posted by Porgie Tirebiter, Royce Penstinger and Pinto Bean at
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