Accidental gas releases at the Honeywell uranium plant

[Better Believe It]

In Superman’s Hometown, a Labor Dispute Over Health
By Dan Frosch
August 8, 2010


Workers have long feared that the plant poses dangers. According to Honeywell’s quarterly financial filings, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Justice Department are investigating whether the plant complied with federal law in its storage of sludge. A grand jury has been convened in the matter, the filings said.

Mr. Dalpe said Honeywell was cooperating with the E.P.A. investigation, “which resulted from a company self-disclosure more than two years ago.”

Federal inspectors have been on-site monitoring the situation, said Roger Hannah, a spokesman for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. “At this point, we’re satisfied they’ve met all safety regulations, and that they have a continued emphasis on safety,” he said.

In December 2003, an accidental release of uranium hexafluoride sent a plume of gas into the air, and nearby homes were evacuated. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency sued Honeywell over the accident, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued two safety violations, which led to increased oversight.



Crosses symbolize workers at the uranium conversion plant who have died from cancer.

Read the full article at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/09/us/09metropolis.html

[Sugarcoated]

1. Kick