INL News Release

Date: September 20, 2013

Time: 5:10 p.m.

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Department of Energy’s Emergency Operations Center is gathering information about a reported incident at the Idaho Site

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been activated and is gathering information about a reported on-site facility fire at the Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project (AMWTP) located approximately 51 miles west of Idaho Falls.

When events such as this are reported, DOE activates its EOC as a standard practice to gather information and coordinate site-wide incident responders, as needed.  This news release is being issued to alert you of the reported on-site facility fire and the EOC activation. All employees have been evacuated from building 676 and are accounted for and the small fire is currently contained. Based on the information obtained so far, there is no risk to the public and no radiological release.

INL personnel are responding to investigate the incident; and state, county and tribal officials are being notified. News release updates will be issued when more information is available. Additional details on the nature of the incident and a preliminary impact assessment will be provided to the media and the public as soon as they are available and confirmed.

Please note that INL is the only source of verified information about this event. Information reported by unofficial sources may be incomplete or inaccurate.

INL’s emergency Joint Information Center at the Engineering Research Office Building, 2525 Fremont Ave., Idaho Falls, has been activated to respond to any questions you may have about this incident. Media and members of the public should call the phone numbers below, not your regular INL contacts.

 

Media Information: (208) 526-9206          Please do not call other INL contacts.

Public Information: (208) 526-5042

 

Follow-up news releases will be posted on INL’s Web site at: http://www.inl.gov/

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