Swift Current Uranium Spill 'First Accident Like This In Canada', Says CNSC

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission held a public webcast meeting on Thursday with the uranium transport accident near Swift Current on the agenda for discussion.

According to the executive summary in the meeting, on January 11, 2016, the CNSC was informed of a transport accident involving a shipment of uranium concentrate ("yellowcake").

The shipment consisted of 63 steel drums of uranium concentrate contained within a 20 foot ISO freight container loaded on a vehicle. The material originated from Australia and was destined for Cameco's Blind River Facility in Ontario.

When President Binder asked the Commission how often incidents occur such as the one near Swift Current, Colin Moses of CNSC replied, "This is the first accident like this in Canada".

Moses reitterated the accident has and continues to pose no threat to workers dealing with the spill, the public or the environment.

"A small amount of uranium concentrate was found on the exterior of the ISO freight container near a breach. Envirotec staff cleaned the exterior surface of the ISO freight container and sealed the breach using expandable foam," the executive summary reads.

"Cameco staff conducted further radiation surveys of the ISO freight container and the ground where the accident occured and confirmed that there was no contamination outside the localized area found on the surface of the ISO freight container."

On January 12, 2016, Cameco completed the recovery operation and the highway was reopened once the local highway maintenance crew completed the removal of the snow on the closed portion of the road.

An update will be provided to the Commission at the next public meeting.