ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, December 18, 1996 TAG: 9612180082
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
Plant faces scrutiny for nuclear flub
LYNCHBURG - A maintenance plant for nuclear power equipment is under Nuclear Regulatory Commission scrutiny for accidentally shipping a loaded fuel assembly to Germany.
The continer shipped by Framatome Cogema Fuels was found intact with its nuclear fuel pellets in Greifswald, Germany in mid-November, following a search by company officials.
The pellets are low-enriched uranium and pose little risk to the public, said NRC spokesman Roger Hannah. The fuel had never been used in a nuclear reactor, he said.
The mistake could cost the company between $12,500 and $25,000 in fines, Hannah said. He said Framatome and the NRC are trying to determine how the error occurred. Fuel assemblies are typically up to 15 feet long and about two feet wide.
Framatome is under contract with a German company to clean fuel assemblies. The uranium material in the assemblies is sent to another facility for additional processing.
-Associated Press
Three indicted in mob attack on man
CHARLOTTESVILLE - A grand jury has indicted three men on charges of beating a man before leaving him for dead locked inside the trunk of his car.
The men will get separate trials in Circuit Court in the Nov. 2 attack on Evan James Kittredge. Police found Kittredge, 33, in the trunk of his car, his eyes swollen shut with dried blood after 40 hours in near-freezing cold.
- Associated Press
Nobody here but me and the beer
CHARLOTTESVILLE - Michael Anthony Smith was caught cold - hiding in a refrigerator with a six-pack of malt liquor.
Federal agents arrested Smith on Monday. He was indicted in October on a charge of possessing cocaine with intent to distribute.
Smith, 33, told authorities he had hoped to avoid arrest until after Christmas.
U.S. Marshal Larry Carter testified that several men in the house where Smith was found told him that the suspect wasn't there. But Carter decided to take a look around.
The refrigerator in the basement was empty except for Smith and the malt liquor, Carter said. Two of the cans were open.
If convicted, Smith - who has four prior felonies on his record - could spend the rest of his life in prison.
- Associated Press
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