1952
Wikipedia; "Chalk River was also the site of two nuclear accidents in the 1950s. The first incident occurred in 1952, when there was a power excursion and partial loss of coolant in the NRX reactor which resulted in significant damage to the core. The control-rods could not be lowered into the core, because of mechanical problems and human errors. Three rods did not reach their destination, and were taken out again by accident. The fuel-rods were overheated, resulting in a meltdown. The reactor and the reactor-building were seriously damaged by hydrogen-explosions. The seal of the reactor-vessel was blown up four feet. In the cellar of the building some 4.500 tons of radioactive water was found. This water was dumped in ditches around 1600 meters from the border of the Ottawa River. During this accident some 10,000 curie or 370 TBq was released.[3]Future U.S. president Jimmy Carter, then a U.S. Navy officer, was part of the cleanup crew.[4][5]Two years later the reactor was in use again.[6]
1958
"24 May 1958 — INES Level needed - Chalk River, Ontario, Canada - Fuel damaged
Due to inadequate cooling a damaged uranium fuel rod caught fire and was torn in two as it was being removed from the core at the NRU reactor. The fire was extinguished, but not before radioactive combustion products contaminated the interior of the reactor building and, to a lesser degree, an area surrounding the laboratory site. Approximately 679 people were employed in the clean-up. [8] [9] A Corporal named Bjarnie Hannibal Paulson who was at the cleanup did not die from his exposure, but developed unusual skin cancers. Paulson had to testify at many hearings before he was awarded compensation for his radiation injuries.[10]"
Wikipedia; "The second accident, in 1958, involved a fuel rupture and fire in the NRU reactor building. Some fuel-rods were overheated. With a robotic crane, one of the rods with metallic uranium was pulled out of the reactor vessel. When the arm of the crane moved away from the vessel, the uranium caught fire and the rod broke. The largest part of the rod fell down into the containment vessel, still burning. The whole building was contaminated. The valves of the ventilation-system were opened and a large area outside the building was contaminated. The fire was extinguished by scientists and maintenance-men in protective clothing running along the hole in the containment vessel with buckets of wet sand, throwing the sand down at the moment they passed the smoking entrance.[7]
"Five years later, in 1958, several metallic uranium fuel rods in the NRU reactor overheated and ruptured inside the reactor core. One of the damaged rods caught fire and was torn in two as it was being removed from the core by a robotic crane. As the remote-controlled crane passed overhead, carrying the larger portion of the damaged rod, a three-foot length of fiercely burning uranium fuel broke off and fell into a shallow maintenance pit. The burning fuel lay there, spreading deadly fission products and alpha-emitting particles throughout the reactor building. The ventilation system was jammed in the "open" position, thereby contaminating the accessible areas of the building as well as a sizable area downwind from the reactor site. A relay team of scientists and technicians eventually extinguished the fire by running past the maintenance pit at top speed wearing full protective gear, dumping buckets of wet sand on the burning uranium fuel." For very interesting details, click on; http://www.ccnr.org/paulson_legacy.html
"Unlike the events of December 1952, the 1958 NRU accident did not involve a power excursion in an operating reactor. It occurred while NRU was shut down and undergoing an operation to remove failed fuel from its core. While being removed the failed fuel rod did not receive adequate cooling and probably began burning in the fuel transfer flask above the core (the fuel used at the time was uranium metal, which combusts spontaneously in air)"
On another note, the link that follows is a letter disclosing how much plutonium was sold to the US, that came out of this facility. The public was always told that this facility had nothing to do with the military and produced no military grade or weapons grade nuclear material. Quite the opposite is the case, actually... http://www.ccnr.org/DOE.html
As usual, revealing more nuclear industry cover ups and deception... just another average day in the life of the nuclear industry.
End
1958 - Chalk River, Ontario Canada - NRU Chalk River Nuclear Reactor Meltdown; via @AGreenRoad
For more articles;
Nuclear Accidents, Recycling Nuclear Weapons/Fuel
http://agreenroad.blogspot.com/p/nuclear-accidents-around-world.html
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