May 14, 2004

According to Roane County officials, an emergency situation involving the possible leak of radioactive materials has led to the closure late Friday afternoon of Highway 95 between Bethel Valley and Bear Creek Roads in Roane County.

Department of Energy (DOE) authorities alerted the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) after a tanker transporting radioactive waste from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory was found to have a leak upon arrival at a disposal cell near Y-12.

According to Steve Wyatt, Public Information Officer with the Department of Energy, the material being transported was a liquid with a low level of radioactivity and containing the isotope Strontium-90.

According to information on the isotope from the Environmental Protection Agency, Strontium-90 is found in waste from nuclear reactors and is considered "one of the more hazardous constituents of nuclear wastes."

The road closure comes at the request of TEMA. Hazardous material teams are en route to the scene to assess the area for the presence of leaked radioactive materials.

No injuries have been reported and no evacuation orders have been issued at this hour.

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