METROPOLIS, Ill.—Reports are coming in about the release of a dangerous gas at Honeywell’s Metropolis, Illinois, plant.
People associated with the plant, which is a uranium hexafluoride processing facility converting uranium for nuclear power/nuclear weapons purposes, have reported that sirens went off inside the plant after a possible release of UF6 (uranium hexafluoride) gas.
The release, occurring at about 8 p.m., is being reported as “contained within the plant,” this according to the Massac County Sheriff’s Department. The sheriff’s department said that there is no danger to the general public; unfortunately, the public initially wasn’t convinced of that, and a Facebook page, Support for Honeywell Workers-Metropolis, IL, is still active with folks asking questions about the potential dangers to the public. The below photo is from that page.
The general consensus is that UF6 doesn’t become a hazard to the general public unless the gas comes in contact with water. Humidity in the area is high (81 percent) but there’s no precipitation and none due tonight. Safe to say that if there were a serious hazard, authorities would be alerting the public. However, relatives of Disclosure staffers who live in the area have opted to leave for the evening and at 9 p.m., were packing up.
We’ll keep you as posted as we can, but for right now, authorities are saying all is well.