By Drew Adams
Murray, KY – Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant officials declared an alert this morning at the plant, in response to a chlorine trifluoride (ClF3) leak. The industrial gas is used in the uranium enrichment process. Workers at the plant detected the leak just before 4 a.m. while connecting a cylinder of the gas to a holding tank. No one was hurt in the event and plant officials say they terminated the alert at 6:26 this morning. Plant officials have tested the area surrounding the plant and have found no traces of the leaked chemicals. United States Enrichment Corporation says there will be a full investigation into the cause of the leak.