POCATELLO , ID, July 29th, 1998 -- Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory officials have released the name of the employee who died Tuesday night as a result of an accident at the Test Reactor Area. Kerry K. Austin died at Bannock Regional Medical Center in Pocatello apparently by asphyxiation from oxygen deprivation, after being transported there by air rescue helicopter. Austin, 47, of Idaho Falls, worked as an electrician at the Test Reactor Area. His family has been notified and funeral arrangements are pending.

As many as 15 employees received medical attention Tuesday after fire retardant carbon dioxide (CO2) was accidentally released during routine maintenance operations at the INEEL's Test Reactor Area, Building 648. No known nuclear materials were involved and there was no threat to public safety. The cause of the accidental discharge is not known at this time or if warning alarms sounded in Building 648. A detailed investigation is under way.

Security personnel at the Test Reactor Area were notified shortly after 6 p.m. that employees were injured in the Engineering Test Reactor building. Security notified the INEEL Fire Department and Emergency Operations Center staff in Idaho Falls.

Of the other 14 employees, 11 males and 1 female were transported to Idaho Falls hospitals by air rescue helicopter and INEEL ambulances. Two security guards drove to Idaho Falls for medical evaluation and were released.

All but three employees were later released from Columbia Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls. Of those who remain hospitalized, two employees are in critical condition, one is in serious condition.

John Wilcynski, U.S. Department of Energy-Idaho Operations Office manager; Vance Coffman, Lockheed Martin Corporation chief executive officer and chairman, and John Denson, president of INEEL contractor Lockheed Martin Idaho Technologies Company, expressed their deepest sympathy to the family of

the deceased employee and to other workers injured in the accident.

"We will do everything we can to help the employees and their families," they said earlier in a joint statement.

Tuesday's fatality marks the first at the INEEL since February 1996 when a subcontractor engineer fell from a scaffolding at the Radioactive WasteManagement Complex and died later at the Idaho Falls hospital.

New information will be provides to the media as soon as it is available.