CAB member shares updates on projects
The regular November meeting of the INL civilian advisory board was held recently in Idaho Falls. The board was presented with several papers on ongoing projects being carried out on the site.
Richard Provencher, deputy manager for ICP, Department of Energy, gave at report on the cleanup progress to date and indicated where the additional funds from the government’s stimulus program are being spent. A total of $6 billion had been allocated around the country to be spent on clean-up programs and Idaho has spent $42 million to date. These extra funds have resulted in some 948 primary and secondary jobs being either created or saved in the state.
Among the projects being planned at the Idaho site, includes the removal of 3 hot cells.. These three monolithic structures are located in one building and were used to assemble and disassemble nuclear test reactor components. Cell one was built in 1952 and cells two and three were completed in 1960.
The largest cell, no. 3 is 30 feet wide 19.5 feet deep and 16.3 feet tall. It has walls of concrete 4 to 5 1/2-inches thick. The cells contain several hot spots where the nuclear contamination is extremely high. Great care will be taken to protect the workers from contamination during the life of this project.
The plans being drawn up to eliminate these cells and the building they’re in, include the filling of the cells with cement (grout) and their removal to a designated land fill nearby.
The plan for eliminating these cells is presently going out for public comment and final approval. The INL CAB issued a letter of recommendation on the project in November.
Another interesting project being developed at INL includes the removal of a nuclear breeder reactor which was built in 1957. It was started up in November 1963 and is the only one of its type at INL. The reactor was cooled with liquid sodium rather the usual water. More than 86,000 gallons of the highly dangerous sodium was used. The reactor actually produced more fuel than it consumed. This type of reactor is in used in other places in the world, including Japan.
The plan is to remove the reactor portion of the unit and fill the remaining cement base and structure with grout. The top will be then capped and vegetation added.
The removal on 9,119 metric tons of transuranic waste continues to be a highly successful program at INL. The waste, which is mainly gloves, boots, aprons and other trash is being exhumed at the site and being shipped to the depository near Carlsbad, N.M. This program is in keeping with the judicial agreement between the DOE and the state of Idaho.
BRUCE WENDLE
Sandpoint
CAB member