EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a regular summary
of operations at DOE’s Idaho Site. It has been compiled
in response to a request from stakeholders for more
information on health, safety and environmental
incidents at DOE facilities in Idaho. It also includes a
brief summary of accomplishments at the laboratory. The
report is broken down by contractor:
Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project (AMWTP),
Idaho Cleanup Project (ICP)
and
Idaho National Laboratory (INL). This summary will
be sent to everyone on INL’s regular news release
distribution list every other week. To be added to this
distribution list, please call Brad Bugger at (208)
526-0833.
Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project
Nothing to report.
Operational Summary
Waste Shipments: During the period Jan. 20 through
Jan. 26, 2010, BBWI shipped 29.73 cubic meters of mixed
low level waste for treatment and disposal at
EnergySolutions facility in Clive, UT. BBWI shipped 36.2
cubic meters of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
low level waste for accelerated disposal at the Nevada
Test Site.
Idaho Cleanup Project
Jan. 28: While cleaning out an old locker room in
preparation for demolition at the Idaho Nuclear
Technology and Engineering Center, a radiological
control technician found two contaminated items. The
items were disposed as radiological waste.
(EM-ID-CWI-BIC-2010-0001).
Operational Summary
Preparations for Capping of Contaminated Area:
Planning is continuing for the capping of contaminated
soil at the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering
Center, under a previously-approved record of decision.
A low permeability pavement will be installed outside
the tank farm to cut down on water infiltration to the
contaminated area. Ditches will be upgraded and new
lined ditches installed in the area during the summer
field work season this year. The area will be paved
following completion of nearby decontamination and
decommissioning activities in 2011.
Idaho National Laboratory
Jan. 26: While preparing to load a waste container
inside a cask at the Radioactive Scrap and Waste
Facility, the bottom door of the cask was ratcheted open
past the normal stopping point, causing the door to fall
on the ground. No one was injured and there was no
contamination as a result of the incident. However,
proper recovery procedures were not followed. Once
management was notified of the incident, the cask was
taken out of service and a critique was held.
(NE-ID—BEA-TSD-2010—0001).
Jan. 27: An alarm at the Specific Manufacturing
Capability facility went off, notifying facility
operators that the uninterruptible power supply system
was in bypass mode. The alarm affected other
communications systems. Local fire alarm functions did
remain active. The power system was placed in manual
bypass and emergency communications were restored. An
investigation revealed that a power surge was the likely
cause of the outage. (NE-ID—BEA-SMC-2010-0002).
Jan. 28: An employee at the Central Facilities Area
fell on a wet floor and injured her arm, which was later
diagnosed as an elbow fracture. The injured employee was
treated at the medical dispensary, and later evaluated
by an independent doctor. An accident investigation was
conducted. (NE-ID—BEA-ATR-2010-0002).
Jan. 30: During routine testing at the Advanced Test
Reactor, a leak was detected in a firewater pump.
Adjustments were made to the pump packing which meet
safety standards for reactor operations. The ATR was
shut down for scheduled maintenance when the firewater
testing was performed. (NE-ID—BEA-ATR-2010-0002).
Operational Summary
Building Better Wireless Networks: INL scientist John
Buttles is devising and testing wireless sensor networks
to help ensure the transition to wireless is safer for
power plants, factories and other facilities with
automated control systems. He is using INL's Center for
Advanced Energy Studies to design a wireless sensor test
bed where he can investigate vulnerabilities and
weaknesses of these networks. CAES' wireless system,
along with its laboratories and office space, provides
an environment that is similar to an industrial setting.
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To ensure the safety of wireless
technology in a control system
Environment, INL’s John Buttles has
designed a wireless sensor test bed
to investigate the behavior of
different wireless devices. |
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