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
No incidents to report.
Operational Summary
Waste Shipments: No updates available.
Idaho Cleanup Project
May 26: A small electrical fire ignited in the engine
compartment of a forklift at the Accelerated Retrieval
Project IV facility. The INL Fire Department responded
to the scene and extinguished the fire. Due to an
electrical short, the fire reignited and fire department
personnel extinguished the flames and cut the battery
cables. There were no injuries or radiological releases
due to the fire. (EM-ID—CWI-RWMC-2010-0006).
Operational Summary
Stabilizing Buried Waste: The Idaho Cleanup Project
began this week to inject grout into 21 buried waste
locations at the Radioactive Waste Management Complex,
as part of an effort to protect the Snake River Plain
Aquifer. Wastes that are being grouted include glass and
resins produced during historical research and
operations at the Idaho National Laboratory that are
contaminated with mobile radioactive elements. Grouting
will inhibit rain and snow melt from infiltrating
through the waste, thus reducing the ability of
contaminants to flow toward the aquifer until a
permanent cover is installed beginning in approximately
2025.
Idaho National Laboratory
June 7: On February 20, an employee slipped on a
snow-covered patch of ice at the Specific Manufacturing
Capability facility. The employee was evaluated at the
Central Facilities Medical Center, received medication
and returned to work with no restrictions. A follow-up
medical evaluation in May determined the injury required
surgery. That made the incident reportable at that time.
(NE-ID—BEA-SMC-2010-0006).
June 7: A subcontractor doing demolition work at the
Materials and Fuels Complex cut through a hidden
electrical conduit. The supply breaker for the
conductors was open and they were not energized at the
time of the incident, but the circuit was not protected
by a lockout/tagout. No one was injured or exposed to
live energy. Work was immediately stopped and the
circuit was locked out and tagged out.
(NE-ID—BEA-MFC-2010-0003).
Operational Summary
INL Technologies Nominated for International
Recognition: Biodiesel production from wastes, medical
imaging from better radioisotope production, and
significantly improved gun sight optics highlight Idaho
National Laboratory technologies nominated for the
"top-of-the-world competition" in 2010. INL demonstrates
its diverse research capabilities by nominating its
inventions for R&D Magazine's annual international
competition to select the top 100 new technologies. INL
has won 41 R&D 100 Awards since 1986. This year,
advanced technologies in energy, radioisotope production
and optics were nominated.
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