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
June 27: An unanticipated level of dust and debris
containing some fissile material accumulated in three
areas of the Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Facility.
Compensatory measures were established for the rooms of
concern, and a cleanup and recovery plan is under
development. (EM-ID—BBWI-AMWTF-2011-0008).
Operational Summary
Waste Shipments: As of June 25, 2011, a total of
35,969 cubic meters of contact-handled transuranic
waste, 104.59 cubic meters of remote-handled transuranic
waste, and 4,268 cubic meters of previously-buried
transuranic waste have been shipped from Idaho to the
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico for disposal.
Idaho Cleanup Project
June 14: A worker received a static shock while
removing a lead shielding window from a hot cell during
decommissioning activities at TRA-632. Work was
suspended, the area was posted, and the employee was
evaluated by medical personnel and returned to work with
no restrictions. (EM-ID—CWI-BIC-2011-0004).
June 20: While repairing fabric on a temporary
building at the Integrated Waste Treatment Unit, two
carpenters discovered an energized 240-volt power cable.
The carpenters notified their supervisor and a safety
professional, and a construction electrician guarded the
circuit breaker supplying the power cable until it could
be locked and tagged out. (EM-ID—CWI-IWTU-20011-0007).
June 27: Electricians checking power to the waste
feed pump control circuit at the Integrated Waste
Treatment Unit determined that a motor and phase tester
installed had arced and smoked because they had been
hooked incorrectly to the motor rotation side of the
tester. The system was locked and tagged out of service,
and testing and grooming activities were halted pending
an investigation. (EM-ID—CWI-IWTU-2011-0008).
Operational Summary
Decontamination and Decommissioning (D&D) Work at the
Advanced Test Reactor Area: D&D crews completed
demolition of the Test Reactor Area (TRA)-603 East wall
structure, as well as removal of all five manipulators
from TRA-632 cell #3 and grouted the floor.
Idaho National Laboratory
June 20: A supervisor at the Specific Manufacturing
Capability facility observed maintenance personnel
performing hoisting and rigging activity without an
approved lift plan, as required by procedure. A critique
was held and an order issued requiring that any
maintenance hoisting and rigging activity must have the
maintenance job supervisor/foreman’s approval and a
briefing must be held prior to the activity.
(NE-ID—BEA-SMC-2011-0009).
June 23: A review of recent equipment purchases
disclosed orders that were purchased incorrectly,
totaling nine additional containers of fasteners that
were “suspect” because of the incorrect purchasing
process. A non-conformance was written on the suspect
parts and management was notified.
(NE-ID—BEA-STC-2011-0005).
Operational Summary
INL Wins Two R&D 100 Awards: The Idaho National
Laboratory has won two more prestigious R&D 100 Awards
this year. The INL has won 46 R&D 100 Awards, which
honor the top 100 research and development advances for
the year, since 1986. The INL technologies that were
honored included the capability of directly measuring
the impedance in an operating battery; and a highly
effective chemical-foam-clay decontamination process
tailored to specific radiological and metal
contaminants.
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