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. (EM-ID—BBWI-AMWTF-2011-0009).
Operational Summary
Waste Shipments: As of July 31, 2011, a total of
36,158 cubic meters of contact-handled transuranic
waste, 104.59 cubic meters of remote-handled transuranic
waste, and 4,449 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
July 19: An operator at the Integrated Waste
Treatment Unit suffered a cut thumb and a fractured
wrist when he was struck by a side-pull hoist ring and
shackle. The operator was transported to the hospital
for evaluation and treatment, all bolt tensioning
operations were placed on hold and an investigation into
the event was initiated. (EM-ID—CWI-IWTU-2011-0010).
Aug. 3: A CWI employee fell while rigging an empty
facility transfer container for removal from a low boy
trailer, causing a fracture of his rib. He was evaluated
by medical personnel and cleared to return to work. An
investigation into the incident and a fact finding were
initiated. (EM-ID—CWI-ICPWM-2011-0003).
Operational Summary
Decommissioning of Reprocessing Complex: A
significant milestone was reached when the gravel cover
over the CPP-601 Fuel Reprocessing Complex was
completed. The decommissioning of the 101,278 square
foot structure involved stripping out the interior of
the building, filling the four level basement with
grout, demolishing the above grade structure, and
finally installing a gravel cover over the remaining
monolith. The project was originally projected to be
complete in 2013, but thanks to stimulus funding, the
project was completed early.
Idaho National Laboratory
July 20: A criticality alarm sounded due to higher
than expected radiation levels during transfer of
radioactive samples from the Hot Fuel Examination
Facility to the Analytical Laboratory at the Materials
and Fuels Complex. The facility was evacuated, a
re-entry was performed and access to the facility was
returned to normal. Sample transfers were discontinued
until a critique was performed and corrective actions
taken. (NE-ID—BEA-FCF-2011-0003).
July 26: A worker suffered broken bones in her hand
when she was hit by a door while attempting to manually
shut the Fuel Conditioning Facility freight elevator
doors. The elevator was removed from service, a fact
finding was conducted and a formal critique scheduled.
(NE-ID—BEA-FCF-2011-0004).
Aug. 1: Two linemen doing work at the Materials and
Fuels Complex caused a small oil leak from a bushing on
a transformer. The oil was potentially PCB contaminated.
The linemen performed a minor cleanup, the area was
secured around the spill and samples of oil from the
bushing were collected for PCB analysis and sent to an
off-site laboratory. Lab results showed the oil
contained 25 parts per million PCBs, below the regulated
level of 50 parts per million.
(EM-ID--BEA-CFA-2011-0002).
Operational Summary
New Nuclear Operations Technician Program at Idaho
State University: The Idaho National Laboratory (INL)
has helped Idaho State University (ISU) start a nuclear
operations technician program as part of ISU’s Energy
Systems Technology and Education Center (ESTEC). The
two-year program launches this fall and will train
reactor operators for jobs available at INL and in the
nuclear industry. To date, eight of the 16 available
student slots are filled for the fall semester. Several
experts from INL's Nuclear Operations organization will
be teaching courses in the curriculum. This program will
include hands-on laboratory activities that provide
students with the real world experience.
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