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
Jan. 24: An electrical fire occurred at the Advanced
Mixed Waste Treatment Project when power was restored to
a drum lidding machine after it had been shut down for
in-cell cleanup activities. When power was restored to
the machine, an operator noticed arcing and a small
flame. The operator immediately hit the disconnect
switch supplying power, the arcing stopped and the flame
extinguished. The equipment was then locked out until an
investigation of the incident is completed and
corrective actions are taken.
(EM-ID—ITG-AMWTF-2012-0003).
Jan. 30: At the Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment
Project, an operator failed to conduct a pre-operation
safety check, as required by procedure, before
generating X-rays on a radiography system. The
radiography system was placed in suspension mode until
an investigation into the incident is completed and
corrective actions are taken.
(EM-ID—ITG-AMWTF-2012-0004).
Feb. 1: The Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project
experienced its fourth technical safety requirement
violation in less than ten weeks, an indication of an
increasingly negative trend. AMWTP management responded
with a list of immediate corrective actions to address
the concerns. (EM-ID—ITG-AMWTF-2012-0005).
Operational Summary
Waste Shipments: There have been no shipments of
contact-handled transuranic waste for the week ending
Feb. 3, due to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant’s (WIPP)
annual planned maintenance outage. The next shipment of
contact-handled transuranic waste will be February 13,
2012.
Idaho Cleanup Project
Jan. 24: An uncontrolled hazardous energy source was
confirmed at the Integrated Waste Treatment Unit.
Operators investigating potential leakage from a
locked-shut valve discovered the valve was locked and
tagged in the open position due to an incorrectly
installed valve actuator. The discovery was entered into
the action tracking system for resolution.
(EM-ID—CWI-IWTU-2012-0001).
Operational Summary
Buried Waste Remediation Update: Processing of waste
exhumed from the Accelerated Retrieval Project (ARP) VI
was completed recently. The contractor began removing
over-burden from buried waste at ARP VII, and
construction continues on ARP VIII.
Idaho National Laboratory
Jan. 24: An Idaho National Laboratory employee
slipped on the ice in the parking lot of an Idaho Falls
facility, injuring his ankle. The employee was evaluated
at the INL medical dispensary, and was advised to seek
additional evaluation and treatment from his private
physician. The snow removal contractor was instructed to
check the area and apply additional ice melt, and
inspect other parking areas that may require additional
treatment to mitigate slip and fall hazards.
(NE-ID—BEA-INLLABS-2012-0002).
Jan. 26: During welding activities inside a glove box
at the Materials and Fuels Complex Analytical
Laboratory, a small fire broke out. The person assigned
to fire watch extinguished the fire by pouring a gallon
of liquid present in the glove box on the fire, while
other personnel evacuated the building. No breach of the
glove box containment occurred. A causal analysis of the
fire will be undertaken, with appropriate corrective
actions implemented. (NE-ID—BEA-AL-2012-0001).
Operational Summary
New INL Fellow Named: Joyce Rempe, a nuclear engineer
with over 25 years of research and development
experience, has been selected as an Idaho National
Laboratory Fellow. She joins the elite ranks held by
only nine others at INL. The designation of Laboratory
Fellow is the top scientific achievement designation and
recognizes an individual's outstanding contributions to
the scientific and engineering community.
Rempe holds a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During her
23-year tenure at the laboratory, she has established an
international reputation in severe accident analysis,
high temperature testing and advanced in-pile
instrumentation. She currently leads in-pile
instrumentation development for the Advanced Test
Reactor's National Scientific User Facility and Fuel
Cycle Research and Development programs.
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