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 13: A technician performed maintenance on a
piece of mechanical equipment at the Advanced Mixed
Waste Treatment Facility without using a required
lockout/tagout that would control the hazardous energy
presented by the potential mechanical movement of the
equipment arm, and the potential activation of the cell
CO2 fire suppression system. A fact-finding
investigation was ordered. (EM-ID—ITG-AMWTF-2012-0015).
Operational Summary
Waste Shipments: Eight of eight planned shipments of
contact-handled transuranic waste were made from Idaho
to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico for the
week ending June 9, 2012. Four of the shipments
contained exhumed waste from the Accelerated Retrieval
Project. Eight shipments of contact-handled transuranic
waste and two shipments of remote-handled transuranic
waste were scheduled for the week ending June 16, 2012.
Idaho Cleanup Project
Nothing to report.
Operational Summary
Waste Treatment: Startup testing was suspended on
June 16, 2012, at the Integrated Waste Treatment Unit (IWTU),
which is designed to treat about 900,000 gallons of
liquid radioactive waste stored at the Idaho Nuclear
Technology and Engineering Center. Testing was suspended
and plant heat-up was terminated to allow detailed
evaluation of the process temperature, pressure and flow
excursion observed on June 16. Facility startup testing
has been ongoing for the past month, evaluating system
and component operation and response during operating
conditions. Radioactive waste has not been introduced
into the facility, pending successful completion of
startup testing.
Idaho National Laboratory
June 7: A firewater pump was taken out of service at
the Advanced Test Reactor due to the jacket water
temperature being out of specification. The reactor was
shut down for maintenance at the time, and a backup
firewater pump is available while the first pump is
being repaired. (NE-ID—BEA-ATR-2012-0021).
June 11: Zero energy verification was not completed
as required prior to the beginning of maintenance work
on boilers at the Specific Manufacturing Capability
project. Work was stopped by the subcontractor,
management notifications were made and a critique was
scheduled. (NE-ID—BEA-SMC-2012-0003).
Operational Summary
R&D 100 Award Winner: An Idaho National Laboratory
technology was honored with a prestigious R&D 100 Award,
it was announced this week. The technology delivers a
unique communication control channel breakthrough that
narrows an existing technology gap in current radio
frequency management of voice, video and data
communications. It offers a patent-pending, robust
solution that is spectrum-aware, spectrum-agile, and
capable of coexisting with other services. This
technology anticipates future requirements, fills an
existing technology void, potentially expands the use of
available radio spectrum, and offers secure, nearly
undetectable control communication channels for use in
public safety and national defense. |
