DOE-Idaho Operations Summary
Issued December 14, 2006
DOE-Idaho Bi-Weekly Operations Summary
For the Period of November 13 to December 3, 2006

Environmental Management

Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project (AMWTP)

Summary of Occurrence Reports

(Note: Date below indicates when notification was made of the incident)

November 20: After placing a retrieval vehicle in a weather enclosure, the waste handling technician was unable to close the door by standard means. The shift supervisor also attempted unsuccessfully to close the door. The jammed door then dislodged and fell, but did not close. No one was injured and fact finding was completed to assess compliance with procedures and the performance requirements of the door. (EM-ID–BBWI- AMWTF-2006-0027)

November 22: During an inspection, a technician at the Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Facility discovered contaminated liquid leaking from a mixed waste drum in an approved storage module. The maximum level of the contaminated leak was determined. Facility management implemented appropriate actions for the spill, and commenced development of a recovery plan.
(EM-ID–BBWI-AMWTF-2006-0028)

Nov. 27: Facility workers have identified what appear to be multiple events at the Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Facility where waste handling of rolling stock has hit fixed objects. While the events seem to be unrelated and to involve various individuals on separate occasions, BBWI management determined that the number of events within a short time frame required further evaluation. Fact finding meetings were completed for each event, and appropriate management notifications were made. (EM-ID–BBWI- AMWTF-2006-0029)

Operational Status

Through December 2, 2006, a cumulative total of 13,925 cubic meters of transuranic waste has
been shipped to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico. The Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project (AMWTP) made 14 waste shipments during the week ending Dec. 2, 2006. The Carlsbad Field Office suspended shipment of one waste stream from AMWTP following identification of a miscertified drum. A corrective action plan was developed and implemented. Other shipments of TRU waste continued.

Environmental Management

Idaho Cleanup Project (ICP)

Summary of Occurrence Reports

(Note: Date below indicates when notification was made of the incident)

November 20: A cafeteria employee at the Reactor Technologies Complex received an electrical shock while working on an oven’s toggle switch. The cafeteria worker was evaluated at an on-site medical facility and released back to work with no restrictions. The oven’s light switches were disconnected electrically and the wiring properly isolated.
(EM-ID–CWI-LANDLORD-2006-0014)

November 20: A radiological control technician, while doffing his equipment, noticed that the gasket between the respirator filter housing and the motor was missing. The gasket could not be located. Nasal and mouth swabs of the technician were negative indicating that the technician had not been contaminated. Further surveys of the technician’s respirator did not find any contamination either. Compensatory actions were issued that specify the operations foreman and industrial hygienist will perform separate visual examinations of all equipment prior to use and document performance.
(EM-ID–CWI-RWMC-2006-0023)

December 1: Based on the occurrence of several unrelated events involving forklifts striking fixed objects, facility management determined the need to determine the underlying causes. Fact findings meetings were completed for each event and a formal root cause analysis will be conducted.
(EM-ID–CWI-INLPROGM-2006-0002)

Operational Status

The contractor successfully grouted three, 30,000-gallon tanks previously used for high-level liquid waste storage at the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center. Grouting operations have stopped due to cold weather and will resume in the spring, when several additional tanks will be grouted. The grouting successfully closes tanks that were emptied of liquid waste and thoroughly cleaned, in accordance with closure plans approved by the State of Idaho.

Nuclear Energy

Idaho National Laboratory (INL)

Summary of Occurrence Reports

(Note: Date below indicates when notification was made of the incident)

November 20: The NRAD reactor is shutdown due to conduct of operations and equipment issues. In order to resume operations, the operations and maintenance procedures must be reviewed for accuracy and adequacy. (NE-ID–BEA-NRAD-2006-0002)

November 27: During a routine walk down at the Specific Manufacturing Capability, a supervisor discovered that a flammable gas valve was not included in the lockout/tagout that was in place on the equipment. The supervisor determined that the work hazards were not being adequately controlled and stopped the work. Appropriate notifications were made. (NE-ID–BEA-SMC-2006-0007)

December 5: A researcher at the Reactor Technology Complex in the Material Test Reactor (MTR) discovered a 100 microcurie, Americium-243 source in inventory. The radiation levels of the source, when added to the existing inventory, caused the lab to exceed the limits established by DOE regulation. The source was relocated, appropriate notifications were made, and a critique was held. (NE-ID–BEA-RTC-2006-0007)

Operational Status

Region 6 Radiological Assistance Program (RAP) sponsored three Transuranic Package Transporter-II (TRUPACT-II) training events at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). Attendees represented the State of Idaho INL Oversight Program, Idaho State Police, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, INL Fire Department, Department of Energy-Idaho Emergency Preparedness and Region 6 RAP. Attendees viewed a TRUPACT-II video, participated in an informal tabletop exercise/discussion and either demonstrated or observed radiation survey techniques specific to TRUPACT casks. The Idaho State Board of Education approved the bonding and start of construction for the Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES) building. Approval means that
construction, through the Idaho Department of Public Works, can begin. Construction is anticipated to start in spring of 2007. The CAES facility will be an international user-facility for performing research and revitalizing education and training in nuclear energy science, engineering, technology and related disciplines.