Issued July 5, 2011
DOE-ID Bi-Weekly Summary
For the Period June 7-June 27, 2011
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 site. 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 on a periodic basis. 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).
Operations 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).
Operations 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).
Operations 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.