DOE-Idaho Operations Summary
Issued May 4, 2006
DOE-Idaho Bi-Weekly Operations Summary
For the period of April 18-30, 2006
Environmental Management
Summary of Occurrence Reports
(Note: Date below indicates when notification was made of the incident)
April 18: Workers brought eight waste drums into a storage area at the Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project, bypassing a required safety system. No safety limits were exceeded by the presence of the drums in the area. A fact-finding investigation was initiated.
(EM-ID-BBWI-AMWTF-2006-0012)
April 20: While observing the repair of a fan at the Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project, an operator discovered that an improper circuit breaker had been tagged out of service. The repair work was discontinued, and all work requiring lockout of an electrical system was halted until retraining was completed. (EM-ID-BBWI-AMWTF-2006-0013)
April 24: During review of the implementation of a safety document at Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center CPP-666, discrepancies were found between the review completion dates and approval dates of required activities. A critique was conducted that determined the errors were administrative in nature and did not affect safety of the facility.
(EM-ID-CWI-FUELRCSTER-2006-0009)
April 24: A small amount of hazardous material leaked from a pipe that was being cut as part of decontamination and decommissioning of storage tanks at Test Area North. Work was suspended, the spill was cleaned up, proper notifications made and the hazardous material was placed in approved storage. (EM-ID-CWI-TAN-2006-003)
April 27: A suspect/counterfeit 100-amp circuit breaker was discovered, prior to installation, at the CPP-659 transuranic waste handling project. The breaker was appropriately tagged and a nonconformance report issued. (EM-ID-CWI- WASTEMNGT-2006-0001)
Operational Status
Waste Shipments: Through April 22, 2006, a total of 6,930 cubic meters of transuranic waste has been shipped from the Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico for disposal. In combination with 3,100 cubic meters of waste previously shipped to WIPP, the Idaho site has now shipped 7,030 cubic meters of waste to WIPP. Completion of Tank Characterization: Under a Voluntary Consent Order signed by the Department of Energy and the State of Idaho, DOE has completed characterization of 705 waste tanks. Of those 705 tanks, 46 will require some kind of formal closure activities. Those closure activities are expected to be completed in Fiscal Year 2012.
Nuclear Energy
Summary of Occurrence Reports
(Note: Date below indicates when notification was made of the incident)
April 24: A worker in the Systems Analysis Facility noted that a two-inch grabber screw was placed in a hole in an electrical junction box, housing a light switch. The presence of the screw apparently energized the painted metal box, causing a mild shock to anyone operating the switch. The screw was removed from the box and no one was injured. (NE- ID-BEA-STC-2006-0003).
April 25: Researchers working at the Tritium Plasma Experiment Facility reported that equipment recently received from another laboratory contained tritium at levels that may exceed Department of Transportation shipping limits. The tritium levels do not cause the facility to exceed any inventory limits and do not pose a safety hazard to the facility. Evaluation of the incident is continuing.
(NE-ID-BEA-RTC-2006-0002).
Operational Status
National Security Programs: Idaho National Laboratory recently received new funding to continue support of the Electronic Combat Systems Integration project. The project supports the missions of the Air Force Information Warfare Center located in San Antonio, Texas. The primary focus of this project is to develop software that enhances the threat analysis capabilities of the 453rd Electronic Warfare Squadron. INL has actively supported this and other Department of Defense programs over the past several years. Reactor Operations: INL’s Advanced Test Reactor restarted April 16 for a 56-day run. The ATR provides advanced materials testing, and also produces an isotope of cobalt
used for medical and industrial purposes.