Stabilization and shutdown of Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Radioisotopes Production Facility
The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has been involved in the production and distribution of a variety of radioisotopes for medical, scientific and industrial applications since the late 1940s. Production of these materials was concentrated in a number of facilities primarily built in the 1950s and 1960s. Due to the age and deteriorating condition of these facilities, it was determined in 1989 that it would not be cost effective to upgrade these facilities to bring them into compliance with contemporary environmental, safety and health standards. The US Department of Energy (DOE) instructed ORNL to halt the production of isotopes in these facilities and maintain the facilities in safe standby condition while preparing a stabilization and shutdown plan. The goal was to place the former isotope production facilities in a radiologically and industrially safe condition to allow a 5-year deferral of the initiation of environmental restoration (ER) activities. In response to DOE's instructions, ORNL identified 17 facilities for shutdown, addressed the shutdown requirements for each facility, and prepared and implemented a three-phase, 4-year plan for shutdown of the facilities. The Isotopes Facilities Shutdown Program (IFSP) office was created to execute the stabilization and shutdown plan. The program is entering its third year in which the actual shutdown of the facilities is initiated. Accomplishments to date have included consolidation of all isotopes inventory into one facility, DOE approval of the IFSP Environmental Assessment (EA), and implementation of a detailed management plan for the shutdown of the facilities.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 7169738
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-921029-1; ON: DE92019187
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Isotopes facilities deactivation project at Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge National Laboratory Isotopes Facilities Shutdown Program Management Plan
Related Subjects
070500* -- Isotope & Radiation Source Technology-- Health & Safety-- (1990-)
38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
400703 -- Radiochemistry & Nuclear Chemistry-- Radioisotope Production
DECOMMISSIONING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ORNL
PRODUCTION
RADIATION SOURCES
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS