The Decontamination, Decommissioning, and Demolition of the Engineering Test Reactor at the Idaho Cleanup Project
- Kelly Rhodes, CH2M-WG Idaho, LLC, Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
In September 2007, CH2M-WG Idaho completed the decontamination, decommissioning and demolition (D and D) of the Engineering Test Reactor (ETR) facility. The 50-year-old research reactor, located at the Idaho National Laboratory site, posed significant challenges involving regulations governing the demolition of a historical facility, the removal of a large amount of hazardous materials as well as issues associated with the removal and disposal of the 112-ton reactor vessel. Prior to commencing full scale D and D, hazardous constituents were removed including cadmium, PCB oils and electrical components, lead, asbestos and mercury among others. The reactor required isolation in order to be removed. Due to activated metal within the reactor vessel, dose rates in the core region were approximately 1100 R/hr. Subsequent dose rates outside the vessel varied from 60 mR to greater than 2 R. Due to the dose rates, the project team decided to fill the reactor vessel with grout to a level above the core region and below the discharge to the canal. To remove the reactor, access to the 17 mounting shoes was required. These shoes were encased in the high density concrete biological shield approximately 8 feet below grade. The project team used explosives to remove the biological shield. The demolition had to be controlled to prevent damaging the reactor vessel and to limit the seismic impact on a nearby operating reactor. Upon completion of the blast, the concrete was removed exposing the support shoes for the vessel. The reactor building was then demolished to accommodate the twin gantry system used to lift the reactor vessel. In September, the reactor vessel was lifted and placed onto a multi-axle trailer for transport to an onsite disposal facility. (authors)
- Research Organization:
- WM Symposia, 1628 E. Southern Avenue, Suite 9 - 332, Tempe, AZ 85282 (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 21326112
- Report Number(s):
- INIS-US-10-WM-08297; TRN: US10V0523067477
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: WM'08: Waste Management Symposium 2008 - HLW, TRU, LLW/ILW, Mixed, Hazardous Wastes and Environmental Management - Phoenix Rising: Moving Forward in Waste Management, Phoenix, AZ (United States), 24-28 Feb 2008; Other Information: Country of input: France; 6 refs
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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