RICHLAND, Wash. - Workers are preparing for a challenging phase of the Hanford Site ’s Plutonium Finishing Plant (PFP) demolition: continuing the teardown of the Plutonium Reclamation Facility (PRF) canyon.
The former processing canyon has a high concentration of contaminated material embedded underneath the walls and floor, which were “locked-down" with grout or fixative during the facility’s deactivation.
“Demolition of the Plutonium Reclamation Facility canyon is the most challenging task we will face at PFP and will mark a major step toward meeting our milestone," said Jack George, senior nuclear engineer for demolition of the plant at EM’s Richland Operations Office.
EM and contractor CH2M HILL Plateau Remediation Company (CH2M) removed contaminated infrastructure from the canyon; decontaminated the walls, ceiling, and floor as much as practicable; and applied fixative before knocking down portions of PRF in 2016.
Crews will proceed slowly with the canyon demolition to ensure radiological contamination controls, such as dust suppression and additional fixative application, remain effective. Demolition of the canyon is expected to be completed by the end of June.
“The canyon will be a challenge for us until the end," said Tom Bratvold, CH2M vice president for the Plutonium Finishing Plant Closure Project. “But I know we have the right team in place, the right controls and the right training to safely remove this hazard from the site."
Inside the main processing facility, employees are wrapping up asbestos abatement, contaminated ventilation ducting, hazardous material removal, and preparations to remove the last remaining large glove boxes before demolition. Crews waited to clear those glove boxes because they first needed to take down walls and other infrastructure. Workers are also isolating the building’s water and sewer lines.
Demolition of the main processing facility and fan house is to begin in June, with completion expected by September 2017.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Environmental Management
