This Monday, Aug. 21, marks the first total solar eclipse in nearly a century that spans the entire United States - including four EM sites. The moon’s shadow will pass over the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Paducah, Oak Ridge, and Savannah River sites. The INL site and surrounding area expect to experience nearly 2 minutes of totality, or total darkness. EM’s Idaho Cleanup Project contractor Fluor Idaho is shifting next week’s work schedule for 1,800 EM workers from Monday-Thursday to Tuesday-Friday to reduce traffic, anticipating hundreds of thousands of people for the eclipse viewing in Idaho Falls, a city of about 60,000 people. "Traffic congestion could significantly delay the normally 50-mile commute out to the Idaho Site. By taking cars and buses off the road we are helping to alleviate some of the impacts," Fluor Idaho Environmental, Safety, Health and Quality Director Alice Doswell said. "Plus, a lot of employees have family and friends coming to view the eclipse and this way, they can safely enjoy this once in a lifetime event." Under the direction of the INL Fire Department, the Idaho Site Eclipse Planning Team has planned for potential impacts to the site employees, property, facilities, and buildings in recent months.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Environmental Management
