Mark Brown, Manager, Idaho Cleanup Project
“Our experienced and skilled Idaho workforce continue to advance environmental cleanup at the Idaho National Laboratory Site by further reducing environmental liabilities and protecting the Snake River Plain Aquifer. We are especially proud of the recent completion of decontamination and demolition efforts at the Accelerated Retrieval Project signifying our ongoing commitment to our community, tribal partners, and the state of Idaho.”
LIQUID WASTE TREATMENT & DISPOSAL
Since operations began at the Integrated Waste Treatment Unit in April 2023, more than 225,000 of 900,000 gallons radioactive sodium-bearing liquid waste have been converted to a more stable, granular solid for packaging in stainless steel canisters and storage in concrete vaults.
DEMOLITION OF LEGACY NAVY REACTORS
Demolition of two defueled reactor vessel prototypes and associated buildings at the Naval Reactors Facility continued in 2024 with the removal of the Submarine 1st Generation Westinghouse (S1W) prototype hot cell and the ancillary Aircraft Carrier 1st Generation Westinghouse prototype structures.
EM, the state of Idaho and Environmental Protection Agency released plans to demolish the Submarine Fifth Generation General Electric prototype reactor and associated structures.
Right Caption: A worker uses a plasma torch to cut through a hull at the S1W prototype.
SUBSURFACE DISPOSAL AREA
Crews demolished the remaining three Accelerated Retrieval Project enclosures and an associated storage building in preparation for an earthen cover to mitigate contamination migration to the Snake River Aquifer.
TRANSURANIC WASTE
The Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project completed the 7,500th transuranic (TRU) waste shipment to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant representing about 10.5 million loaded miles.
IDAHO CERCLA DISPOSAL FACILITY
Construction of a new landfill cell and evaporation ponds continues at the Idaho CERCLA Disposal Facility. This expansion adds an additional 25 years of safe and cost-effective onsite disposal for ICP-generated cleanup wastes.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Treated a cumulative 100,000 gallons of liquid sodium-bearing waste from three underground storage tanks—an EM 2024 priority.
- Removed remaining three Accelerated Retrieval Project structures and a storage building from the Subsurface Disposal Area—an EM 2024 priority.
- Completed the 7,500th transuranic waste shipment to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant.
- Continued Naval Reactors Facility demolition of two historic and defueled naval nuclear propulsion plants.
- Continued construction of a new disposal cell and associated evaporation ponds at the Idaho CERCLA Disposal Facility.
- Completed 10 transfers of Peach Bottom spent nuclear fuel from Generation 1 to Generate 2 vaults in a risk-reduction move and continued plans for the design and construction of a spent nuclear fuel staging pad—a capital project—to make progress on an Idaho Settlement Agreement milestone.
- Continued progress on the draft 3116 determination for high-level waste calcine and continued consultation with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.