UCOR’s ORNL D&D crews have begun their next phase of deactivation efforts at the former Isotope Development Laboratory, Building 3038—characterizing a legacy carousel system.
That system was previously used in the facility for storing, handling, and packaging of high-level radioisotopes prior to shipment. Characterizing the legacy system poses accessibility challenges as crews can only access the system remotely behind a shielded wall due to high radiation levels.
Despite accessibility challenges, cleanup crews have persevered. Recently, crews deployed hoisting equipment to remove the shield plug—a cover that is designed to protect workers from high radiation fields—to begin characterization efforts.
Crews then used a radiation meter at the end of a long pole to perform characterization on every inch of the carousel as it spun to identify radiation levels. These efforts will help crews determine the appropriate disposal pathway and steps needed to deactivate and remove the system permanently.
After inspection, crews reinstalled the shield plug and restored the carousel to safe configuration.
Next, crews will deploy a unique borescope camera to continue visual characterization inspections of the carousel in limited-access areas that have high radiation doses. As characterization continues, crews are one step closer to removing the system and demolishing Building 3038, creating space and conditions needed for ORNL to develop future science and innovation missions.
