Workers have completed demolishing the B sub-cell portion of the final hot cell at the former Radioisotope Development Laboratory (Building 3026) at ORNL. These cells were heavily shielded concrete rooms that provided researchers protection from highly radioactive material. The lab’s outer structure and five hot cells were previously demolished.
Waste is being transported on the intermodal rail system that was installed several years ago to manage the waste loadout from demolition of these cells. The team has shipped 38 cubic yards of waste weighing 112,000 pounds. They have also been training on BROKK remote-operated equipment for use during deactivation due to high radioactivity in sub cell A, where the final above ground demolition is expected to take place in 2026.
