Workers receive authorization to re-enter Building 3029 hot cell

Deactivation activities at ORNL Isotope Row Building 3029 were paused in the fall of 2024 after discovery of an unknown object emitting a significant amount of radioactivity was identified in one of the hot cells. In response to the discovery, the ORNL Cleanup Project Team has spent several months developing a strategy to re-enter the hot cell for characterization of the object that will enable removal, packaging, and disposal. The strategy involves the use of remote equipment and long-handled tools to ensure worker protection in the high radiation areas. An independent evaluation was conducted by UCOR and DOE OREM personnel over the past two weeks to determine project readiness for re-entry into the hot cells. The ORNL Cleanup Project Team successfully passed the assessment and received authorization to proceed with the 3029 hot cell characterization scope. Building 3029, slated for eventual demolition, was constructed to perform the chemical and mechanical processing of numerous radioisotopes into radiation sources.