For Immediate Release
U.S. Department of Energy Plans
Clean-up of
Long-Shuttered Nuclear Reactor at
The
U.S. Department of Energy has prepared an Environmental Assessment evaluating
the removal of remaining radioactive and hazardous material from the Juggernaut
Reactor at its Argonne National Laboratory in
Copies
of the Environmental Assessment and the accompanying documents are available to
the public (see below for availability).
The
Juggernaut project is expected to cost approximately $4 million and be
completed by Summer, 2005. The decontamination and decommissioning (D&D)
of the reactor is needed to ensure the continued protection of the health and
safety of the public, DOE and contractor employees, and the environment.
Innovative
Technical Solutions, Inc., a small, minority-owned business in
Juggernaut,
which is located in a high bay building on the south side of the lab, was a small,
light-water-moderated and cooled, graphite-research reactor that operated from
1962 through 1970. After the reactor was
shut down, the majority of the radioactive materials were removed, and the remainder were sealed in place. The D&D has been delayed since 1970: 1) because
the shut-down reactor did not present any hazard to the public, the environment
or workers; and 2) over time the radiation hazard has greatly decreased which
significantly reduces the cost of D&D.
Based
on the analysis in the EA, the potential effects of these clean-up activities
include minor releases of dust and combustion gases from power equipment. In addition, minor amounts of dust containing
asbestos and radioactive materials could be released, but will be controlled
through high-efficiency particulate air filters.
The
Juggernaut clean-up will include disassembling the reactor, packaging the
radioactive waste and transporting it to out-of-state disposal sites. Approximately 18 truckloads of waste
will leave
Following
the clean-up, DOE will take samples and survey the facility to ensure it meets
appropriate standards; and then the building will be used for offices and
experiments.
A
wide range of potential impacts were analyzed in the environmental assessment
including; biological resources (including sensitive, threatened, or endangered
species or their critical habitats), visual resources, wetlands, or floodplains,
cultural or archeological resources. No major impacts were identified.
Risks
associated with natural events such as earthquakes, tornados, lightning, and
floods will be negligible. DOE will
implement specific protections to avoid and minimize the consequences of
accidents during decontamination and decommissioning.
Copies
of the EA (DOE/EA-1483) are available from:
Kenneth Chiu
(630) 252-2376 e-mail
ken.chiu@ch.doe.gov
Copies
of the EA are also available for review at the following locations:
Lemont Public Library
Indian Prairie Public Library
Reference Section
Or on-line at: www.ch.doe.gov
For
further information regarding the DOE NEPA process, contact:
Peter R. Siebach
NEPA Compliance Officer
(630) 252-2007
e-mail peter.siebach@ch.doe.gov
Background information
Site
Clean-up Status
No
nuclear reactors have operated at
Radiation
exposure
Decontamination
and decommissioning activities will result in the exposure of workers to
radiation and may expose the public to very small quantities of radioactive
materials. People living near
--- DOE ---
DOE
News Media Contact: Brian J. Quirke,
630/252-2423
e-mail:
brian.quirke@ch.doe.gov