Infrastructure Upgrades Improve Safety at Idaho Cleanup Facility

Crews replaced aging ducting at the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center, providing critical ventilation for the facility’s onsite underground waste tanks.

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Idaho Cleanup Project (ICP) crews replaced aging ducting at the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center to improve a crucial ventilation system supporting operation of onsite underground waste tanks, completing an infrastructure upgrade that will increase safety and functionality.

Prior to these improvements, the ducting hadn’t seen a major upgrade since it was installed nearly 50 years ago, creating concerns about the integrity of the ducting materials and the potential for safety risks to the workforce.

The original ducting consisted of an outer layer of canvas that became weathered by the harsh Idaho climate and often exposed the inner components of the system. Due to the age of the equipment, there was an increased risk of exposure to asbestos and other hazardous materials.

Upgrading the ducting presented a unique set of challenges. The ventilation system is situated within a radiological buffer area, a protective administrative barrier meant to reduce the risk of radiation exposure for those who work at nuclear facilities. As a result of precautionary measures that must be taken to work in these areas, crews donned double-set contamination suits and wore respirators to complete the updates.

The complexity of the project was further compounded by the need to access difficult-to-reach areas, requiring the use of an aerial work platform to safely perform the necessary updates.

In total, 200 feet of ducting were upgraded after nearly two months of work.

Of the 11 underground stainless steel storage tanks, three are currently used to store radioactive liquid waste generated during past spent nuclear fuel reprocessing and plant decontamination efforts.

“Upgrading the ducting provided a much-needed improvement,” said ICP Nuclear Operations Maintenance Senior Manager Kasey Baisch. “I am incredibly proud of our team for safely completing this work.”

-Contributor: Carter Harrison