Inspections Uphold Dam Safety Standards at Savannah River Site

Richard Swygert, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions Site Infrastructure engineer, descends into one of the four vertical shafts to inspect roughly 600 feet of conduit for mechanical integrity, ensuring all mechanical parts are in optimal condition at the Steel Creek Dam at L Lake.

AIKEN, S.C. — In a significant achievement for dam safety, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) contractor has successfully completed inspections of two high-hazard dams at the Savannah River Site (SRS).

Occurring every five years, the inspections of the Steel Creek and PAR Pond dams included functional testing and preventive maintenance, and adhered to rigorous guidelines to ensure safety and effectiveness.

The Steel Creek Dam, built for reactor cooling water, contains contaminated sediment. Maintaining the dam and keeping the sediment submerged is not only cost effective but also beneficial for local wildlife, such as fish or osprey. PAR Pond is a large, man-made reservoir at SRS also built for reactor cooling water. The reactors are no longer in service. 

“Many different Site Services groups came together to make this happen, despite challenges of confined space entry and numerous mechanical inspections,” said Danny Banks with EM contractor Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS), which manages the two high-hazard dams as well as eight low-hazard dams at the site. “The comprehensive inspection required six months of preparation and two days in the field, showcasing the SRNS commitment to safety.”

Banks and Richard Swygert are key SRNS figures in the site’s dam inspection process.

“We completed this inspection on time, with no injuries, thanks to the extensive planning and preparation from various groups across the site,” said Swygert, who has over 30 years of experience at SRS. “These inspections are vital for the ongoing operability and safety of our dams.”

Savannah River Nuclear Solutions Site Services personnel perform the inspection of Steel Creek Dam at L Lake.

Requested by DOE, the inspections required a comprehensive critical lift plan to ensure safe descent into the wells for examination. Employees at Steel Creek Dam surveyed four vertical shafts in the intake tower, each roughly 80 feet deep, by descending each shaft in a crane basket. An inspection team then walked through the 72-inch diameter, 600-foot-long outlet conduit from the spillway to the intake tower. The inspection identifies any issues concerning mechanical parts and structural integrity.

The inspections were a collaborative effort for SRNS, involving employees from several divisions, from Radiological Protection to the SRS Fire Department. Their tasks included:

• Surveying and inspecting conduit for mechanical integrity
• Inspecting all mechanical parts to ensure optimal condition
• Examining concrete structures for signs of structural cracking and other issues

Beyond the five-year independent high-hazard dam inspections, SRNS records lake level readings twice a week and conducts monthly walking inspections, among other tasks.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission also conducted a thorough review of the Steel Creek and PAR Pond dams, finding no issues. DOE relies on the commission for annual inspections, complementing the continuous monitoring by SRNS.

“The collaborative effort of various work groups is another example of how challenging tasks can be accomplished through meticulous planning and execution,” said Randy Keenan, SRNS director of Site Services. “The outcomes of this critical inspection prove that the dam will continue to perform its function for years to come.”

Click here to watch the inspection highlight video.

-Contributor: Mackenzie McNabb