The Idaho Cleanup Project team is improving safety and efficiency by practicing with a mock-up to refine monitoring, removal and management of asbestos and other hazardous materials in the deactivation and demolition of two defueled land-based naval nuclear propulsion prototypes at the Naval Reactors Facility.
Office of Environmental Management
November 10, 2026
Estimated Read Time min
Crews at the Naval Reactors Facility use a mock-up to practice assembling an asbestos containment structure to prepare for deactivation and demolition project work.
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — The Idaho Cleanup Project (ICP) team is improving safety and efficiency by practicing with a mock-up to refine monitoring, removal and management of asbestos and other hazardous materials in the deactivation and demolition (D&D) of two defueled land-based naval nuclear propulsion prototypes at the Naval Reactors Facility (NRF).
The mock-up is proving effective as crews safely perform tasks tailored to specific conditions at the D&D project areas for the Aircraft Carrier 1st Generation Westinghouse and Submarine 5th Generation General Electric prototypes.
The unique training is the latest chapter in a successful partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Environment Management and Office of Naval Reactors that has already seen a significant reduction in the NRF's legacy footprint: Crews completed last year's demolition of the Submarine 1st Generation Westinghouse naval reactor prototype plant three months ahead of schedule and $16 million under budget. The prototypes supported development of the world's first nuclear-powered submarine.
“Safety is our highest priority, and these initiatives only reaffirm that commitment,” said Shawna Burtenshaw, D&D Project Operations director for ICP contractor Idaho Environmental Coalition. “I am grateful for our project’s operations and safety managers who are helping our crews gain valuable practical experience with the mock-up and continually improving our approach to the mission.”
Crews use the mock-up to practice setting up a containment structure and installing glove bags, which wrap around pipes and other components to safely remove asbestos-containing insulation. They also work on techniques to remove and contain asbestos, and dispose of the glove bags.
Safety and operations managers took the lead to create the mock-up to provide a hands-on experience for employees, monitor progress and improve processes.
Asbestos and other hazardous materials were commonly used in building construction materials between 1930 and 1970. Their removal is an important step in the D&D projects, ensuring workforce safety and environmental protection and enabling future mission opportunities at NRF.
-Contributor: Carter Harrison
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