Remediation of the 324 building at Hanford remains a high priority for the Department of Energy, regulators and stakeholders due to it’s proximity to the Columbia River and the City of Richland. This Hanford Communities Issue Briefing includes a video animation of the 324 building and the procedure that will be used to cut through the floor, remove contaminated soil and package it in glove boxes. The building was constructed in 1966 and used for fuel fabrication for Hanford’s nuclear reactors. In 1980 an experiment was underway and a spill of liquid occurred. The liquid fell to the floor of the B cell. When workers returned to 324 the next day the liquid had disappeared. It had gone through the flooring into the soil underneath the building.
In preparation for demolition of the facility, Department of Energy did an assessment of the contamination under the building to determine the dose rate and depth of contamination. The dose rate is extremely high so it was determined that the contaminated soil should be retrieved from within the building versus tearing it down and making that contamination dangerous to workers.
During the next year, additional equipment will be installed within B cell. It is off the shelf technology, including a John Deer excavator; an industry proven Brock hydraulic machine, diamond wire saws and other standard equipment.
DOE anticipate beginning excavation in 2020. The most highly contaminated soil will be put into the adjacent hot cells within the 324 building for grouting. Less contaminated cell will packaged for shipment to Hanford’s landfill, the Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility.
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