The Defense Nuclear facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) has confirmed that a potential radiation exposure concern is present in the newly started Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF). SRS Watch was alerted about this problem about two months ago but DOE has kept it on the down low. DOE needs to come clean about the risk to workers in this high-level waste processing facility and how it has been corrected.
The DNFSB noted: “As nominal salt waste feed concentration has been increased with Startup Review Board approval (see 11/3/2020 report), Parsons continues to monitor radiation levels in normally accessible areas of SWPF. Most areas that are normally transited have little to no elevated radiation levels. However, one corridor in the CSSX processing area has elevated levels. The area is controlled as a radiation area, and Parsons is evaluating actions to reduce the levels (e.g., use of component shielding).”
See Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) weekly report for November 12, 2020: https://www.dnfsb.gov/sites/default/files/document/22326/Savannah%20River%20Week%20Ending%20November%2013%202020.pdf