Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) – thanks for their oversight! – reports high radiation levels in new high-level waste processing facility at SRS, now undergoing start up – Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF) dose rates as high a 1 Rrem/hour!
“Salt Waste Processing Facility: Parsons has found higher than expected dose rates at a couple locations. Operation of the caustic side solvent extraction (CSSX) contactors creates a fine mist that is carried into the process vessel vent (PVV) system. The mist is collecting in the piping prior to the moisture removal trains. Three valves upstream of the demisters have had contact dose rates around 1 rem/hr. Parsons has been flushing these valves to reduce the rates below 100 mrem/hr @ 30 cm and the resident inspector (RI) observed portions of this activity. Parsons is also looking at adding a continuous flush mist to help scrub out the mist created by the contactors. Parsons is also frequently changing the PVV pre-filters to keep the whole body dose rates in that area less than 100 mrem/hr. Some of these pre-filters have been as hot as 3.5 rem/hr on contact. Parsons also found higher than expected dose rates in the CSSX corridor outside the rooms that house equipment used to transfer Cs-137 rich solutions. Filling flush lines and performing flushes of the piping have reduced dose rates and Parsons is monitoring two pipe elbows to see if a check valve needs to be replaced or whether additional shielding is warranted.”
What more will SRS do to address and solve this problem? Have any workers received a dose?
See DNFSB weekly report of January 8, 2021: https://www.dnfsb.gov/sites/default/files/document/22666/Savannah%20River%20Week%20Ending%20January%208%202021.pdf