Radioactive Hot Spot Caused by Rainwater Leak into Aging H-Canyon Reprocessing Plant at SRS, Causing Posting of “Contamination Area” on Floor; DOE Admits Previous Leaks but Unable to Stop Rainwater Intrusion that could Contaminate “Clean Parts of the Building” with Radioactive Material
As Problems Mount at H-Canyon: Can the Aging Facility be Operated Safely; Should it be Shuttered?
Columbia, SC – The U.S. Department of Energy has revealed that a nuclear contamination incident at the nation’s only operating spent fuel reprocessing plant was caused by chronic leaking of rainwater into the aging facility at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina.
In its stunning admission, DOE confirmed that rainwater leaked through an “expansion joint at a location where previous rain water intrusions had occurred,” picked up radioactive material and resulted in a radioactive hot spot on the floor of the H-Canyon reprocessing plant.
Photo: Aerial shot of aging H-Canyon – in right center of photo – June 20, 2016, ©High Flyer