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Hanford Crews Prepare to Remove Radioactive Soil Under 324 Building

Workers on Hanford’s 324 Building Disposition Project are training on equipment to be used to transfer highly contaminated debris and soil.

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RICHLAND, Wash. – Hanford Site workers continue to prepare to remove highly radioactive soil under a former engineering laboratory located about 300 yards from the Columbia River and less than a mile from Richland.

   EM Richland Operations Office (RL) contractor CH2M HILL Plateau Remediation Company (CHPRC) recently removed debris from the 324 Building’s airlock, which allows workers to access the building’s hot cells.

   Workers also finished removing debris from two of the four hot cells where operators once handled radioactive materials using remote-handling equipment. Removing the contaminated debris paves the way for installing equipment to dig up contaminated soil under the hot cells, which is too radiologically contaminated for workers to handle directly.

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An upcoming phase of work at the 324 Building mockup includes installation of a remote excavator arm to be used to remove the concrete floor to allow access for removing the contaminated soil below the building.

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   “Removing large pieces of debris from the hot cells is the next step in accessing the floor and installing excavation equipment,” said Ben Vannah, RL project engineer. “This work is very hazardous, and to protect the workers, DOE funded the construction of a simulated hot cell where workers can train and work out procedures for tackling these hazards.”

   Workers train at a non-radiological mockup that includes a replica of the hot cell located directly above the highly-contaminated underground waste. Soil remediation plans call for creating a hole in the floor of the hot cell, excavating contaminated soil using remote-controlled equipment, and mixing the soil with other materials prior to disposal.

   “Our 324 mockup is an essential training location for our team to practice using remote equipment in a non-radiological area and apply lessons learned,” said Tammy Hobbes, CHPRC vice president of the 324 Building Disposition Project. “Our team includes dedicated and well-trained personnel who continue to demonstrate they are ready for the challenge.”

-Contributor: Jennifer Copeland