Columbia Energy is considered an expert of the Hanford Site for providing sampling and characterization at radioactive facilities. Our resume of success is lengthy.
We have experience characterizing radioactive and hazardous facilities, air, soil, and groundwater, and providing sampling and monitoring during remediation and facility D&D.
We prepared the 105-C Reactor Deactivation Plan for DOE. In a complex environment, we defined the deactivation sequence and schedule, scope of deactivation activities, and defined the end points of the various deactivation activities. This ensured that the reactor could remain safely in a standby condition awaiting final D&D.
Our characterization and D&D planning of Hanford 's C, N, and K reactors helped in the successful cocooning and D&D of some of the facilities associated with the reactors.
During deactivation of the reactor complex, we provided health physics and industrial hygiene technicians, performed portions of the facility characterization, performed field engineering, and provided on-site technical specialists supporting deactivation.
Other noteworthy projects include:
N Reactor and K Reactor Characterization and D&D Support
We have been involved in various aspects of the DOE Hanford Site N Reactor deactivation since the shutdown of the reactor in 1989. We have also worked on numerous projects at the K Reactor complex including the Spent Nuclear Fuel Project and the cleanout of the sludge from the K East and K West Basins. Our staff provided sampling and characterization support during facility deactivation, deactivation engineering, safety evaluation and analysis, cost estimating, and other specialized technical consulting tasks. Representative deactivation and characterization tasks completed at these facilities include the following:
Prepared a fissile material concentration analysis for the K East Basin during deactivation
• Developed portions of the N Reactor deactivation design and cost estimate
• Developed the N Reactor Project implementation plan that outlined the reactor deactivation work scope, schedule, budget, and project management controls
• Prepared the 100-N Basin Stabilization Project ALARA plan and operating procedures
• Provided safety analysis and quality assurance support to the SNF project to meet the requirements of the Price Anderson Act and Amendments
• Performed root cause analyses and Management Oversight and Risk Tree evaluations of SNF activities as part of the project's Corrective Action Program
• Performed decontamination activities at the 100-N Basin and the K East Basin.
Hanford Canyon Facilities Deactivation Support
Columbia Energy has performed numerous tasks at the DOE Hanford Site canyon facilities that were used to reprocess irradiated nuclear fuel. For the 241-U Plant deactivation project in the 200 West Area, we developed and evaluated the six alternatives to disposition the facility. For the B Plant deactivation project in the 200 East Area, we developed the end-point criteria for transitioning the facility into Inactive status. At the Plutonium-Uranium Extraction (PUREX) Plant in the 200 East Area, we prepared the Fire Hazards Analysis document for the facility in a deactivated state awaiting decommissioning. Also at the PUREX Plant, we developed the Air Sampling Program and Self Assessment Program for the deactivation project.
Field Sampling and Characterization
Columbia Energy is considered a local expert of the Hanford Site for providing sampling and characterization at radioactive facilities. We have completed sampling and characterization to meet a variety of Data Quality Objectives ranging from initial site evaluation and determining the extent of contamination at a site or facility and monitoring during D&D and remediation, to verifying that cleanup criteria have been achieved. Our expertise in this area allows us to provide technical consulting services in related areas such as chemical management, industrial hygiene, radiation protection and dosimetry assessment, safety assessments of characterization programs. Examples of our sampling and characterization experience include the following:
• Developed the characterization plans for the Hanford Site 105-C Reactor, the 183-C Filter Plant, and the 190-C pump house and process tunnels, and conducted radiological surveys to establish the extent of decontamination required to initiate reactor cocooning.
• Prepared the Annual Workplace Air Monitoring report for the Hanford Site 222-S Laboratory and the Waste Sampling and Characterization Facility (WSCF).
• Developed chemical management procedures and practices for the Hanford Site 100 K Area and the SNF Project.
• Provided industrial hygiene field monitoring, including air monitoring and noise surveys, for numerous Hanford Site facilities including T Plant, the 200 Area Liquid Effluent facilities, the K Basins, the Cold Vacuum Drying Facility, the Waste Receiving and Processing Facility, and tank farms facilities.
