Efforts Continue to Startup Idaho Facility
Mike Nartker
WC Monitor
7/11/2014
As the Department of Energy continues to work to get the Idaho Integrated Waste Treatment Unit up and operating to address liquid waste at the Idaho site, the Department also appears to be already considering future uses for the facility, which could include the treatment of waste from Hanford. The topic came up during an April meeting of the Idaho Citizens Advisory Board, when Jim Cooper of the DOE Idaho Operations Office said “it is something they are looking at” when asked about the future of the IWTU, according to the minutes of the meeting. “Hanford does have waste that could be treated in the facility, however there are transportation issues related to transporting HLW. It would likely require an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the transportation piece. But it is something that is being considered,” the minutes state. The DOE Idaho Operations Office did not respond to requests for comment this week.
The IWTU is intended to treat the approximately 900,000 gallons of remaining liquid waste at the Idaho site through a steam reforming process for disposal and to allow for closure of the site’s remaining waste tanks. DOE currently faces a commitment to the state of Idaho to complete processing of the waste by the end of this year, and it remains to be seen when the facility will begin processing actual material. DOE is also looking at putting the hot isostatic pressing process currently planned for addressing the calcine material at the Idaho site in the IWTU facility. It is unclear what waste from Hanford could be processed at the IWTU, though DOE has considered using steam reforming as a treatment for low activity tank waste to supplement the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant. The DOE Office of River Protection did not respond to request for comment this week.
CWI Set to Again Introduce Steam to IWTU This Week
Meanwhile, DOE and cleanup contractor CH2M-WG Idaho are continuing to push forward with startup of the IWTU. This week, CWI expects to again attempt to introduce steam into the facility as part of the testing currently underway, according to contractor spokesman Erik Simpson. CWI had initially began introducing steam into the facility in late June, but had to stop after equipment issues were identified. “CWI began heating up the plant earlier this week, introduction of steam is expected to occur late this week followed by introduction of simulant feed,” Simpson said in a written response this week, adding, “As integrated testing progressed, it was identified that there were components that needed repair/replacement.”
