Hanford Seeks Way To Dump Uranium Chips

Sun., April 12, 1998

From Staff

Workers at the Hanford nuclear reservation are trying to determine how to dispose of uranium shavings found inside oil-filled barrels dug up just north of the 300 Area.

Bechtel Hanford Inc. employees are inspecting the barrels to see how many need more oil to stabilize the uranium chips, which can spontaneously ignite under certain conditions.

The U.S. Department of Energy and Bechtel staff are also trying to make sampling and disposal plans, said Bob McLeod, DOE’s 300 Area project manager.

Hanford officials believe about 1,500 barrels - including the 350 already found - could have been buried at the disposal site between 1955 and 1961.

About 70 of those barrels so far need more oil added to them to help stabilize the uranium shavings, McLeod said Friday.

Bechtel had been excavating the old burial site to haul items and debris to a central Hanford landfill that is designed for radioactive rubble and soil.

The 300 Area includes the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, other research labs, a steam plant, fuel fabrication facilities and support facilities.

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