Practical technologies for nuclear decommissioning: Finding the right technology balance

Nuclear decommissioning is difficult, dirty, and dangerous work that can benefit significantly from technical innovations. The scope of the Rocky Flats Closure Project required the removal of radioactive material, the decontamination and the demolition of over 800 buildings and facilities (a dozen highly contaminated with plutonium or uranium), offsite disposal of all waste, and environmental remediation. The magnitude of the plutonium process decommissioning operation and the nature of the contamination defined how technologies could be applied. It was found that placing the decisions on technology deployment in the hands of the management directly responsible for the execution of the activity ensured that the effort remained focused and accountable, and was more likely to be deployed. The paper describes the various technologies applied and the experience obtained in their use. Generally, the use of simple technology, with continuous improvement, had greater success than highly engineered solutions with long deployment schedules. This is the evolutionary vs. revolutionary mindset which Rocky Flats found to consistently be more effective. The planning process should support the continual re-examination of activities to evaluate how technology improvements can address activity safety, cost and schedule. Rocky Flats found that to seek the right balance for technology, the criteria that improves worker safety often leads to improved cost and schedule efficiency, especially when it focuses on improving methods and tools for achieving work. (author)