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4 | SRNS TODAY | JULY 2021

Plutonium downblending moves

to four-shift glovebox operations

The glovebox contains safety glass panels and fitted gloveports
to allow radioactive materials handling, and isolates workers from
associated hazards.
Additionally, construction has recently been completed on a
storage and shipping pad for interim storage of downblended
materials before they are shipped out of South Carolina for
permanent disposal.
“The fact that we were able to train employees, prepare, and
initiate the additional shifts ahead of schedule was an impressive
feat given the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated reduction
of on-site staffing and social distancing requirements,” said SRNS
K Area Complex Facility Manager Lee Sims. “We attribute much of
Operators Andrew Kline (left) and Charlie Stokes work in the K Area Interim Surveillance this success to the veteran operators on staff who have worked
glovebox mockup. diligently to make sure the newer operators are trained, prepared
and ready to work safely.”
K Area plutonium downblend work at SRS has recently moved from
two- to four-shift glovebox operations to advance the DOE’s mission of “We know that just initiating four-shift glovebox operations is not the
removing plutonium from South Carolina. end of the journey,” Smith said. “Continuing training, mentorship and
“Moving from two- to four-shift glovebox operations increases our growth of experience are required to ensure the continued safe and
plutonium downblending rates through our existing glovebox,” said successful operation of the program.”
Maxwell Smith, SRNS K Area Deputy Operations Manager. “Along with Plutonium downblend, also referred to as dilute and dispose, is the
the total of 48 operators needed to fill the four shifts, we have put process of mixing plutonium oxide with a multicomponent adulterant
a team of support personnel in place and are managing a pipeline to produce a mixture that is more secure (not usable for nuclear
program of 10 employees to fill positions as needed from attrition. weapons). This mixture enables DOE to meet requirements for
Many of those pipeline employees are a part of the apprenticeship shipping plutonium to an out-of-state repository for disposition (i.e.,
program in place with Aiken Technical College. We are also looking into the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico).
expanding the apprenticeship program to other local technical colleges, “Initiating four-shift glovebox operations helps further our nation’s
providing us with more resources to fill our pipeline.” nonproliferation objectives,” said Virginia Kay, Director, Office of
Moving to four shifts is just a part of the overall optimization activities Material Disposition, NNSA. “We are committed to removing excess
in the K Area Complex. Last year, the facility completed an optimization plutonium from South Carolina by safely disposing of this material,
project to add efficiencies to the K Area Interim Surveillance (KIS) and achieving this milestone is demonstrative of progress toward
glovebox, where downblending is currently occurring. The KIS glovebox that objective. We are pleased that SRNS was able to initiate the
is a stainless-steel containment enclosure that is approximately 15 feet additional shifts ahead of schedule, even when faced with the
long and three feet wide. challenges presented by the pandemic.”

Reason to celebrate

Last month’s approval of the Savannah River Plutonium Processing
Facility (SRPPF) Critical Decision-1 (CD-1) marked a major milestone
for SRS and the nation: approval to proceed with planning the facility
to supply plutonium pits for the nation’s nuclear deterrent. As a thank
you for the two years of hard work that made the successful CD-1
possible, SRPPF employees enjoyed a celebratory lunch. Dave Olson,
SRNS Executive Vice President - NNSA Capital Projects, thanked
the gathered employees for the long hours and quality products
they delivered. The team’s efforts produced a package including the
conceptual design for the facility and over 4,500 documents — a
submittal that one DOE reviewer called the best CD-1 package they At the celebration recognizing the successful CD-1, SRPPF employees were rewarded
had ever reviewed. with a BBQ lunch.