Posted on 05/21/2017 11:09:09 PM PDT by Rabin
Fifty eight years back, railcar loads of extremely hazardous equipment laden with finely divided particulate Plutonium dust were shoved by remote-control, into a 360' 10’ X 10’ repository, made of thick, treated wood beams. The box was later covered; top and sides with about ten feet of dirt.
When it filled up, an additional an 1,700 feet of “concrete reinforced with metal” housing was added and “Pretty much” loaded.
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/hanford/article149475209.html#emlnl=Breaking_News_Alerts
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
Rab can but surmise that crushing part of the box, must stir and expels some of the dusty contents.
DoE tried to cut a deal with the Devil, to take Hanfords' dust. The master of our lord's abyss, replied, "Hell won't have it".
Raben.
This is from May 10th. A lot of work has happened since then to re-seal the tunnel. There were no alerts regarding plutonium or radioactivity releases. It could be expected that some particles may have been blown up out of the hole, but that is nothing to worry about except for people working at the site, and they know the safety procedures.
A worker’s clothing was contaminated with radioactive waste. It was on Drudge for about 2 days -gone now.
The feds will not allow federally funded labs to report on releases etc. so we won’t know. I did read that they were planning to place an industrial tarp over the cave in site.
Yeah, you do not want to inhale plutonium dust, but it’s not bad for you otherwise. Just look at the beryllium reflector experiments they did with the demon core. They handled it all the time as they were working out the physics of criticallity. After Slotkin died they put a stop to playing with Plutonium and bomb pits like they were toys.
I machine beryllium copper all the time, I have idiots working for me that refuse to take dust seriously. The paint is still pealing around the shop from the last time I caught a guy dry grinding it without proper filtration.
Machinists, an interesting combination of both the smartest, and yet stupidest people I know.
Well, precautions would involve not breathing without a filter.
About 20 years ago I had some government contract work at Hanford....
After getting through security, they handed me a clip on dosimeter to wear at all times while at the facility....
Turned it in when I left for them to do analysis, they told me they would contact me if it showed dangerous levels of radiation exposure....never heard from them....
Their in a contamination zone. The Health Pyshisist first to go survey the area for potential exposure hazards, then they set the requirements for the other workers.
The workers clothing that got crapped was not unusual. All of the clothing, typically white coveralls, is just taken to the special laundry to be worn again.
No worries....only a one micron particle inhaled is certain death...but hey, no worries.
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