Distinguished Merit Award: Shielding of Building 204 Legacy Spent Fuel Bays

Awarded to Adam Lariviere, Brad Silverhorn, Chris Brown, Chris Bullock, Chris Corrigan, David Pivato, Jeff Vereyken, Nick Hoffman, Shawn Wagner, and Tyler Habraken

For The Shielding of Building 204 Legacy Spent Fuel Bays

Challenged with high levels of radiation from historical National Research eXperimental (NRX) rod bay operations in Building 204, the “Red” Project Team developed and implemented a novel and highly effective strategy to shield the four legacy spent fuel bays, advancing decommissioning in the surrounding area under significantly reduced radiation dose conditions. The approach, thoughtfully planned and trialed on a real-size mock-up at CNL, involved the application of a spray-on liner to each bay, followed by the placement of shielding material. The liner serves as a protective barrier, isolating the shielding material from the contaminated bay walls. The design enables the potential for future reuse of the shielding material and diverts the aggregate from a contaminated waste stream, aligning with waste minimization and sustainability objectives. The project has enabled safer access to high-dose areas, allowing critical work to proceed without delay. This directly improves the project schedule and enhances workforce efficiency by lowering radiation exposure and minimizing operational constraints. This work was innovative, demonstrating exceptional teamwork and a strong commitment to safety.