Hanford Stabilizes Last Reactor Fuel Storage Basin

This series of photos shows the grouting of the K West Reactor spent fuel storage basin. Workers removed nearly 1 million gallons of contaminated water before filling the 16-foot-deep basin with about 6,500 cubic yards of grout - enough to fill two Olympic-size swimming pools.

RICHLAND, Wash. - Workers at the Hanford Site recently finished filling the last large concrete basin at the K Reactor Area with cement-like grout. The basin stored reactor fuel rods from the plutonium production mission.

Crews with U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) contractor Central Plateau Cleanup Company (CPCCo) placed about 6,500 cubic yards of the grout in the K West Reactor Basin. That's enough to fill two Olympic-size swimming pools.

Crews started placing grout after pumping out contaminated water from the 1.2-million-gallon basin in July. The grout surrounds contaminated debris left in the basin and stabilizes it for future demolition.

A worker monitors the installation of grout in Hanford's K West Reactor Basin. The grout stabilizes the basin for future demolition and disposal.

"Our Hanford team continues to safely and efficiently complete projects that reduce risks to groundwater and the Columbia River as the cleanup mission progresses," said Andy Wiborg, EM's acting deputy assistant manager for River and Plateau cleanup.

The basin measures 125 feet by 67 feet. It contained 16 feet of water to provide radiation shielding for workers.

Crews filled the basin in three layers. The first foot covered contaminated debris on the floor. The second layer is 14 feet of controlled density fill, which is less dense than concrete. Workers placed a 9-inch layer of grout on top to complete the work.

Trucks deliver grout to the K West Reactor spent fuel storage basin at the Hanford Site. In all, it took about 750 truckloads to complete grouting.

Drivers delivered about 750 truckloads of grout during the project. To shorten the time it took to go back and forth between deliveries, CPCCo built a grout plant nearby to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

"Finishing grouting of the basin is a critical step in our mission to clean up the K Reactor Area," said CPCCo Project Manager Mike Kruzic. "I'm proud of our team's focus and commitment to safety throughout this complex project."