Rocky Flats: Building 779
Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site
February 1999 - February 2000
Decontamination and decommissioning of the 779 cluster was the first major project involving facilities contaminated with plutonium. Both characterization and final surveys were performed in support of the decommissioning efforts. Building 779 contained research laboratories and glove box operations, and plutonium storage vaults that supported the development of weapons manufacturing processes. Support buildings include filter plenum buildings for treatment of exhaust air, emergency power generation equipment storage and administrative offices. DCGLs established for the survey were 100 dpm per 100 cm2 averaged over a square meter, and 300 dpm per 100 cm2 maximum for any 100 cm2 area. 100% of Class 1 areas were surveyed with SCM/SIMS. The surveys included floors, walls, ceilings, stairwells, vaults, and all other facility surfaces. Class 2 area surveys included 100% of floors and walls up to 2 meters, and a minimum of 10% of surfaces above 2 meters. SCM/SIMS, operated at 1 inch per second with a recount detector, was capable of meeting a small fraction of the DCGLs. The superior reporting capabilities of SIMS allowed the final report for each segment of Building 779 to be issued within two days of the date the last survey was performed. In addition, the reports received regulatory approval within two weeks of report submission. The timeliness of data acquisition, processing, and reporting enabled the schedules for demolition to be met, resulting in bonuses for our client.
Contact:
Mike Grube, Project Radiological Engineer (303) 966-2863
