Thursday, January 28, 2016
Saturday, January 23, 2016
DNSFB tolerated waste; The DOE IG found no waste.
Here is the finding by the IG of DOE in response to my assertion of waste:
Here is my response to the DOE IG:
Over the years, DNSFB did not object to construction of the very expensive facility with seismic qualifications. Thus the DOE expected approval by DNFSB to proceed with operations with radioactive waste feed. It is fortunate that DNFSB did not approve operations with radioactive waste feed. If DNFSB had approved that, cleanup would have been another huge expense. Right now it will be relatively inexpensive to walk away from the useless facility and demolition will not be mandatory. However, the cleanup contractor was aware that if the facility became contaminated with radioactive material, there would be another lucrative cleanup project down the road; even though the facility would never have performed its assigned tasks.
Sir,
We
have received your emails, and fax and reviewed the information you provided.
At this time, the OIG has determined no further action is warranted as the
appropriate parties and agency have already been notified of your complaint. If
you have any additional information of wrongdoing that has not been referred to
the appropriate office or is not publically available, please feel free to
recontact our office.
Regards,
Hotline
Coordinator
Here is my response to the DOE IG:
Hotline Coordinator:
Thank you for the prompt response.
However, I do not agree that further action is not
warranted.
The construction of a
seismic qualified facility that is now called a pilot plant is a case of
extreme waste.
During March, 2014, DOE
sought approval to begin operations with radioactive waste feed even though the
facility was not in shape for that. http://www.dnfsb.gov/sites/default/files/Board%20Activities/Reports/Staff%20Issue%20Reports/Idaho%20National%20Laboratory/2014/sir_2014523_24466_37.pdf
DNFSB previously reviewed
and authorized construction of a seismic qualified facility even though the
technology of the process was proven to be unworkable. The fact that DNFSB
reviewed and approved the plans to proceed with seismic qualified construct ion
is clear from the following: http://www.sgh.com/projects/idaho-national-laboratory-integrated-waste-treatment-unit-iwtu This
link includes the statement, “Presented and defended the project to the Defense
Nuclear Facility Safety Board (DNFSB)”
Over the years, DNSFB did not object to construction of the very expensive facility with seismic qualifications. Thus the DOE expected approval by DNFSB to proceed with operations with radioactive waste feed. It is fortunate that DNFSB did not approve operations with radioactive waste feed. If DNFSB had approved that, cleanup would have been another huge expense. Right now it will be relatively inexpensive to walk away from the useless facility and demolition will not be mandatory. However, the cleanup contractor was aware that if the facility became contaminated with radioactive material, there would be another lucrative cleanup project down the road; even though the facility would never have performed its assigned tasks.
Robert H. Leyse
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