INL presents on the state of cleanup efforts

A representative from INL presented an update on the state of the site cleanup efforts to the Environment, Energy and Technology Committee this week.

Exhumation and disposal of transuranic waste on site – including waste from the historically significant Pit 9 facility – has been the focus of this effort, with completion targeted by 2012. To date, INL is on schedule to meet all the parameters of the 2005 Batt agreement.

When complete, the INL will have reduced its footprint from an acreage of 775 acres to 250 acres, and from about 4 million to 2 million square feet of building. About $460 million in stimulus funding has been put to use in this effort.

INL representatives note that by 2015, if we can maintain funding, this footprint can be further reduced to one area and site cleanup completed, avoiding about 2 billion dollars in ongoing fees.

They are focusing on the Obama administration’s goal of presenting 20% of our energy from clean sources by 2035. Nuclear power, representatives say, is going to need to be a significant contributor if that’s to be realized. INL has made what they consider to be significant progress in the facility infrastructure over the past five years and even more will be made in the next five years to provide more clean energy.