Dounreay Bulletin - Issue 12

9th October 2007

DOUNREAY ANNOUNCES PARTICLES CLEAN-UP PLAN.

The clean-up operation for radioactive particles offshore could be substantially complete within seven years while onshore monitoring with removal of detected particles would continue for a longer period if UKAEA's recommended way forward is accepted. See: http://www.ukaea.org.uk/news/2007/03-10-07.html

Meanwhile, selected papers from a particles conference held in 2005 have been revised and published in a special edition of the Journal of Radiological Protection. Vol 27 Number 3A, September 2007. See www.iop.org/journals/jrp

REACTOR POND FIRST TO BE CLEANED UP AT DOUNREAY
Dounreay has achieved another important milestone in its decommissioning programme with the draining of the Dounreay Materials Test Reactor fuel pond. The 17ft deep, stainless steel-clad fuel pond is the first on the site to be completely drained for decommissioning. Between 1964 and 2001, it was used for storage of fuel elements for materials test reactors from around the world. See:
http://www.ukaea.org.uk/sites/dounreay_project_updates.htm#oct0701

PREDATOR COMES TO DOUNREAY
Like something out of a James Bond movie the robotic arm known as Predator is remotely controlled using a similar concept to the

innovative new Wii technology. The Brokk 180 R robot is the first production-line heavy duty master slave manipulator of its size in the world, and has had its first European launch at the T3uk purpose built trials centre at Janetstown on the outskirts of Thurso. See:
http://www.ukaea.org.uk/sites/dounreay_project_updates.htm#sept0702

DFR SPHERE OPTIONS PUBLISHED
Dounreay has published a study of the options for the steel sphere that houses the Dounreay Fast Reactor. The report is a precursor to a heritage strategy to be carried out next year that will determine which aspects of the site should be preserved after the site has been decommissioned.
See:
http://www.ukaea.org.uk/downloads/dounreay/DFR%20Options%20Study%20Leaflet%20V1_lo.pdf

OCTOBER EDITION OF DOUNREAY NEWS
The latest edition of site newspaper Dounreay News has been published. See: http://www.ukaea.org.uk/news/publications_dounreay_news.html
www.ukaea.org.uk/news/publications_dounreay_news.html

DOUNREAY APPRENTICES RECEIVE THEIR CERTIFICATES
Ten Dounreay apprentices from UKAEA and Johnson Controls received their certificates of indenture from local MP John Thurso at an annual ceremony in Thurso. See:
http://www.ukaea.org.uk/sites/certificates_apprentices.html

DOUNREAY COMMUNITIES FUND
Over 125 requests for financial assistance have been received by the Dounreay Communities Fund since it was launched in April. So far, approximately £22,000 has been awarded.
See: http://www.ukaea.org.uk/sites/dounreay_local_sponsorship.html

REVIEW OF DOUNREAY'S STRATEGY FOR INTERMEDIATE LEVEL WASTE
A group of Dounreay managers made a week-long visit to CH2MHill and SA Robotics staff near Denver, USA, to fine-tune the programme for the intermediate level waste strategy on the Dounreay site.
http://www.ukaea.org.uk/sites/dounreay_project_updates.htm#oct0701

APPROVAL FOR SKILLS ACADEMY
An employer-led proposal has won government approval from the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) for the creation of a National Skills Academy for Nuclear. See: www.caithness-business.co.uk/article.php?id=656

A longer version of the Bulletin can be found at
http://www.ukaea.org.uk/news/bulletins/9-Oct-07.html