A59 Decommissioning and Redmediation

March 30, 2009

In March 2009 the A59 Decommissioning Project was completed at Winfrith. The Active Handling Building, A59, was built and commissioned in the mid 1960s to carry out Post Irradiation Examination (PIE) on spent nuclear fuels and other radioactive materials. A59 housed a range of radioactive handling facilities including massively shielded cave lines and associated services. A59 was a significant category 1 nuclear facility and is one of the first of its type to be decommissioned.

A59 is a major decommissioning project and has been successfully achieved within the sanctioned programme and cost. Safety management was good and an excellent safety record was maintained throughout. Decommissioning work started in 2000 and was carried out under contract by Nuvia (then RWE Nukem) under UKAEA management
(now RSRL). Demolition was completed in July 2008, site remediation was completed in December 2008 and demobilisation was completed in March 2009.

Significant quantities of waste have been produced; 2,100 tonnes of LLW, 4,000 of potential VLLW, and 7,700 tonnes of clean and exempt waste. In addition 5,500 tonnes of clean soil was excavated as part of the decommissioning works and returned as backfill during remediation.

For more information please contact: Emma Burwood, Winfrith Communications Manager