Southeast’s Top Projects - 2

Salt Waste Processing Facility

Project Cost: $617 million

The U. S. Department of Energy is constructing a salt waste processing facility at the Savannah River Site in Aiken, S.C. The plant will prepare highly radioactive salt solutions currently stored in underground tanks for disposition.

Parsons Infrastructure & Technology of Pasadena, Calif., began the project in December. Scope of work requires construction of five main structures, including the process building, with shielded structures to contain radioactive prcoess equipment and waste storage/staging tanks, and operations, maintenance, laboratory and administrative areas; an administration building; diesel generator building; compressor building; and Alpha Finishing Facility.

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Once operational in May 2013, the plant will process approximately 33 million gallons of stored radioactive liquid and salt cake. It will separate key high-activity radionuclides from the low-activity salt waste, using proven separation technologies of filtration and centrifugal contactors. After separation, the low-volume/high-activity salt waste will be vitrified in the Defense Waste Processing Facility and temporarily stored onsite until disposal in a geologic repository. The remaining high-volume/low-activity salt will be treated and disposed of onsite at the Saltstone Disposal Facility.

Key Facts:

Location: Aiken, S.C.
Owner: U. S. Department of Energy - Savannah River Site
Architect and Engineer: Parsons Infrastructure & Technology, Pasadena, Calif.
Start Date: December 2008
Completion Date: May 2013