The TAT’s overarching conclusion is that chemically incompatible contents of Drum 68660 from Los Alamos National Laboratory in combination with physical conditions (e.g., the configuration of the materials in the drum) supported exothermic chemical reactions leading to a thermal runaway; the consequent build-up of gases within the drum displaced the drum lid, venting radioactive materials and hot matter that further reacted with air or other materials outside the drum to cause the damage observed in WIPP P7R7.
The following key judgments led to and support that conclusion:
Key Judgment 1: Contents of Drum 68660 were chemically incompatible.
Key Judgment 2: Drum 68660 breached as the result of internal chemical reactions that generated heat and produced gases that built up pressure sufficient to overcome the drum vent and seal.
Key Judgment 3: Drum 68660 was the source of the radiological contamination in WIPP.
Key Judgment 4: Initiation of the thermal runaway was internal and not caused by phenomena outside Drum 68660.
Key Judgment 5: Thermal and pressure effects resulted in the movement of material during the release event and caused the damage observed in WIPP P7R7; the release did not result from a detonation.
http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2015/03/f20/MARCH%202015%20-%20FINAL%20TECHNICAL%20ASSESSMENT%20TEAM%20REPORT.pdf
The following key judgments led to and support that conclusion:
Key Judgment 1: Contents of Drum 68660 were chemically incompatible.
Key Judgment 2: Drum 68660 breached as the result of internal chemical reactions that generated heat and produced gases that built up pressure sufficient to overcome the drum vent and seal.
Key Judgment 3: Drum 68660 was the source of the radiological contamination in WIPP.
Key Judgment 4: Initiation of the thermal runaway was internal and not caused by phenomena outside Drum 68660.
Key Judgment 5: Thermal and pressure effects resulted in the movement of material during the release event and caused the damage observed in WIPP P7R7; the release did not result from a detonation.
http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2015/03/f20/MARCH%202015%20-%20FINAL%20TECHNICAL%20ASSESSMENT%20TEAM%20REPORT.pdf
Comments
Sour grapes? It is the free market "for profit" right of LANSLLNS stakeholders to review, evaluate, and value business performance and gross failures. Just like "Google and Apple" are evaluated. The investment dollar stakeholder being the American taxpayer for LANSLLNS.
Time to dump this stock in favor of a competent company.
Obvious Judgement 7. Personal protection procedures and practices kept personnel exposure to within Radiation worker limits.
Mischief managed. Back to work.
March 28, 2015 at 4:52 PM
Since the government doesn't, why should I??
Lesson learned.
Dr. Victor Reis, former Assistant Secretary for Defense Programs, DP-1, Department of Energy, 1997
Dr. Victor Reis, former Assistant Secretary for Defense Programs, DP-1, Department of Energy, 1997
March 31, 2015 at 4:02 AM
Vic Reis also stated that the privatization of the labs has been a failure.
March 31, 2015 at 5:53 PM"
Like what Vic Reis had say about safety and security issues at Los Alamos matters any longer. It obviously doesn't.
Especially since he never said it in the first place.
April 3, 2015 at 6:43 PM
Excuse me but a poster said he said this many times. By the rules of the modern society if something is repeated enough it is true, it is just the way it is. Everything is narrative and story nothing more nothing less. The idea of an external reality is naive and dangers.
Thank goodness we have managers like these brave two men leading LANL. Without them, this lab would probably be closed down by now. They deserve your loyalty and support. Give them 110% every day and watch LANS soar to new heights!