Demolition begins on Portsmouth’s largest processing building – American Nuclear Society

Report on the Decommissioning of the Portsmouth X-333 Facility and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Project Overview and Strategic Objectives

The demolition of the X-333 Process Building at the Portsmouth Site has commenced, representing a critical phase in the site’s final cleanup and environmental remediation. This initiative is fundamentally aligned with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aiming to transform a legacy industrial site into a safe and productive asset for future generations.

Historical Context: The Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant

• The plant consisted of three primary process buildings: X-326, X-330, and X-333.
• Its mission included enriching uranium for national defense and, subsequently, for commercial nuclear power generation.
• Operations ceased in 2001, initiating a long-term decommissioning and cleanup process.
• The X-333 building, with 66 acres of floor space, served as the entry point for feed material into the enrichment cascade.

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The project’s execution and objectives directly support the global agenda for sustainable development.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth & SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The primary goal of the cleanup is to prepare the land for future economic use, fostering local job creation and sustainable industrial growth.
• By safely decommissioning a former industrial site, the project contributes to making the community safer, more resilient, and prepared for sustainable development, a core tenet of SDG 11.
• As stated by Portsmouth Site Lead Jeremy Davis, the demolition will “position the site to support the community’s future economic development vision.”

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being & SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• The deactivation process involves the meticulous removal of hazardous materials, including asbestos and radiological contaminants, directly safeguarding the health and well-being of the community and workers.
• The project exemplifies responsible management of waste from past production patterns. A controlled demolition process ensures materials are downsized and managed for disposal at the On-Site Waste Disposal Facility, aligning with principles of responsible waste management under SDG 12.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• This large-scale decommissioning is an advanced industrial and infrastructure project that utilizes innovative techniques and applies lessons learned from the prior demolition of the X-326 building.
• The successful remediation paves the way for the development of new, resilient, and sustainable infrastructure on the reclaimed land.

Project Execution and Timeline

The demolition is projected to take approximately five years, with opportunities for accelerated completion.

Deactivation Phase

Completed by the end of 2024, the deactivation phase included the following critical steps:

1. Radiological characterization of the building and its equipment.
2. Isolation and disconnection of utilities and process equipment.
3. Removal of asbestos and other hazardous waste materials.
4. Segmentation and preparation of waste for shipment or final disposal.

Demolition Methodology

• A controlled demolition process is being employed, dismantling the structure piece by piece.
• Operators are cutting through structural steel and downsizing debris for safe handling.
• All resulting debris is managed and transferred to the site’s dedicated waste disposal facility.
• Federal Project Director Christy Brown noted the technical challenges associated with the building’s significant size, which distinguishes it from previous demolition activities on site.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The article explicitly states that the cleanup project aims to “further position the site to support the community’s future economic development vision for the site.” This directly connects the demolition and environmental remediation efforts to future economic opportunities and growth for the community.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • The project involves the decommissioning and demolition of old, hazardous industrial infrastructure (a former uranium enrichment plant). This is a critical first step in retrofitting and redeveloping industrial sites for new, potentially more sustainable purposes, aligning with the goal of building resilient infrastructure.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The cleanup of a large, contaminated industrial site within a community is a key aspect of making that community safer and more sustainable. The article’s focus on managing hazardous and radiological waste contributes to reducing the adverse environmental impact on the area.
4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • The article details the process of managing waste from the decommissioned facility. It describes the “environmentally sound management” of hazardous materials, which is a core component of this SDG. The text mentions “removing asbestos and other hazardous waste” and ensuring proper disposal, which aligns with sustainable production and waste management patterns.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation.
   • The article’s statement about supporting the “community’s future economic development vision” implies preparing the land for new, productive economic activities, which is the essence of this target.
2. Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being.
   • The demolition of the obsolete and hazardous X-333 building is a prerequisite for any future development of sustainable infrastructure on the site. The cleanup prepares the ground for new industrial or commercial use.
3. Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
   • The project directly addresses this target by managing and disposing of hazardous materials from a former industrial site. The article details the “deactivation of X-333,” which included removing asbestos, hazardous waste, and radiological materials, thereby reducing environmental risks for the community.
4. Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle… and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
   • The article provides a clear example of this target in action. The process described involves “characterizing the building and equipment from a radiological standpoint,” “removing asbestos and other hazardous waste,” and downsizing “the debris for disposal at Portsmouth’s On-Site Waste Disposal Facility.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator for Hazardous Waste Management (Targets 11.6 and 12.4)
   • The article implies several indicators of progress in waste management. These include:
     • The completion of specific actions such as the “removing asbestos and other hazardous waste.”
     • The amount of debris processed and sent for disposal to the “On-Site Waste Disposal Facility.”
     • The completion of key project milestones, such as the “demolition of the X-326 Process Building” in June 2022 and the ongoing demolition of the X-333 building.
2. Indicator for Land Remediation and Redevelopment (Targets 8.2 and 9.1)
   • The primary indicator mentioned is the progress of the cleanup itself. The article notes that the “start of X-333 Process Building demolition marks the next significant step in the final cleanup of the Portsmouth Site.” The successful completion of this demolition, which is expected to take about five years, serves as a direct measure of progress toward making the land available for future economic development.

Summary Table

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: ans.org