Yankee Rowe Nuclear Plant Decommissioning

Cianbro completed decommissioning work at the Yankee Rowe Nuclear Plant.

Project Details prior to 2005:  Cianbro-

• Performed engineering for the decommissioning work package development
• Removed plant components, including pumps, piping, turbine casings, and inner cylinders
• Removed primary auxiliary building equipment
• Assisted with the removal and transportation of the reactor vessel
• Welded the cover on the shielded container for the reactor vessel
• Performed radioactive decontamination of steel and concrete structures
• Remediated environmental hazards from PCBs and lead paint

Project Details succeeding 2005: 

• Demolished the reactor support and vapor containment structure, discharge structure, fuel storage vault, portions of the spent fuel pool structure, as well as the intake screenwell and pumphouse structure
• Demolished the fuel oil transfer house, ion exchange pit structure, fuel transfer chute in SFP, waste disposal building, VC access tower/elevator tower foundation, compactor building, SI/DG building, service building and annex, turbine building and auxiliary bay with control room, discharge structure, miscellaneous tanks and equipment foundations, stores warehouse, miscellaneous pipes, drains, rail road tracks, manholes, and duct banks
• Placement of flowable fill in 120 inch and 36 inch CMP at the Intake Structure and Seal Pit
• Environmental sampling, groundwater management, and general backfilling
• Final site grading as well as placement of imported topsoil and plantings

 Yankee Rowe Vertical Concrete Cask Installation

Cianbro constructed 16 vertical concrete casks for onsite storage of spent nuclear fuel.

Project Details

• Installed 3 inch thick, mild steel containment liners and base weldments
• Placed 384 cy of concrete
• Assembled inlet and outlet air vents as well as other associated components
• All work was performed in compliance with Nuclear Regulatory Commission standards

Unique Challenges

Due to the remote location of the nuclear plant, the Cianbro/NAC team closely monitored concrete deliveries to ensure QA/QC standards.  The reinforced steel quality control tolerance of 1/8 inch of variance was maintained.