The elimination of the "Vakulenchuk" radioactive waste storage facility in Zhytomyr region

Project of the Trust Fund for the Removal of Radioactive Resources in Ukraine "Liquidation of the radioactive waste repository stored at the Vakulenchuk facility of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (Vakulenchuk town of Zhytomyr region)"

In different regions of Ukraine there are facilities on the territory of which in specialized storage facilities (burial mounds)  the Armed Forces of the former USSR buried the radioactive waste generated as a result of the execution of military programs of the former USSR. It happened in the period from 1960 to 1990.

Ukraine asked for help in the liquidation of radioactive waste located at the Vakulenchuk facility of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (Vakulenchuk, Zhytomyr region) to eliminate their negative impact on the environment and population, and bringing the site to an environmentally safe condition.

NATO together with Ukraine launched a project on the disposal of such waste. This project is the aid to Ukraine. The project envisaged completion of work in three stages (preliminary survey, removal of radioactive waste and elements of storage, remediation of the territory) for one year. The project was launched on January 1, 2016, and completed according to the specified deadlines until December 31, 2016.

The mentioned project was implemented within the framework of the Implementation Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) on the re-containment of radioactive wastes formed as a result of the implementation of the military programs of the former USSR in Ukraine, signed on February 8, 2013 and ratified by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine 17 June 2015 (Law of Ukraine No. 526-VIII dated June 17, 2015).

The leading country in this project is the Federal Republic of Germany. NSPA is the Executive Agency and is responsible for all aspects of project management before its completion, in accordance with the policy of the Trust Fund of NATO.

The Ukrainian Agency of Exclusion Zone Management was a coordinator and beneficiary of Ukraine in support of radioactive waste management.

Stages of the Project implementation

  • Radiation survey of the object, study of historical information of the site with conducting radiological and environmental studies.
  • Preparation of technical solution, pre-treatment of waste, removal of radioactive waste, conditioning, packaging in appropriate containers and transport to the places of disposal.
  • Remediation of the territory of the object, restoration of the territory to its original state.

 

Status of the project implementation

In November 2015, the necessary procedures were completed and an authorization for the project was obtained. Potential performers registered on the NATO / NSPA website have received information to prepare for the international competition.

According to the preliminary research results, the presence of gamma, beta, alpha and neutron radiation and radioactive waste containing sources of cobalt (60Co), cesium (137Cs), strontium (90Sr) and plutonium (239 Pu) and radiation sources with rapid neutrons the dose rate reached 2500 mR / h. The exact dimensions of the waste as well as the precise engineering design of the burial well were unknown. In addition, there was a risk of leakage of these sources beyond the boundaries of the burial to the environment.

During February-May 2016 the work of phase 1 (survey and radiological research) was successfully carried out by the State Specialized Enterprise "Kyiv State Interregional Special Combine" and a map of radiation pollution was formed.

As a result of the international competition (NSPA, Luxembourg), on June 27, 2016, a contract was signed with the Project implementer - NT-ENGINEERING LLC for the implementation of the 2nd and 3rd stages of the works. During July 2016 the Contractor developed a Technical Decision for the implementation of the Project, which was agreed with the SNRCU of Ukraine. LLC "NT-ENGINEERING" received a license from the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine for the right to carry out activities for the reprocessing and removal of radioactive waste from the "Vakulenchuk" storage facility.

In the period from September 1 to December 31, 2016 NT-ENGINEERING LLC has successfully completed all the work in accordance with the Technical Decision, namely:

  • additional inspection, preparation of the site and full mobilization with the deployment on the spot of specialized equipment and equipment for the performance of work;
  • removal of solid radioactive waste from storage, their conditioning, containerization and transportation to burial sites;
  • the removal of liquid radioactive waste and its processing in solid radwaste, for their further transportation and disposal;
  • seizure, fragmentation and transportation of the body of the storage facility and the adjacent ground to the disposal sites;
  • complete remediation of the territory.

NT-ENGINEERING LLC implemented the Project in accordance with the requirements of the current state and international standards and regulations.
As a result of the work, a positive conclusion was obtained from the controlling bodies of the state authorities.
Today, the radiation background of the re-cultivated area meets the specified safe standards. The obtained experience is planned to be used in the future during the implementation of subsequent projects on the elimination of "historic" waste burial ground.

Results of the project implementation:

  • Ukraine has been assisted by NATO member countries in solving the problem of storage and liquidation of the historic radioactive waste storage facility;
  • Completely remediated territory where dangerous radioactive waste was stored;
  • The state of radiation safety has been improved and the threat of illegal distribution and use of these radioactive wastes has been eliminated, the level of social and psychological tension in the region has been reduced, and the negative impact of radioactive waste on the environment and public safety have been eliminated;
  • The key experience of realization of projects on liquidation of "historical" waste burial ground and other similar sites of uncontrolled storage of radioactive waste in the territory of Ukraine is worked out.


From the links below, you can watch video about the end of the project ...