Dangerous Places

The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board in September identified the most serious infrastructure issues at Energy.

Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico

Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Facility: Has a 1-in-50 chance of seismic collapse during a 10-year time frame, which would result in the release of nuclear material.
Plutonium Facility, Technical Area 55: Lacks safety controls to protect the public in the event of seismic accidents.
Radioactive Liquid Waste Treatment Facility: Reached the end of its life in 2008, despite ongoing life-extension efforts.

Nevada National Security Site

Device Assembly Facility: Water tank and lead-ins are unreliable.

Pantex Plant, Texas

Site-Wide Fire Suppression System: Lead-ins are susceptible to corrosion (there have been 24 corrosion-related leaks since 1995) and are unreliable for fire suppression.

Y-12 National Security Complex, Tennessee

9212 Complex: The 59-year-old facility cannot meet requirements for nuclear facilities and has a sizable maintenance backlog.

Hanford Site, Washington

Tank Farms: Older tanks containing high-level radioactive waste have leaked.
T Plant Waste Treatment and Packaging Operations: Portions of the structure do not meet minimum standards of the American Concrete Institute.

Savannah River Site, South Carolina

H-Canyon: Age-related degradation could jeopardize safe operations.

Tank Farms: Older tanks containing high-level radioactive waste have leaked.