Los Alamos begins project to remove historic facility
Work has started at the Department of Energy’s Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico to deactivate, decommission, and remove the Ion Beam Facility, which played a role in research and experiments that helped develop the nation’s nuclear arsenal during the 1950s and 1960s.
The facility housed two Van de Graaff accelerators, which at the time of construction were among the largest in the world. According to the DOE’s Environmental Management Los Alamos Field Office, the accelerators were some of LANL’s most significant scientific tools for conducting nuclear experiments.
The facility was built in 1951 on Test Area 03, a firing site during World War II's Manhattan Project. The facility produced nuclear weapons between 1952 and 1992.
Historical photos of the Ion Beam Facility. Left, The tower housed the vertical accelerator, with the tunnel connecting it to office buildings on the right. Center, The control room for the vertical Van de Graaff accelerator. Right, The south side of the Ion Beam Facility. (Photos: DOE)
The work: Demolition of the facility's administrative wing is expected to begin this fall, with the total removal project planned over five years. Work contractor Aptim Federal Services is managing the project.
As part of the initial project work, Aptim has set up work trailers, displayed safety signage, and constructed protective fencing. The work process includes removal of contaminants and, according to the DOE, prioritizing the protection of workers, the local community, and the environment.
Work crews have begun performing interior sampling at the estimated 60,000-square-foot facility to assess potential contamination. The crews are also conducting verification surveys to implement controls and safety measures during removal of materials. In addition, air monitoring will confirm that all controls are properly functioning during the project.
Aptim is working with the site’s management and operations contractor Triad National Security and the DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration Los Alamos Field Office on all areas of the project.
