Trench 94...google it.
This is the burial ground for (almost) every reactor compartment from every decomissioned naval nuclear vessel.
This is just the reactor compartment and the components within...the fuel itself has been removed.
These are considered "low level hazardous waste". Some of the structural materials, having been exposed to neutron radiation, have become "activated" and are thus radioactive. Some of the components within are internally contaminated due to activation of corrosion particles within the core, which then circulated through the primary system. The major isotope of concern is Cobalt-60 (halflife of 5.26 years).
When a nuclear ship is decommissioned, the entire reactor compartment is cut out, additional shielding installed with, and sealed. It's then shipped to Trench 94 at the Hanford site in Washington state.
Here's a cool Google Maps link to zoom in on:
https://www.google.com/maps/@46.5655198,-119.5202878,372m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en-US
And a fairly high resolution picture if you don't want to check the Google Maps link:
How big? The trench covers a bit over 120 acres...and is over 1,000 feet long. For perspective, here's a picture which shows a person walking among the reactor compartments.
And here's a picture of a submarine in drydock with the hull having been cut up. The portion on the right hand side of the picture is the reactor compartment section. And the hull is 2 inch thick HY-80 steel.
Again, you can see shipyard workers working around the area for perspective.
This is the burial ground for (almost) every reactor compartment from every decomissioned naval nuclear vessel.
This is just the reactor compartment and the components within...the fuel itself has been removed.
These are considered "low level hazardous waste". Some of the structural materials, having been exposed to neutron radiation, have become "activated" and are thus radioactive. Some of the components within are internally contaminated due to activation of corrosion particles within the core, which then circulated through the primary system. The major isotope of concern is Cobalt-60 (halflife of 5.26 years).
When a nuclear ship is decommissioned, the entire reactor compartment is cut out, additional shielding installed with, and sealed. It's then shipped to Trench 94 at the Hanford site in Washington state.
Here's a cool Google Maps link to zoom in on:
https://www.google.com/maps/@46.5655198,-119.5202878,372m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en-US
And a fairly high resolution picture if you don't want to check the Google Maps link:
How big? The trench covers a bit over 120 acres...and is over 1,000 feet long. For perspective, here's a picture which shows a person walking among the reactor compartments.
And here's a picture of a submarine in drydock with the hull having been cut up. The portion on the right hand side of the picture is the reactor compartment section. And the hull is 2 inch thick HY-80 steel.
Again, you can see shipyard workers working around the area for perspective.
Last edited:
