Radiological Threat Inside Abandoned Washington State Nuclear Reactor
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ต.ค. 2024
- The Satsop Nuclear Power Station in Elma, Washington was never finished and is one of the largest bond defaults in US history at $2.2 Billion. But even though this facility has never been used to generate any power, it has been used to train emergency services on different scenarios. Some of which involve real radioactive sources as a threat. In this exercise the reactor building was made to simulate a below deck area of a Naval ship that had radiological experiments happening on the lower decks. Lost of power and explosions crippled the ship...for the exercise. Firefighters needed to check entire operating area for casualties and proceed safely through radiological threat areas.
Special thanks to ERTI for inviting me to this training exercise.
www.erti.org/
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I cannot stress more that this is one of the most interesting channels dedicated to radiation. Thank you for those shots of emergency training. Shot like a movie!
I worked for Ebasco Services as a Piping/Mechanical Engineer building Satsop #3 in 1981. I saw cooling tower #5 being constructed (awesome slip-ring concrete pour) and the #3 reactor, steam generators, and containment dome being set using the largest mobile crane in the world. We set an industry record 50% project completion in 2 years while I was there. Glad to see Satsop has been put to some really great use. Sadly though, it looks like an operating Nuke Plant on the electrical grid would be helpful right now. Your video brings back many memories and is very well done, Great job!
Glad you enjoyed the video. Must have been pretty awesome building that place. It’s such an amazing location. It’s a shame it isn’t producing power. But I’m glad it’s still standing.
@@RadioactiveDrew Thanks for the reply, I'll have to check out some of your other videos. Later in my career I worked at an operating Nuke plant including looking into an opened reactor vessel during refueling. There were colors of green and violet reflecting off the walls I've seen nowhere else except maybe in sifi movies. lol. I have lots of stories. Just subscribed.
I hope one day I’ll be able to see something like that as well. The video I shot at the San Onofre plant was fun to make. But that reactor was in the process of being decommissioned. So no blue glow from fuel elements.
I grew up in the PNW. I actually applied for a job at Satsop when they converted the buildings on site to a tech incubator. It's REALLY sad that they didn't complete this plant... it would have made energy a LOT more affordable for people living in western WA/OR.
If anyone gets the chance to volunteer for a major disaster drill, DO IT! It's such a unique experience that just can't be described.
Here in Phx Az, when they built the deck park tunnel for the I-10 freeway, they had a drill for a mass casualty event in the tunnel that I participated in. Everything from flying out the most critical on helicopters to moving multiple walking wounded at once, they did it all. And being that the freeway wasn't in use yet they had the freedom to do everything they needed to do to prove to a nervous public they were ready for it.
An immense once in a lifetime opportunity I'm so proud I played a tiny part in.
that was very interesting to watch. I was surprised how immersive that exercise looked! Thank you for sharing
Fantastic footage! It must have been a great experience to see fireman in action
It was pretty cool. I hope to do it again some day.
WOW on your drone shot! And the cinematics! Then time lapsed view.... great shots!
Drew, you have absolutely earned my subscription and so much more. This is a great channel with original content and you are destined for TH-cam and mortality. Thank you so much for sharing the interesting parts of your life as great TH-cam content. Radioactivity is a mysterious subject that a lot of people have a tremendous curiosity about. Thanks again for the great content!
The cinematography is something amazing.
Where was this channel hiding?
Nuclear engineering Masters student here - this was absolutely amazing! Great info, and top tier cinematography! Keep it up! Maybe a visit to Hanford?
I grew up in Kennewick, my father was a project manager on the Hanford site. It's hard to get a pass in, it's really hard for someone with a camera to get a pass in. The only reason I ever got on site was for take your kid to work day, in '95 I think. If you really want info on it, check with the Richland, WA chamber of commerce, they can probably direct you to the government websites that are available for it. I would be interested in finding out how much radiation is leaking out into the Columbia River though. Not sure how someone would go about that, but it'd be interesting to find out.
They offer tours of B Reactor but I might know someone that could get me a slightly better tour than that. Still working on this one.
@@RadioactiveDrew I'm from Kennewick, and actually worked out at the Hanford area for one of the subcontractors as a mixed waste nuclear operator.. they would pull the radioactive waste that was buried, kick it into our rad zone, and we were responsible for what we called "shwacking" the waste, breaking it all down and repackaging and macro-encapsilating into boxes that then got shipped down to WHIPP. I also got to deal with the high level transuranic waste being repackaged as well... Did it all by hand, or with any tools necessary to get the job done! I loved that work! Get yourself a tour of one of those facilities doing the real true grunt work, and that's where you get to really see the actual clean up process truly getting done!!
@@sheebzT509 I'm hoping to do a private tour of the Hanford site and make a video about that place.
@@RadioactiveDrew yes do that, and hopefully they take you on a tour of the brand new vitrification plant that was just built to treat the liquid tank farm waste on site! But as far as the cleanup process goes, I gotta admit that alot of it happens "off-site" sorta lol, using the smaller sub-contractors. If your able to get the chance to set up a private tour of their processes and treatments, set one up with the company PermaFix NW, you won't be disappointed at all... That's where the action will be at that I'm sure you'd be surprised to see!
Man that was impressive.
Makes my MOPP 4 training in the military look like childs-play.
It was super intense filming all of this. I think I still have hearing damage from those chop saws.
So cool to see someone talking about this place, I've lived in the city down the road my entire life. I never really get to see an outsider talking about places near me!
It’s one of my favorite places to go to.
@@RadioactiveDrew Glad to hear it. It's one of mine too. For different reasons I'm sure.
It should be noted that Seattle FD had recent practical experience responding to a radiological threat in the middle of the city.
On May 2nd, 2019 the UW Harborview research hospital was contaminated by a botched decommissioning of a blood irradiator device. SFD responded and worked with the NRC in the response.
I heard about this from one of the Hazmat guys when I was out on the exercise.
It wasn't just them, several companies nuclear operators and IH's and HPT's responded to deal with the contamination cleanup efforts, it ended up taking a couple months even actually...
@@sheebzT509yes it was them do your research before you post ffs 🙄
Great video drew cheers my friend
Thanks.
I commend my Naval fire training for saving me in two different fire situations years later.🌟
So cool, drive right past this on the way to in-laws. Glad to see it's being used for more than vehicle parking. Thank you for the video!
most underated channel
When I was in the army stationed at Fort Lewis my unit actually trained there with sim rounds. Its absolute catacombs underground
Yeah, that’s where the training was held. You could very easily get lost down there. To solve for that problem they do have arrows pointing the way out.
Your channel is simply amazing!
Thanks. Glad you’re enjoying it.
I'm a Firefighter in Oregon. The maps on the pack is brilliant.
Those maps came in handy. That place was a maze when you were down in the lower levels.
@RadioactiveDrew If you're interested in doing something like that again. I might be able to arrange it. How can we get in touch?
@@RTWGraphics hit me up at radioactivedrew at gmail.
@@RadioactiveDrew You got it! Thx
@RadioactiveDrew I sent you an email.
Used to see those towers on my trip from Seattle to Montesano to visit a girlfriend! Always wondered what the place looked like...
I’ve been there! I believe it is a purchased of Washington Public Power Supply System. They tried to build 5 plants a once. But when I worked there there were so many expensive changes all the time they kind of went broke. Then they started selling then selling them off by the “bond” system. What a nightmare it was. One reactor out of 5 ever ran.
None of the reactors were ever fired up. The one we were filming this in was built to about 75% completion.
@@RadioactiveDrew You said "None of the reactors were ever fired up."
WPPSS #2 / WNP-2 (now Energy Northwest Columbia Generating Station) north of Richland, WA out on the Hanford Site went into commercial operation in December of 1984, is currently (05/14/2024) online at 100% power, and was recently re-licensed to operate until December 2042. WNP-1 and WNP-4 are adjacent but were never completed.
I drive by the facility on my way to work 4 days per week. On a cool/cold day you can see the vapor plume from the cooling tower from literally miles away. Due to the local topography and wind patterns, said plume frequently resembles a classic "mushroom cloud". It can be hilarious to watch the facial expressions on non-locals when they ask what the mushroom cloud is and you reply "oh, that's just the nuclear power plant"...
Here is a satellite view of CGS:
www.google.com/maps/@46.4711873,-119.3262311,2576m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu
I probably clicked on the wrong video for a megalophobe who is deathly terrified of huge industrial spaces like this one, but heaven save me if this video isn't fascinating the heck out of me, even though I am not even two minutes into the runtime!
It was very interesting for me to be there and see these people work. It was also one of the loudest environments I have ever been in.
@@RadioactiveDrew I'm sure of it. I imagine they made you use hearing protection for that very reason. I predict the sound pressure levels were easily peaking at 130-140 dB during those tests.
Out of curiosity, what were they using for their radiological sources for the drill? Thanks for sharing!!!
We were using a mix of radium doped items, like gauges and deck markers along with a bunch of uranium ore samples. That's how I got invited out, I sold the company a bunch of uranium ore to use for the exercise and brought out some of my radium sources. It was fun using sources to setup an area that the firefighters had to figure out.
@@RadioactiveDrew Cool!!!
Excellent content! Keep it up.
Are those firies wearing red and green lights as "port" and "starboard" markers, more or less (despite some being on the wrong side)? I can see how that might help people orientate themselves in relation to others, or maybe it's just coincidence.
ooo very impressive fotage. keep it up man)
Thanks.
Any plans to go to Hanford in Washington State?
great stuff..why the 1st fireman was lighted like a christmas tree?
This drill took place during Christmas. Christmas tree man and Rudolph the red nose reindeer, went on a mission to free Santa Claus. Rudolph's nose was glowing in the dark due to intense radiation (over the GM counter scale). I hope this helps.
Seems like it was just for decoration and to be highly visible.
Incredible Video!
Thanks.
A video topic that people might find interesting would be an explanation of the different radiation amounts measurement units and how they affect people. To some the idea of microceverts, millirim and other radioactivity units of measure are just abstract numbers that are not relatable to a real world effect on a human being or other biological entity. It would be interesting to know how long the average human could be subjected to x amount of radiation for how long before different effects occur. Thank you for the great content
Did you have an oxygen tank to use while filming in the smoke? Way cool film --I subscribed!
I see these guys are wearing closed circuit SCBA. Same our fire department used during a mining operation for mine rescue.
I would imagine that’s pretty standard for most fire departments during an emergency operation.
I would have much more faith in atomic reactors if designers would just put the calandria a couple of hundred feet below ground. I've never heard a straight answer as to why this isn't done.
What airpacks/packs are those on their backs? It obviously is an airpack but do you know what the name of them was like MSA or Scott, or what the packs themselves are called?
I think the name of them is on the side of the air units. I believe it was a German company that made them. I could be wrong but that’s what I remember.
@@RadioactiveDrew I found it!
Heres a little info,
Dräger or Draeger BG 4 Plus Closed Circuit Breathing Apparatus Rebreather, its a hybrid PAPR and SCBA system apparently, also I enjoy yer videos keep up the good work!
@@miurako8900 thanks for finding that.
Have you ever been to the abandoned lockhead and martin missile testing site in the hills of Beaumont ca next to lambs canyon
I don’t think so…sounds cool.
nice video, i like your shirt, where did you buy it?
Here's a link to the exact shirt I was wearing in the beginning of the video. www.exofficio.com/men/tops/shirts/mens-air-strip-long-sleeve-shirt/AFS_613543164933.html
Locals tend to pronounce it as Sat Sup... Good vid.
HEY DREW! Could you do a video about stripping the radioactive paint from the orange/red fiesta ware and making a radioactive sphere out of it??
That does sound interesting. I have a bunch of uranium glazed items and I've always wondered how much uranium is on them.
@@RadioactiveDrew that'd make an awesome and informative video, plus im curious because I've been told that the radiation given off by the paint increases when scraped or chipped!
Bad idea. It's not "paint"... it's glaze. Doing that type of thing can get you in trouble with the NRC and EPA. Hazmat van, cleanup crew, etc. Not advised. Occasionally a raid shows up in the media when someone gets busted. One happened a few years ago at an Idaho apartment complex. Big mess. The guy probably got evicted. I heard the bill starts out at $250,000 to the landlord and goes up from there. Same goes for extracting radium from paint and Americium from smoke detector sources. Leave the isotopes intact where they are in these vintage antiques and they are allowed to be used as safe test sources around the house.
@@RadioactiveDrew Best not to mess with it. Cody's Lab also got a gentle raid by the authorities for extracting uranium from ore and chemical processing. The NRC doesn't want you making changes to stuff. They confiscated some of his gear like a centrifuge and other stuff due to contamination issues. He didn't even have an alpha sensitive geiger counter and was making videos with visible fumes/steam coming off. Wasn't wearing a proper respirator, etc. Pretty cavalier and not in a good way for long term health.
@@nefariumxxx my bad i called it "paint" that obviously bothers you. And i suggest you go check out Nile red/ Nile blues youtube channels, he SAFELY handles operations way stronger then this just fine. And nobody raids his house. Glad youtube made you the radiation police though!
So fascinating!!!!
Nuclear projects west of I-5 were discontinued when the Cascadia Subduction Zone fault and it's potential for devastating earthquakes was discovered.
I think there’s more to it than that.
@@RadioactiveDrew perhaps, but the nuclear building plans/projects were mentioned specifically in studies of the Cascadia Subduction Zone. I love here... I've been researching that and other potential natural disasters, etc.
I recall that...
It was called "WOOPS".
I’ve heard it referred to as that as well.
Looks like a movie. Reminds me of Aliens[1986].
Awesome thanks
i would give it a score of 3.6 roentgen, not great, not terrible
As a Washingtonian it’s Kinda upsetting that thy are allowed to actually destroy a historical structure like this. I had to stop watching because it was just pissing me off.
They didn't destroy anything in this video. All the cutting was from steel they installed for the exercise.
Good video but when you say "reactor vessel" I think you mean "reactor building". The reactor vessel was probably about 1000 tons of steel but it didn't have "rooms" in it and I expect it was scrapped.
Sorry I should have said 100 tons
Is that where they filmed the abyss movie using the water pool?
No...I think that one is out towards the East Coast.
They also filmed some pretty popular movies there 🎥
So I've been told.
Very nice
I like the guy dressed as a Christmas tree
Drew, did you guys notice a three dot lazer pattern on anyones forehead? Or maybe Arnold running around, looking like a poodle when it sees a bulldog? Who needs a SFX department when you have these guys? Great entertainment if it weren't so damned serious. Seriously, aside from knowing your way around radiological hazards, your handling of sound and lighting is tremendous.
Very interesting. Thank you for sharing.
My daughter wants to know if Mr Christmas lights was like an instructor, observer to score them, or if someone would go in real world looking like they're ready for a Christmas party.
Obviously it's for high visibility but her 11 year old self would love clarification.
I'm not sure if it was just for the exercise or if Christmas Lights always has those lights on his setup. He wasn't an observer but it did seem like he might have had some kind of higher roll that most.
There were observers and people to help the firefighters with navigating the exercise...so they didn't cut through something they weren't suppose to.
Also there were a couple women on the team. One of them was working the cutting torch in the video. Figured I would throw that info in so your daughter could know.
The more I know about radtion the less I wanna know so in EMS after event God forbid there was one.We were taught to check body's by giving the foot a gentile kick no movement move on any movement act fast.
10% for the big guy.
Radiological Threat TRAINING Inside Abandoned….
Why the scare tactic title?
The idea is to get people to watch the video as they are scrolling through a bunch of other content. So its not to scare people but to peak their interest.
@@RadioactiveDrew
It’s misleading due to the fact it’s not truthful. It’s better to peak someone’s interest with a smartly worded and honest title.
@@ClagwellsGarage it is truthful. They are in an abandoned nuclear reactor and they are dealing with a radiation threat...but its all part of a training exercise.
@@RadioactiveDrew
It’s not a threat. It’s a low activity training source for emergency crews to practice with. I know you know this.
@@ClagwellsGarage in the scope of the training exercise it was a radiological threat. That is how it was identified.
Hey AW you probably drove close to where I live .
Next time your out in washington let me know cheers. Jamie.
The public are currently enjoying the end result of their ignorance regarding nuclear power as we speak. I am going to try not to smile or gloat but no promises. Anyway my face should not be visible in the dark.
Nu-clear
I love the content but pronouncing "Nuclear" (Nu Clear) as "nukilar" bugs me
can a simple person get in there and shoot a video?)
No. To do this video I had to plan it out with the public information officer at the site. That took a couple months of back and forth. Plus myself and my other cameraman had to do a security background check before we could be let into the sensitive areas of the site. They do offer a tour there but I feel like you don't get to see everything I showed in this video.
Nu-cle-ur. Nuclear. Not nucular......
There is no such thing as a "nucular" facility..