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DOE readies ET cover construction pending NRC concurrence; design aims to limit radon flux
Summary
DOE told the steering committee it submitted the remedial action plan for the evapotranspiration (ET) cover to the NRC and staged materials on site; modeling indicates expected radon flux is well below the cited design criterion, and DOE is prepared to begin phased construction once NRC concurrence is received.
DOE staff reported that the project submitted a redline/remedial action plan to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and hosted NRC personnel for a recent site visit. Project officials said NRC review and concurrence are needed before major ET cover construction begins, but they are staging rock and gravel on site and preparing to start work immediately once the NRC issues concurrence.
The ET cover concept described at the meeting would raise portions of the cover roughly 25 feet above surrounding grade in some areas but is intended to blend with local terrain once vegetated. DOE cited a design requirement to limit radon flux (the transcript references a design numeric of "20") and told the committee initial modeling predicts an expected flux well below that level (modeling cited expected flux <1 in the units given by project modeling). Officials emphasized the cover design and a radon barrier layer are intended to minimize radon emission and that early construction work is phased to fit into the project’s final task order.
Committee members asked about radon dissipation and winter inversions; DOE staff explained that radon decays on the order of days (term used in the meeting: ~3.8‑day decay) and that the cover design plus decay reduce potential offsite concentrations. DOE said the design process also includes limits on radon flux and that the NRC’s concurrence will confirm regulatory acceptability before full construction begins.
