Shutdown

“There’s a nuclear reactor in the LSC?”

That’s the most common response to the news that Dalhousie is disassembling and removing the SLOWPOKE reactor from the depths of the Life Sciences Centre.

And indeed there is, though not for much longer. SLOWPOKE (which stands for Safe LOW POwer Critical Experiment) was in use for 32 years, largely for neutron activation analysis by researchers in the Department of Chemistry. The core runs at a low enough temperature so that all types of samples, including sensitive biological samples and liquids, can be activated for analysis. Now that the research involving the reactor is completed, it will be removed from the campus.

The university has been rolling out a communications process that has involved meetings with the university’s Board of Directors, the Dalhousie University Community Committee and first responders such as HRM Police and Fire Departments. There will be an opportunity for broad-based consultation on Monday, Jan. 11 at the President’s annual meeting with the community and in the meantime, those on the “inside” will have the chance to learn details of the project on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 12:30 p.m. during a meeting in room 812 of the LSC.

“We’re looking forward to the opportunity to answer any questions Dal staff, faculty or students may have about the project,” says Ray Ilson, Dalhousie’s Director of Health and Safety. “There is a lot of planning involved in a project like this and people are understandably curious.”

The decommissioning will take place over approximately the next two years, within a strict legal framework established by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). The project will also be subject to all requirements of the Nova Scotia Departments of Labour and Environment, as well as those of the Halifax Regional Municipality.

Risk of contamination should not be a concern during the process. Throughout the decommissioning process, all materials will be removed, packaged and transported according to pre-approved plans and procedures so that no contamination of the environment or individuals is possible. “The facility is assessed at least weekly for contamination and there has never been any contamination discovered within the facility during 32 years of use,” notes Mr. Ilson.

Much of the next several months will involve planning and preparations for approvals of environmental assessment and licensing. Once the CNSC issues a “Licence to Decommission” Dalhousie can begin the actual decommissioning at which time the radioactive materials will removed. The CNSC will then issue a “Licence to Abandon” which will mean a clean bill of health for the facility and will allow the university to use the space for other purposes. Mr. Ilson points out that at that time the space will revert to so-called “green space” or, an area of the campus as “clean” and free of contaminants as anywhere else.

“Upon completion of the project, the space will be safe and available to the university for any use,” he suggests. “It’ll be that safe.”