| One of the first cleanup activities initiated at the site was the decontamination and dismantlement of the 43 buildings and structures that made up the former Chemical Plant. The buildings were initially surveyed to determine the extent of chemical and radiological contamination. Asbestos, residual product, and chemicals were removed. Then, an aggressive vacuuming and washing of equipment exteriors and building interiors prepared the buildings for dismantlement.
Dismantlement began with the removal of all siding. The shells of the buildings were then dismantled to the top of their foundations using traditional demolition methods. Finally, the building foundations, and the contaminated soils beneath them were excavated.
Chemically and radioactively contaminated materials were stored on-site and later placed in the disposal cell.
Dust-control measures, such as wetting and covering surfaces, were used in order to keep airborne particulates down. All of this was done in order to ensure that neither the workers on-site, nor the people nearby were affected by the cleanup.
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