Accidents

Poor Location choice

In the 1940s the Atomic Energy Commission needed a site for their lab that wasn’t close to the city, a “field” lab. They knew their dangerous experiments needed to be done in an area where people wouldn’t get hurt if there was any kind of nuclear accident. They conducted a General Reactor Site Survey to pick the safest spot.

Even though the SSFL was 5th out of 6th for meteorological characteristics (the winds could blow contamination toward populated areas) it was chosen because it was closest to the universities and the scientists didn’t want to drive as far to a safer location.

sre

Sodium Reactor Experiment (SRE), building 4143

Atomics International, a division of North American Aviation, used Area IV for the Sodium Reactor Experiment (SRE). The SRE operated at the site from 1957 to 1964, the reactor was removed in 1981 and the building torn down in 1999.

On July 12, 1959 thirteen of forty-three fuel rods in the SRE reactor core failed due to overheating. You can read the details about the SRE meltdown in Dr. Lochbaum’s Report.

According to eyewitness John Pace, in order to prevent an explosion the workers were told to vent the radioactive gasses into the open air. According to an analysis of a five-year study by a panel of independent scientists, the SRE accident spit out up to 459 times the amount of radiation released during the 1979 meltdown at Three Mile Island.

Eyewitness and former employee John Pace has shared publicly that he was told to vent the radioactive gases from the SRE out open doors to prevent an explosion. Pace’s story is featured in the Emmy-nominated documentary “In the Dark of the Valley.”

Exterior view of the SRE building 4143 (to the right)

Interior view of the SRE building 4143.

Documentation of the melted fuel rods from the SRE meltdown.

Video by Department of Energy after the Santa Susana Field Lab’s SRE meltdown.

Other nuclear accidents

1959: L-85/AE-6 REACTOR, BUILDING 0931

  • The AE6 reactor experienced a release of fission gases.

1964: SNAP8 Experimental REACTOR, BUILDING 057

  • The SNAP8ER experienced damage to 80% of its fuel.

1969: SNAP8 Development Reactor, BUILDING 057

  • Experienced damage to a third of its fuel

Plutonium Fuel Fabrication Facility, Building 0551 

Uranium Carbide Fuel Fabrication Facility, Building 005

Hot Lab Building 202

chemical leaks

Over 30,000 rocket engine tests were conducted at the SSFL from 1949 to 2006. Due to inadequate and faulty catch ponds, it’s estimated that 500,000 gallons of Trichloroethylene (TCE), a highly toxic solvent, was lost into the soil and groundwater. (1) Other volatile organic compounds have been detected in the SSFL groundwater such as trans-1,2-dichloroethylene, vinyl chloride, Freon-113, toluene, benzene, (2) and perchlorate. (3)

explosions

On December 11, 2002, a Department of Energy (DOE) official, Mike Lopez, described typical clean-up procedures executed by Field Lab employees in the past. Workers would dispose of barrels filled with highly toxic waste by shooting the barrels with rifles so that they would explode and release their contents into the air. It is unclear when this process ended, but for certain did end prior to the 1990s.

On July 26, 1994, two SSFL scientists, Otto K. Heiney, of Canoga Park, and physicist Larry Pugh, of Thousand Oaks, were killed when the chemicals they were illegally burning in open pits exploded. Lee Wells, an eyewitness to the explosion, suffered second and third degree burns. After a grand jury investigation and FBI raid on the facility, three Rocketdyne officials pleaded guilty in June 2004 to illegally storing explosive materials. The jury deadlocked on the more serious charges related to illegal burning of hazardous waste.

Los Angeles Times, 1996: Rockwell Faces U.S. Charges in Lab Deaths

Los Angeles Times, 2001: Illegal Burn Ordered, Chemist Testifies

Los Angeles Times, 2003: Scientist Fined $100 in Lab Blast That Killed 2

Los Angeles Times, 2003: Executive Sentenced in '94 Blast 

Los Angeles Times, 2002: Ex-Rocketdyne Worker Describes Fatal 1994 Blast

burn pits

To see Area 1 burn pit cleanup click here

There were two open-air burn pits used at the Santa Susana Field Lab. Area 1 was intended to burn chemical waste and Area IV was for radioactive waste. Studies have shown that radioactive waste was also disposed of in the Area 1 Burn Pit. The burn pits spread contamination through smoke and ash, leaving the soil heavily contaminated.

The Area 1 Burn pit area at the Santa Susana Field Lab covered 27 acres.

Firefighters practice extinguishing exotic fuel fires at the Area 1 Burn Pit.

Huge plumes of toxic smoke from the Area 1 Burn Pit.

Unclassified photo evidence of the Area 1 Burn Pit.

Fuel waiting to be burned at the Area 1 Burn Pit.

Firefighters hide behind shields while shooting barrels of waste.

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2007 Preliminary Assessment/Site Inspection Report SSFL California:

  • Extensive use of the most predominant hazardous substance at the site, trichloroethylene (TCE), has impacted the groundwater beneath the site. Several TCE plumes exist throughout the site. (PDF page 7)

  • It is estimated that up to 800,000 gallons of TCE were used to clean and flush out rocket engines after testing. Spent TCE was discharged from the test stands to a series of drainage channels and surface impoundments. Many of the drainage channels and impoundments were either unlined or lined with poorly maintained concrete. As a result, the groundwater beneath the site was contaminated with TCE. High concentrations of TCE remain in the groundwater. (PDF page 17)

  • TCE is not a naturally occurring substance and should not be present at background concentrations… The groundwater beneath the SSFL site continues to remain contaminated with TCE, with current data indicating concentrations as high as 110,000 ppb (State and Federal drinking water limits of 5 ppb). This release is attributable to the SSFL site because TCE has been used extensively throughout its operational history. (PDF page 14)

Preliminary Assessment/Site Inspection Report Santa Susana Field Laboratory Simi Valley, California: Although other volatile organic compounds, such as trans-1,2-dichloroethylene, vinyl chloride, Freon-113, toluene, and benzene, also have been detected, TCE is the compound detected with the highest concentration and greatest frequency. (PDF page 12)

Santa Susana Field Laboratory Groundwater Investigation: Perchlorate was detected in 56 of 277 wells at the SSFL. The highest concentration was measured at 1,600 parts per billion. (PDF page 8)