A concerning find was recently made at the Savannah River Site’s F-Area Tank Farm, as revealed in a U.S. Department of Energy report on a strange incident involving the discovery of a radioactive wasp nest.
The wasp nest, discovered last month, was found to be contaminated with legacy radioactive material, prompting its removal and formal classification as radiological waste, according to the July 22 report.
The nest was discovered on July 3 by Radiological Control Operations (RCO) personnel and was soon determined to contain contamination levels greater than ten times the federal safety thresholds outlined in 10 CFR 835 Appendix D.
Officials said there was no sign of any recent radiation leaks, but instead attributed the unusually high readings to lingering contamination from the site’s Cold War-era nuclear activities, the Aiken Standard reported.
“Radiological Control Operation (RCO)discovered a wasp nest on a stanchion near 241-127F (adjacent to Tank 17) in a Controlled Area,” the DOE report states. After its discovery, it was promptly sprayed and surveyed, as no contaminated insects appeared to be active within the nest at the time of discovery.
“The wasp nest is considered onsite legacy radioactive contamination not related to a loss of contamination control,” the report states. “The delay in reporting was to allow time for reviewing previous wildlife contamination for consistency in reporting criteria.”
The DOE’s report on the incident states that the nest was found to emit 100,000 disintegrations per minute (dpm) per 100 square centimeters of beta/gamma radiation—significantly exceeding contamination limits.
Despite the nest’s elevated radioactivity, no surface contamination was detected on the surrounding ground or structures.
After it was sprayed, the nest was reportedly bagged and disposed of as radiological waste.
“There were no impacts to workers, the environment, or the public,” a Savannah River Mission Completion (SRMC) contractor confirmed in a statement. “The immediate area was secured and surveyed; no contamination was found in the area.”
Officials further clarified that no subcontractors had been involved with the discovery or removal of unusual discovery, and that no evidence of wasps had been found inside the nest. Even if the insects had been present, they likely would have carried far lower levels of radioactive contamination.
The Savannah River Site is a remnant of America’s Cold War-era nuclear weapons complex and continues to undergo environmental management and cleanup. Presently, the F Tank Farm, located at the center of the 310-square-mile Savannah River Site near Aiken, South Carolina, comprises 22 underground carbon steel tanks, each capable of holding between 750,000 and 1.3 million gallons of radioactive waste.
Following the discovery of the radioactive wasp nest, the DOE’s report was delayed to allow officials on-site to compare the situation to prior similar wildlife contamination incidents, and for meeting “consistency in reporting criteria,” per Manual 9B Procedure 1-0 Attachment 8.1.
“No further action required in the field,” the report stated of the incident.
Micah Hanks is the Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder of The Debrief. He can be reached by email at micah@thedebrief.org. Follow his work at micahhanks.com and on X: @MicahHanks.