Final deactivation of FFTF to begin

Washington (Platts)--28Apr2005

Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) supporters denounced DOE's plans to start
draining tomorrow the last of the sodium coolant from the FFTF. The final
deactivation of the reactor will prevent it from future operations. FFTF
supporters had wanted to privatize the FFTF for production of medical isotopes
and possibly other uses. The reactor was in standby condition from 1992 until
April 2003, when liquid sodium was removed from the secondary loops. FFTF
boosters blamed DOE for putting the reactor on "death row" for 15 years
because of "cost-benefit market economics." Supporters said the government
found there was no "mission" because the U.S. "did not have an advanced
nuclear program or fusion program, whose materials and fuels the reactor was
designed to test."

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