In the beginning there was Unemployment, then came the "Site Coordinator" for a Decontamination crew at the Nuclear Power Station in Zion Illinois. That person was looking for a replacement for the person he had just fired. I guess you could say I was in the right place at the right time, because I got the job. Nineteen years later I've finally decided to retire from the Nuclear Power Industry.
I've had the opportunity to work at twenty or so plants, all located East of the Mississippi River.
The first picture is "CATABWA" and the second is "OCONEE".Both plants are part of the Nuclear side of electrical power production for "Duke Energy" Both plant sites are located in South Carolina..
I also assisted in the Decommissioning of Shoreham Nuclear Power Station located at Long Island N.Y. When we were finished the plant was released for Unrestricted Access.
These pictures were taken inside the "REACTOR" building.
The first is the top of the Reactor vessel looking down from the Refuel floor. The second is inside the Drywell looking at the Bio-Shield wall (it is four Feet thick and completely surrounds the Reactor Vessel).
The first couple of jobs I worked as a Decontamination Technician, then after I had enough hours to advance, I started working as a Junior Radiation Protection Technician. A couple of years and 4,000 Hours later I became a Senior R.P. Technician. As a Senior Technician one of your many responsibilities is to survey certain areas of the plant for Radiation and Radioactive Contamination and document your findings. These documents (ie:plan-view survey maps) are used by the general work force in the daily jobs being preformed in the plant. These survey maps help the worker to know the Rad levels in the work areas and what precaution are needed to be taken and the dress requirements.
