ITHACA, N.Y. -- Spent nuclear fuel has been removed from Cornell University's inoperative research reactor at the Ward Center for Nuclear Sciences and deposited in a nuclear materials storage site maintained by the U.S. Department of Energy, university officials announced today (Dec. 2).

The removal of the spent nuclear fuel from the Teaching, Research, Isotope, General Atomics (TRIGA) reactor is a phase of the decommissioning process for Ward Lab. The university shut down the small-scale teaching and research reactor June 30, 2002, so that the building can be used for other academic purposes.

The nuclear material was removed from Ward Lab during the week of Nov. 10 by a licensed contractor, NAC International Inc. The process was conducted under tight security procedures mandated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), which regulates the decommissioning of licensed nuclear facilities in the United States. Because of federal mandates related to national security, Cornell officials could not announce the timing or details of the transfer of the material until at least 10 days after its arrival at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory facility in Idaho Falls, Idaho. The shipment from Cornell arrived at the storage site Nov. 20.

Other federal agencies involved in the spent nuclear fuel transfer were the U.S. departments of Energy, Transportation and Homeland Security.

The process was overseen by the Office of the Vice Provost for Research at Cornell.

In accordance with a 1975 City of Ithaca ordinance regarding the transport of high-level radioactive waste through the city, Cornell officials met with Mayor Alan Cohen and Police Chief Victor Loo before the removal process was undertaken to inform them of the impending event.

Charles Fay, vice provost for research administration, said the Ward Lab facility will undergo further decommissioning, including dismantling of the TRIGA reactor now that the radioactive fuel rods have been removed. Final decommissioning and release of the facility for unrestricted use is expected to be completed by late 2004, he said.