Mihm letter: INL

The majority of the letters to the editor and guest opinions concerning the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) tend to be of a negative nature and are written from individuals who sit from afar of the daily activities that occur at the INL. I am by no means an expert on the INL, but did work for 35 years at several of the sites, and on various projects. I always considered it a special experience to work at a national lab here in Idaho, with some of the most gifted and intelligent engineers and scientists our colleges have to offer. All of whom are dedicated to using their talents to solve some of the most challenging and dangerous situations concerning nuclear research, retrieval of contaminated legacy materials, and development of the nuclear fuels of the future. I developed a special respect for the radiation workers at the “Burial Grounds,” as everyday they suited up in special anti-C clothing, with full-faced respirators, and proceeded into the pits to retrieve the highly contaminated materials contained in storage drums for processing. The risks they accept, and their willingness to perform the work safely, far outweigh any of the political schedules.

This story was originally published May 18, 2016 at 5:59 PM with the headline "Mihm letter: INL."