Why This Ohio Town Has a Secret Nuclear Tomb
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Why This Ohio Town Has a Secret Nuclear Tomb
- Background and Location: Pickwa, located along the Miami River in Western Ohio, operated a unique nuclear power plant for just three years before its shutdown.
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The town became the first U.S. municipality to run its own commercial nuclear power plant.
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Plant Operation:
- The plant, commissioned in 1956 and officially opened in 1964, produced up to 40% of the town's electricity.
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It used an experimental chemical mixture called the Organically Moderated and Cooled Reactor (OMR) as a coolant instead of water.
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Technical Details:
- The OMR system operated at lower pressure (120 pounds per square inch) compared to standard reactors (over a thousand pounds).
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This allowed for thinner, cheaper steel piping and eliminated the need for massive containment structures.
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Operational Issues:
- By May 1964, operators noticed that the coolant was degrading into sludge due to intense radiation exposure.
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In early 1966, a routine control rod test revealed that the liquid had transformed into a rock-hard crust, blocking key components.
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Shut Down and Entombment:
- The plant was shut down in 1967 after just three years of operation due to operational issues.
- Federal officials opted for entombment rather than moving or dismantling the facility.
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Between 1967 and 1969, radioactive coolant and spent fuel were removed, and the reactor vessel was sealed with sand and concrete.
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Legacy:
- The steel dome remained standing above ground for decades until its removal in 2023.
- The site is now under long-term supervision by the Department of Energy.
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