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 August 3rd, 2007 by  MarkR
CHERNOBYL RADIATION RECONNAISSANCE ROUTE: An exclusive advanced information trip into the Chernobyl area… and much deeper.
The PRYPYAT.COM team has decided to further extend our cooperation with Sergii Mirnyi, and invited him to be the principal guide-instructor for the advanced information trip to the Chernobyl area (which we announced earlier). The offer was gratefully accepted, and designed was the following
PROGRAM for
Exclusive advanced information trip
into the Chernobyl area… and much deeper
‘CHERNOBYL RADIATION RECONNAISSANCE MISSION ROUTE‘
Saturday September 15, 2007
For the first time ever, the trip ‘Chernobyl radiation reconnaissance mission route’ makes public a successful professional and personal experience of Chernobyl victors – the radiation reconnaissance men. It combines it with the most advanced front-line knowledge of many diverse sciences, relevant to Chernobyl radiation accident and contemporary disasters, and delivers it in an understandable, normal human language and, moreover, even entertaining format – against the background of the most controversial patch of land at the globe, a so-called Chernobyl ‘dead’ zone of nowadays… and a likely Chernobyl national park of the future. The route of the trip follows the actual route of the first radiation reconnaissance missions, and weaves amidst impressive signs of the nuclear unit’s explosion and its effects’ mitigation, the colossal ruins and depopulated land with breathtakingly beautiful landscapes and flourishing wildlife.
The advanced trip is designed both for professionals, students and advanced general public, who are concerned with the issues of radiation, contamination and health in connection with the environment we live in now.
The trip will intellectually equip, practically train and psychologically empower you to successfully survive contemporary contamination accidents, especially radiation ones, or/and mitigate and study them. Moreover, the 1-day tour will teach you to navigate among the contemporary technogenic contamination hazards – both everyday ‘normal’ and extreme catastrophic ones. All this is achieved by employing the unique intellectual gainings of the Chernobyl radiation accident and possibilities of a present-day area with official name ‘the Chernobyl alienation/exclusion zone’ (Chernobylskaja zona otchuzhdenija). The educational trip generalizes and delivers in a nutshell a two-decade successful professional and personal experience of Chernobyl reconnaissance men, supported by a front-line complex multidisciplinary research of Chernobyl and contemporary disasters, and shaped in an entertaining and user-friendly way by vast and invariably successful international lecturing expertise of the principal guide-instructor.
The guide-instructor Sergii Mirnyi was a commander of radiation reconnaissance crew and platoon inside the Chernobyl zone several months after the explosion. He was the officer, responsible for management of the company’s radiation reconnaissance missions, and was cited for bravery and heroism by the Commander of Kiev Military District. He has MSc in physical chemistry and MSc in environmental sciences and policy, complemented by the courses of social sciences and humanities (history and literature). Now he is an expert in Chernobyl and the mitigation of radiation and ecological disasters, the author of scientific monograph on the actual state of the Chernobyl mitigation workers’ (liquidators’) health and several important international generalizing papers on Chernobyland regularities of contemporary disasters. He also wrote several books of Chernobyl prose, already translated into English and Hungarian, and two screenplays, decorated at prestigious international competitions Koronatsija slova [Crowning the word] (Kiev-2005) and Kinostsenariy [Screenplay] Magazine Competition (Moscow-1997).
For more info about the trip guide-instructor seeexcerpts of his earlier books, a recent pripyat.com-publication of his abstract for the conference on environmental education, and an announcement with report about a recent presentation of his screenplay.
During the exclusive advanced information trip YOU WILL:
- gain practical skills of successful survival in the circumstances and of research and mitigation of a contemporary contamination (and particularly radiation) accident, the skills well-checked and proven to be true by more than two decades of life and work of the Chernobyl radiation reconnaissance men
- measure radiation levels at the carefully selected set of representative points outside and inside the Chernobyl zone
- visit the most famous Chernobyl places: the Sarcophagus over the remnants of the exploded reactor of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the ghost town of Prypyat, the capital of the zone – the Chernobyl-town, several abandoned villages (one of them fully bulldozed), and – a special trait of this tour – the exit decontamination depots and the site of the military camp of the 25th brigade of chemical and radiation protection, which included a separate battalion of radiation reconnaissance
- acquire the skill of adequate comprehension and correct interpretation of the maps of contamination (both radiation and chemical)
- learn the general pattern(s) of the contamination spatial distribution and its intricate, sometimes quite unexpected changes with time, caused by mitigation works and natural reasons
- be introduced to the universal holistic model of a contemporary single-point contamination accident/catastrophe as a phenomenon in natural and social environments
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January 5th, 2007 by planca
| Darina Pustovaya
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Planned trip of Internet project PRIPYAT.com to the Zone on 23rd of December turned into not established research operation. As it turned out, the wave of marauding in Chernobyl Zone is blazing up again.The ‘ablution’ of Pripyat town is going by plan. Our enterprising citizens, remembering their pioneer competition with scrap metal collection, think of this process without haste. The central heating battery were cut and placed orderly in yards beforehand. You can just imagine the PRIPYAT.com’s amazement when they while walking in 4th microdistrict and checking the houses’ numeration for address book, accidentally met a ‘team’ of people, who were removing those very radiators. To catch such people is almost impossible at least because Pripyat is very big and to meet such ‘hunters’ is a great success.
The town is really a living being - got together former citizens and ‘team’ of that people including a man of 90th (with short haircut, in sport trousers, with mobile phone and very ‘cool’ look) and five loaders. Confused by serious faces and resolute gait of our colleagues, ‘working class’ hid in the entrance. The boss, prudently hid his car number with the help of cardboard box, went to ‘solve’ the problem with disturbers. We should be proud of our guys. They not just only didn’t afraid because the amount of people in ‘team’ was bigger then our boys, and they had also axes, but also examined that people. After it ‘commander’ brokenly tried to press the phone’s buttons and asked somebody advice – what to do.
Unfortunately, people in police form at check-point ‘Pripyat’ had rather strange reaction for that news about marauder, to be more precisely – not at all. For some reason they lied to our people about phone call to Chernobyl and about that strategical group that went to Pripyat. As it was cleared up later, nobody told anything to regional police department. PRIPYAT.com decided to finish this business and went to police department themselves. While patrolling the town with police, they met another lorry, illegally penetrating in the territory of the Zone. The lorry was sent to penalty area, and drivers – arrested. Pity, but we couldn’t find another people we had seen in the morning. But it is not a question of a principle. The most important that now we have real proves of marauding in Pripyat. Nobody can hide it now.
In connection with this situation a lot of questions and offers arise. First of all, how widespread are such gerrymanders? If the lorries don’t go through check-point, but through the ‘holes’; so why then the workers of same check-point hide the activity of such ‘teams’? Moreover, to take into account the scale and preparation, it is evident that this all work was being done not in one day. So, we can make conclusion that not only one guard shift helps marauding in this town. Who is also in? Secondly, what for is this cargo being removing? Illiquid stuff – for remelting, and whole radiators – for repainting and sale? And the wildest, but not senseless supposition - rumors about falling sarcophagus. Isn’t it a reason to frighten off tourists and other people, who prevent from the scrap metal removing?
My grandmother has wonderful cast-iron frying pan. Everything, that is cooked on it is very delicious and smells like childhood. This frying-pan has already become charred and black from long-term usage. Grandma wants to buy new one, not recognizing Teflon and other modern technologies. And something tells me that I should immediately dissuade her from this purchase. If she buys that same frying-pan with hot particles? Is this paranoia? Or not? Don’t you accidentally plan to change your radiators?
To look photo-report and video
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January 5th, 2007 by planca
Darina PustovayaThe road Kiev – ChNPP was not easy that day. High powers grieved us without diffidence: put obstacles on the way – like traffic jams, something unknown falling from the sky and reminding that even the luxurious car was only the means of transportation which could be broken in inappropriate time. In brief, we were very late. At check point Dityatki one of the workers told us that a lot of people were waiting for us. Supposition that they would not start without us was improbable and that is why not very comforting. To save some minutes we ‘flied’ to ChNPP to by-pass of Chernobyl.
  
Really, it seemed that we were waited for. When seeing planca running with camera towards administrational building, a woman asked “Do you shoot? You are late! Follow me quickly!” And now we are following Irina Kovbych through corridors. “Change your clothes!”. Without understanding we obediently take off our jackets and put on white smocks and hats given by smiling girls. ”Now quickly to BPC – 1! Quickly! You know the way, not a first time!” Running after planca I repeat like a spell “And I am here first time…BCP – 1….golden corridor….I am first time here!”.” The question” Can you just imagine how lucky we are?” I just nod with funny – idiotic expression.
 After next turn the door with inscription “BCP – 1” opened. The room was filled with several tens of people in white. It looked like a consultation of doctors. Surprising was only the place and amount tripods with cameras. All lenses were directed to small screen with white-black static picture. While I was looking at great amount of buttons at control panel and plates with names under them, planca, by some miracle, squeezed into the rows of people like him – in white and with cameras at the other side of the hall. I was still observing people with cameras arguing about best perspective and pushing aside each other. Honorable guests came into the hall. And all started.
It turned out that we were the witnesses of historic event – extraction of the last fuel assemblage from the reactor (will have story for grandchildren). The sound from loud speakers “The beginning of nuclear – dangerous action is announced…” It sounded a bit bombast, but on the other hand – solemnly and striking. I had a desire to whisper “mummy” and hide my head somewhere. In a few minutes the first block of ChNPP became nuclear-safe!
From rows of honorable guests one man came in front. As we were informed, he took part in this block launching. It was big man with gorgeous moustache, big palms and kind expression. He didn’t look like nuclear worker. He reminded me one of the characters Janny Rotary’s poems – a baker whose hands smell of bread. He had white hat on which also looked like cook hat. He made a short speech which associated in my mind with “I am tired, I go”. He said so: I was when the first cassette of the block was input, and now I am here – a witness of the last one’s extraction. That is all. Thank you for attention. Hesitating for a second, he went to the raw of honorable guests. After operators shooted changed white-black picture, guests were interviewed. But as it was announced in evening news, operators, except NTN channel, didn’t understand which cassette, where and why did they extract and what did it mean.
Тo watch video about BCP - 1
The next event of the program was solemn opening of a monument dedicated to the heroes- liquidators and builders of sarcophagus. (Hello to all the participants of the trip on 25 November, who were forerunners – opened the monument before official event). At the background of monument, covered with grey sailcloth, there were people who made speeches, in front of them – operators with cameras, behind them – indignant and sad old people (liquidators), who were invited as guests. Put aside by journalists, they were apart from the celebration, dedicated to their own merits and memory of died people. Some of them tried to stand on tiptoe to see what was going on, others whispered to one another – “Why did they invite us?”, others answered - “All is done for journalists, why are we here?”. Bitterly. Offensively. But, I have to admit that this monument opening greatly differed from other similar events.
Even solemn speeches were sincere and emotional, not ardent and prepared as was is often. After the national anthem of Ukraine they complained that President and Prime Minister didn’t visit this event. They didn’t want or couldn’t come and honor the memory of that people, who gave their life and proved that heroes really existed. In evening news it was announced that President was eating pineapples and hazel grouse, drinking Borjomi at that time. But understanding his hard life of chief of state, we excused him.
It was said many times that this day – the Victory Day. But according to feeling it seemed like Weariness Day (but it depends on everyone). Cutting of the ribbon in front of the monument was being done to the accompaniment of post-war song. But was only music, without words. There was a feeling that Kobzon would sing about “the day which has a smell of gunpowder in the air”. Of course we could name this day – the Victory Day. It makes sense. But joyful song was an excess.    
The monument was consecrated. The burial service was read according to Orthodox tradition. Prolonged church phrases like warm clouds flied into the indifferent grey autumn sky. The pipe of 4th block in whitish haze (fog or smoke - people working on the roof with welding machine). There is a feeling that it is not simply a fog, bit the answer to all prays. Almighty.
After was a conference, interesting acquaintances, unexpected nice meetings, callings to friends and family - “We were there - look at news on all chanals!” Journey to Kiev. After was impatient expectation of the news – If they really show us on TV, at least for a moment?”. Joyful shouts when we saw at the background planca’s leg in durty leopard color trousers and part of yellow jacket. And then in delirium or dream we saw Sarcophagus with listed wall and reactor’s pipe covered with whitish haze, protecting us from unseen threat with the help of God.
   
We are very greateful to Alexander Novikov, Alexander Krupniy and Irina Kovbych, and informational - analytical department of ChNPP for help and anvitation.
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December 12th, 2006 by WickLi
Shelter Implementation Plan
Shelter Implementation Plan (SIP) became the culmination of the efforts made by Ukraine and International Community toward development of economically and ecologically acceptable approach to resolve the Shelter problems. It was developed under cooperation of European Union Commission, Ukraine, USA and team of international experts and approved in June 1997 at G7 countries meeting.
The main project goal is Shelter object transformation into environmentally safe system with regard to personnel protection, radiological and environmental safety. SIP project consists of stabilization and other urgent measures and regular strategic measures development and implementation for step-by-step Shelter transformation into safe facility. Final SIP goal is new safe confinement (Shelter-2) erection and Shelter object unstable constructions dismantling.
28 Donors countries and European Commission pledged to allocate funds necessary for the project implementation into Chornobyl Shelter Fund (CSF), established according to Memorandum of Understanding and assigned to assist Ukraine in transformation of existing sarcophagus into safe and environmentally stable system by Shelter Implementation Plan realisation. Total cost of works performance according to more precise estimation makes 1091mln US$.
Project implementation
The first phase of the project lasted since 1998 up to mid 2000. That was the stage of investigations, development of strategies, programs, concept designs and preparatory works for the phase 2. In transitional period – since mid 2000 up to the beginning of 2001- the results of the undertaken investigations were reviewed and the program decisions were adopted. More then 30 companies from different countries and a number of key Ukrainian research institutes were involved in the activity within the first phase
Implementation of two emergency stabilization measures of the structure has become a considerable achievement. ChNPP Units 3 and 4 ventilation stack foundation and bracing were repaired in 1998, beams B1/B2, being the basic support for the sarcophagus roof were reinforced in 1999.
Besides the works, which contributed to the Shelter safety improvement and the development of infrastructure were carried out in the frames of the first phase
The second phase of the project implementation started since the beginning of 2001. First of all that was an activity, linked to unstable Shelter structures stabilization, installation and commissioning of monitoring systems, development and testing a technology for FCM removal, implementation of technical decisions on water and dust management, new safe confinement (NSC) construction and dismantling of Shelter unstable structures under a new protective enclosure. At SO and ChNPP site very difficult and, as a rule, unique and technically non-uniform activity has been done during Phase 2 implementation.
New Safe Confinement
 New Safe Confinement (NSC) construction above the Shelter object is one of thee most important condition of the Shelter object transformation into ecologically safe system.
Confinement is a protective facility, included a complex of technological equipment for fuel containing materials removal out of the Chernobyl destroyed Unit 4 and for radioactive waste management and other systems, designed to perform the activity on the Unit transformation into environmentally safe site and to provide personnel, residents and environment safety According to Conceptual Design NSC includes:
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December 12th, 2006 by WickLi
Started during the first days after the accident complex diagnostic investigations were continued after Shelter object construction completion. Main arias of investigations were:
• сlarification of quantity and location of nuclear fuel inside the Unit;
• determination of fuel containing masses mechanical, physical and chemical condition;
• nuclear and radiation safety assessment;
• creation and operation of diagnostic systems;
• facility’s constructions reliability monitoring.
Investigation of the Shelter object started from hols drilling. Results of these investigations provided wide volume of information. It was possible to determine character of internal damages, constructions condition, to penetrate to fuel congestions and to sample fuel containing materials (FCM), to measure directly neutron multiplication factor in congestions, which showed that FCM in the Shelter were in subcritical state. It was established, that inside the Shelter the fuel was in the form of destroyed reactor core fragments, stark glassy mass (lava) and fuel dust.
Results of drilling allowed to determine new penetration ways into the Shelter premises and stimulated creation of the special diagnostic robots for works implementation inside the sarcophagus.
 Initial large-scale works on Shelter’s constructions reinforcement were started in 1987 and completed in 1989. It was revealed three zones requiring urgent anti-emergency measures: deaerator stack, main circulating pumps premise and premise 805/3.
In spit of additional measures on constructions reinforcement, experts understood, that in existing status the Shelter couldn’t be considered as facility, safety of which is ensured for decades.
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