The Department of Energy will host a public workshop to explore various perspectives on an accident that occurred in the Sodium Reactor Experiment in July 1959 at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory.

The event will be from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sat., Aug. 29 at the Grand Vista Hotel, 999 Enchanted Way, Simi Valley. It will feature a panel of experts who will each review the historical documents on the accident from a different perspective, then share their observations and analyses.  

A scientist from Sandia National Laboratory will provide information about the design of the reactor, what is known about its normal operations, and the fuel that was in the reactor when the accident occurred. 

In preparation for the meeting, DOE has compiled a set of more than 80 documents that were provided to the Sandia scientist to help him conduct his analysis and prepare his presentation. 

The other two scientists on the panel were provided with the same set of documents.

DOE has made the documents available to any other interested stakeholder at the website www.etec.energy.gov. 

To receive a copy of the documents on compact disc, call Debbie Kramer at (818) 4668898 or email ETEC-Energy@emcbc.doe.gov.