Idaho Falls

56 IDAHO FALLS MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2017 try to run nonproprietary experi- ments at ATR with DOE picking up the bill. As a result, knowledge about nuclear energy has expand- ed across the nation. ATR's longevity results from a couple things: deBoisblanc's design, which limits radiation damage to the reactor vessel, and consistent maintenance. Think of a '67 Chevy humming down the Interstate. It looks great, but what you don't see is that which makes it go, a completely rebuilt engine. ATR's core has been replaced six times, with a seventh sched- uled in the next two or three years. O'Kelly said it's the equiva- lent of getting a brand new reac- tor every time. For INL Director Mark Peters, ATR's performance, today and into the future, is central to the laboratory's success. Yes, INL has diversified, with a growing cyber security mission and broader clean energy work, such as electric vehicle battery test- ing and biofuels, but INL remains the nation's lead nuclear research and development laboratory. And ATR remains a critical tool in fulfilling that mission. "ATR truly is one of the crown jewels of this laboratory," Peters said. "Capabilities at ATR and (the Materials and Fuels Complex) allow INL, working with industry and academia, to ensure the com- petitiveness of nuclear energy for decades to come." Through the generations There is a remarkable continuity to ATR. Those who worked at the reactor during Fogarty's time grew old, retired and handed the reins to the next generation, which often included their own sons and daughters. Today, under O'Kelly, a third generation of employ- ees makes sure the world's leading test reactor continues to operate at the highest possible level. The work is important. But so is the history and the stories because through them we get to know the people who got up early every morning, rode the bus and did the work that made their nation safer and cleaner. These were the people who had barbeques out behind ATR on holidays or weekends away from home, bought candy in the not-so- secret basement store and fed the wildlife that ventured down from the mountains and near the facility. The beauty of this story is that its end will not be written for many years. As O'Kelly said, the U.S. will never build another ATR. And so it's incumbent upon this generation—and future INL work- ers—to keep it going. To ensure that the Advanced Test Reactor continues doing the work it has the last half century, making the world a cleaner and safer place. "The past and future of ATR is a connected and continual thing," O'Kelly said. "Thirty years from now, the work we are doing today will be looked upon by the future engineers and oper- ators and people are going to say, 'Man, those people were really smart.' We say the same thing about the people who designed and built ATR 50 years ago. We're proud of where we work and the work that we do." IF ATR cutaway model 166567RBRock14v.indd 1 3/27/17 11:50 AM Idaho's Oldest Continually Running Café & Catering Company No B lar n e y .. . Our Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner is so popular, we have to run this special for three entire days!! 11:00am-closing March 16 th , 17 th & 18 th Only $ 9 95 460 Northgate Mile, Idaho Falls 522-6212 North Hi-Way Café Free Registration - 8am - includes Meal for Two BBQ • Music • Dancing • Food 460 Northgate Mile, Idaho Falls, 522-6212 June 10th (Saturday) 9am-2pm 83rd Birthday and Car Show Happy to be Sweet 83 166686NorHiw14v.indd 1 4/6/17 1:29 PM

• Cover