The Energy of Innovation

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INL Facilities

Setting the Stage for National Laboratory Pre-eminence

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I

daho National Laboratory 

(INL) consists of an 890-

square-mile area in 

southeastern Idaho typically 

referred to as the “INL Site,” 

along with laboratories and 

administrative buildings located approximately 35 miles 

east in the city of Idaho Falls.

The three primary areas that 

constitute INL’s key facilities reflect both the important 

missions being accomplished 

today and the laboratory’s 

vision for the future. One area 

focuses on nuclear materials 

and processing, another on 

reactor technologies, and the 

third on science and technology. Because Idaho National 

Laboratory is destined to 

become the internationally 

recognized leader in nuclear 

energy research, development 

and demonstration in the next 

decade, the lab anticipates 

making significant changes to 

modernize its facilities. 

Materials and Fuels 

Complex

The Materials and Fuels Complex (formerly Argonne National Laboratory-West) located on 

the INL Site is a prime testing 

center for advanced technologies associated with nuclear 

power systems. This complex 

is the nexus of research and development for new reactor fuels 

and related materials. As such, 

it will contribute increasingly 

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efficient reactor fuels and the 

important work of nonproliferation – harnessing more energy 

with less risk.

At the Materials and Fuels 

Complex, projected new 

construction will include a 

facility for preparing remotehandled waste for shipment 

to the Waste Isolation Pilot 

Plant in New Mexico. Depending on the feasibility of a 

key project, buildings will be 

constructed at this location to 

support manufacturing and assembling components for use 

in space applications.

The Materials and Fuels Complex is located 32 miles west 

of Idaho Falls on the highdesert sagebrush steppe of the 

Snake River Plain.

Advanced Test Reactor 

Complex

Also located on the INL Site, 

the Advanced Test Reactor Complex is dedicated to 

research supporting Department of Energy missions, 

including nuclear technology research. It will be the 

focal point for designing, 

testing and proving the new 

technologies of the nuclear 

renaissance. The new mission 

is broad, far-reaching and 

encompasses a large scope 

involving multiple technological options important 

to coming generations of 

nuclear power reactors.

Facilities planned at this 

complex include buildings to 

house laboratory activities, 

offices, warehousing and a cafeteria required to support the 

Advanced Test Reactor. A hot 

cell connected to the Advanced 

Test Reactor canal also will be 

included to support future materials and fuels development. 

Multicraft shop buildings will 

be constructed to enhance 

operational activities.

The Advanced Test Reactor Complex is located in the 

southwestern region of the 

Idaho National Laboratory Site, 

47 miles west of Idaho Falls.

Research and Education 

Campus

The Research and Education Campus is the collective 

name for INL’s administrative, 

educational, technical support and computer facilities in 

Idaho Falls, as well as in-town 

laboratories where researchers work on a wide variety of 

advanced scientific research 

and development projects. The 

campus name reflects the lab’s 

connection to university and 

energy research. 

INL is transforming infrastructure at the R&E Campus to support its mission by providing 

robust science and engineering 

capabilities. The R&E Campus 

will consolidate research and 

development capabilities and 

leverage upon the benefits of 

leased facilities, which will 

support energy research and 

significant growth in National 

& Homeland Security work. 

Now under construction, 

and slated to open in the fall 

of 2008, is the Center for 

Advanced Energy Studies, a 

partnership among Boise State 

University, Idaho State University, the University of Idaho 

and INL. It will integrate 

capabilities and expand R&D 

opportunities for the research 

community, provide for energy 

technology R&D and training, and provide a hub for the 

university resource network.

Facilities already in place and 

those planned for the future are 

integral for transforming INL 

into a renowned research laboratory. With forefront research 

facilities, support infrastructure and management systems 

essential to delivering worldclass research while operating 

to the highest standards of 

safety, environmental protection and efficiency, Idaho 

National Laboratory will help 

restore public confidence in 

nuclear energy through operational excellence.

Idaho National Laboratory is 

operated for the U.S. Department of Energy by Battelle Energy Alliance. Also operating 

on the INL Site are research, 

environmental and cleanup 

projects at other facility areas. 

Those operations are managed 

by separate contractors.

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A U.S. Department of Energy

National Laboratory

Two other INL Site facility areas provide specialized manufacturing and support services. 

The Specific Manufacturing Capability is the facility complex responsible for the production of heavy armor that helps make U.S. Army Abrams Tanks the world’s best armored 

vehicles. Central Facilities Area, located centrally on the INL Site, is the main service and 

support center for INL’s desert facilities. Activities here support transportation, maintenance, construction, environmental and radiological monitoring, security, fire protection, 

warehouses and calibration activities.

For more information