Sludge stabilization at the Plutonium Finishing Plant, Hanford Site, Richland, Washington
This Environmental Assessment evaluates the proposed action to operate two laboratory-size muffle furnaces in glovebox HC-21C, located in the Plutonium Finishing Plant (PFP), Hanford Site, Richland, Washington. The muffle furnaces would be used to stabilize chemically reactive sludges that contain approximately 25 kilograms (55 pounds) of plutonium by heating to approximately 500 to 1000{degrees}C (900 to 1800{degrees}F). The resulting stable powder, mostly plutonium oxide with impurities, would be stored in the PFP vaults. The presence of chemically reactive plutonium-bearing sludges in the process gloveboxes poses a risk to workers from radiation exposure and limits the availability of storage space for future plant cleanup. Therefore, there is a need to stabilize the material into a form suitable for long-term storage. This proposed action would be an interim action, which would take place prior to completion of an Environmental Impact Statement for the PFP which would evaluate stabilization of all plutonium-bearing materials and cleanout of the facility. However, only 10 percent of the total quantity of plutonium in reactive materials is in the sludges, so this action will not limit the choice of reasonable alternatives or prejudice the Record of Decision of the Plutonium Finishing Plant Environmental Impact Statement.
- Research Organization:
- Department of Energy, Washington, DC (United States). Div. of Electric Energy Systems
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 10105973
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/EA-0978; ON: DE95004414; NC: NONE; TRN: 95:000672
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Oct 1994
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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