SELECTION OF SURPLUS PLUTONIUM MATERIALS FOR DISPOSITION TO WIPP

Conference · Fri Jun 08 04:00:00 EDT 2012

OSTI ID:1043253

Allender, J; Mcclard, J; Christopher, J

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is preparing a Surplus Plutonium Disposition (SPD) Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). Included in the evaluation are up to 6 metric tons (MT) of plutonium in the form of impure oxides and metals for which a disposition plan has not been decided, among options that include preparation as feed for the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility; disposing to high-level waste through the Savannah River Site (SRS) HB Line and H Canyon; can-in-canister disposal using the SRS Defense Waste Processing Facility; and preparation for disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). DOE and SRS have identified at least 0.5 MT of plutonium that, because of high levels of chemical and isotopic impurities, is impractical for disposition by methods other than the WIPP pathway. Characteristics of these items and the disposition strategy are discussed.

• Research Organization: SRS
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-08SR22470
• OSTI ID: 1043253
• Report Number(s): SRNL-MS-2012-00104
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS
EVALUATION
FABRICATION
IMPURITIES
METRICS
MIXED OXIDE FUELS
NUCLEAR MATERIALS MANAGEMENT
OXIDES
PLUTONIUM
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES
WIPP