Remote system development for demonstrating compliance with remote-handled waste disposal criteria
On March 25, 1999, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) received its first shipment of contact-handled (CH) transuranic (TRU) waste from the Los Alamos National Laboratory for disposal within a geologic formation of bedded salt {approximately}2150 ft underground. The WIPP is owned and operated by the US Department of Energy (DOE) and is located in a remote location at the southeast corner of New Mexico. Since that opening date, additional shipments of CH-TRU waste have commenced from other generator/storage sites including the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (April 28, 1999) and Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site (June 16, 1999). These initial shipments contained TRU waste that was determined by the generator/storage sites to have a surface dose rate not greater than 2 mSv/h and to be nonmixed (i.e., contained no hazardous constituents regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act). On November 26, 1999, the WIPP Hazardous Waste Facility Permit was issued by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED). Although this permit greatly expanded the waste envelope by allowing the disposal of mixed waste at the WIPP, it effectively prohibited the disposal of remote-handled (RH) TRU waste (i.e., waste having a surface dose rate >2 mSv/h but {le}10 Sv/h). As a consequence, the WIPP has embarked on a path that will facilitate the disposal of RH-TRU waste by the year 2003. One of the milestones along this path is the establishment of the WIPP waste acceptance criteria for the disposal of RH-TRU waste (mixed and nonmixed).
- Research Organization:
- Westinghouse/WIPP, NM (US)
- OSTI ID:
- 20086976
- Journal Information:
- Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society Vol. 82; ISSN 0003-018X; ISSN TANSAO
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
The Second Opening of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant? Review of Salient Characteristics and Unique Operational Considerations for Remote Handled Transuranic Waste
Remote-Handled Transuranic Waste Retrieval at Los Alamos National Laboratory