Preparations for Mixed Waste Disposal at the Nevada Test Site
- Bechtel Nevada, P. O. Box 98521, Las Vegas, Nevada 89193-8521 (United States)
The Radioactive Waste Management Complex (RWMC) at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) is preparing for the receipt and disposal of low-level mixed waste (MV) generated within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) complex. The NTS maintains and develops disposal locations to accommodate various waste forms, and is engaged in developing verification and handling processes to ensure proper acceptance and disposal. Operations at the RWMC are focused on ensuring future disposal needs can be accommodated with a maximum benefit to risk ratio. This paper addresses the programmatic developments implemented at the NTS to accommodate the receipt, verification, and disposal of MW. The Radioactive Waste Acceptance Program (RWAP) has incorporated aspects of the Waste Analysis Plan (WAP) into the Nevada Test Site Waste Acceptance Criteria (NTSWAC). The verification program includes statistical sampling components that take into account waste form, program reliability, and other factors. The WAP allows for a conglomerate of verification techniques including visual examination, non-destructive examination, and chemical screening ensuring compliance with the NTSWAC. The WAP also provides for the acceptance of MW with most U.S. Environmental Protection Agency waste codes. The MW sent to the NTS for disposal must meet Land-Disposal Restriction standards. To support the verification processes outlined in the WAP, a Real-Time-Radiography (RTR) facility was constructed. Using a 450 keV, 5-mA tube-head system with a bridge and manipulator assembly, MW packages can undergo non-destructive examination (x-ray) at the RWMC. Prior to the NTS accepting the waste shipment, standard waste boxes, drums, and nominally sized bulk items can be manipulated on a cart and examined directly or skewed in real-time to ensure compliance with NTSWAC requirement s An existing MW disposal cell at the RWMC has been tailored to meet the requirements of a Category 2 non-reactor Nuclear Facility. In retrofitting an existing facility to meet new requirements, several considerations were analyzed and incorporated into the final design. For Example, seismic loading considerations for disposal location performance during a postulated event resulted in several calculations and physical modifications to the existing facility. In addition to instituting changes required for MW disposal, the NTS continues to overcome unique challenges associated with handling and disposing low-level radioactive waste (LLW). As a Nuclear Facility, the RWMC has the capabilities required to manage all types of LLW/MW, meeting the disposal needs integral to clean up the DOE complex. With the advent of the accelerated cleanup schedule, the increase in waste generation has required a facility that can handle unique disposal requirements in a safe manner for the public, the workers, and the environment. (authors)
- Research Organization:
- WM Symposia, Inc., PO Box 13023, Tucson, AZ, 85732-3023 (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 21208678
- Report Number(s):
- INIS-US-09-WM-06205; TRN: US09V0990079465
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Waste Management 2006 Symposium - WM'06 - Global Accomplishments in Environmental and Radioactive Waste Management: Education and Opportunity for the Next Generation of Waste Management Professionals, Tucson, AZ (United States), 26 Feb - 2 Mar 2006; Other Information: Country of input: France; 12 refs
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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