skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Programmatic assessment of radioactive waste management: nuclear fuel and waste programs

Abstract

Gilbert/Commonwealth (G/C) has performed an assessment of the waste management operations at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The objective of this study was to review radioactive waste management as practiced at ORNL and to recommend improvements or alternatives for further study. The study involved: (1) an on-site survey of ORNL radioactive waste management operations; (2) a review of radioactive waste source data, records, and regulatory requirements; (3) an assessment of existing and planned treatment, storage, and control facilities; and (4) identification of alternatives for improving waste management operations. Information for this study was obtained from both personal interviews and written reports. The ORNL waste management operations have maintained radioactive releases to the environment well below regulatory requirements and have been successful, in recent years, in consistently reducing emissions. This has been accomplished primarily by upgrading equipment and procedures. However, this upgrading must be an on-going activity because of: (1) the changing nature of ORNL activities; (2) an increase in radioactive burden on-site; (3) the age of existing facilities and equipment; and (4) changes to regulatory requirements. As a result of reviewing ORNL operations, specific suggestions are offered for resolving isolated problems. However, these suggestions should be considered in the contextmore » of a comprehensive plan for the management of radioactive wastes at ORNL. Three areas were determined to warrant more detailed, consolidated studies: (1) waste management program planning; (2) development of a centralized computer based data acquisition system; and (3) a review for maintaining exposures to on-site personnel as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA).« less

Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Gilbert/Commonwealth, Reading, PA (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
5441066
Report Number(s):
ORNL/SUB-80/13837/3
TRN: 80-010414
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-26
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; ORNL; RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT; EVALUATION; DATA ACQUISITION; DATA COMPILATION; DIAGRAMS; GASEOUS WASTES; LIQUID WASTES; OPTIMIZATION; PERSONNEL; RADIATION DOSES; RADIATION MONITORING; RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES; RADIOACTIVE WASTES; REGULATIONS; SOLID WASTES; TABLES; TRITIUM; VOLUME; BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; DATA; DATA FORMS; DOSES; HYDROGEN ISOTOPES; INFORMATION; ISOTOPES; LIGHT NUCLEI; MANAGEMENT; MONITORING; NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS; NUCLEAR FACILITIES; NUCLEI; NUMERICAL DATA; ODD-EVEN NUCLEI; RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS; RADIOISOTOPES; US AEC; US DOE; US ERDA; US ORGANIZATIONS; WASTE MANAGEMENT; WASTES; YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES; 052000* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Management; 500300 - Environment, Atmospheric- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)

Citation Formats

. Programmatic assessment of radioactive waste management: nuclear fuel and waste programs. United States: N. p., 1980. Web. doi:10.2172/5441066.
. Programmatic assessment of radioactive waste management: nuclear fuel and waste programs. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/5441066
. 1980. "Programmatic assessment of radioactive waste management: nuclear fuel and waste programs". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/5441066. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/5441066.
@article{osti_5441066,
title = {Programmatic assessment of radioactive waste management: nuclear fuel and waste programs},
author = {},
abstractNote = {Gilbert/Commonwealth (G/C) has performed an assessment of the waste management operations at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The objective of this study was to review radioactive waste management as practiced at ORNL and to recommend improvements or alternatives for further study. The study involved: (1) an on-site survey of ORNL radioactive waste management operations; (2) a review of radioactive waste source data, records, and regulatory requirements; (3) an assessment of existing and planned treatment, storage, and control facilities; and (4) identification of alternatives for improving waste management operations. Information for this study was obtained from both personal interviews and written reports. The ORNL waste management operations have maintained radioactive releases to the environment well below regulatory requirements and have been successful, in recent years, in consistently reducing emissions. This has been accomplished primarily by upgrading equipment and procedures. However, this upgrading must be an on-going activity because of: (1) the changing nature of ORNL activities; (2) an increase in radioactive burden on-site; (3) the age of existing facilities and equipment; and (4) changes to regulatory requirements. As a result of reviewing ORNL operations, specific suggestions are offered for resolving isolated problems. However, these suggestions should be considered in the context of a comprehensive plan for the management of radioactive wastes at ORNL. Three areas were determined to warrant more detailed, consolidated studies: (1) waste management program planning; (2) development of a centralized computer based data acquisition system; and (3) a review for maintaining exposures to on-site personnel as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA).},
doi = {10.2172/5441066},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5441066}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980},
month = {Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980}
}