Program for low-level radioactive waste disposal at the Savannah River Site, A U. S. nuclear materials production facility

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:5694078

Wilhite, E. L.; Cook, J. R.; McDonell, W. R.

An integrated program has been developed for disposal of low-level radioactive wastes and associated mixed (radioactive-hazardous) and transuranic (TRU) wastes generated at the Savannah River Site (SRS). The program, supported by existing as well as new planned facilities, features a systems management approach, in which final disposal sites are specially designed and constructed for appropriately segregated waste streams, and intermediate treatment facilities are provided to reduce volumes and convert wastes to stable forms prior to disposal. Currently-existing shallow land burial facilities are comprehensively monitored for release of contaminants to underlying groundwaters, with only short-lived tritium exhibiting significant migration. Transport modeling is employed to define closure procedures capable of preventing long-term contamination. New facilities to be provided for disposal of the low-level radioactive wastes feature concrete-stabilized wasteforms contained within vault structures that are capable of restricting releases including tritium and other radionuclides to acceptably low levels. Future development studies will center around waste minimization initiatives. 16 refs., 6 figs.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/DP
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-89SR18035
• OSTI ID: 5694078
• Report Number(s): DP-MS-88-160-Rev.1; CONF-891006--6-Rev.1; ON: DE90001381
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
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BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CONTAINERS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
GROUND WATER
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
MONITORING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
PUBLIC HEALTH
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
REACTOR SAFETY
REGULATIONS
SAFETY
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
TRANSPORT
TRITIUM
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTE TRANSPORTATION
WASTES
WATER
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES