Risk Evaluations of Transuranic Waste at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory

Conference · Mon Mar 10 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:5697432

Smith, T. H. ^[1]; Keneshea, F. J. ^[2]

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1. EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
2. Quadrex Corp., Campbell, CA (United States). Nuclear Services Corp.

Approximately 75% of the defense low-level transuranic (TRU) waste stored in the United States and 25% of the buried TRU waste is located at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL). Studies have been performed to identify and evaluate technical alternatives for the long-term management of this waste. (The alternatives range from leaving the waste in place as is to reviewing, processing, and shipping it to an offsite geological repository.) Among the evaluations that have been performed were preliminary risk evaluations. The dose commitment and risk of hypothetical, near-term, accidental or uncontrolled releases of radionuclides have been evaluated for each alternative. The following potential causes of radionuclide release have been studied: process and handling accidents, shipping accidents, natural events (e.g., earthquakes), man-caused events (e.g., airplane crashes), and future intrusion by individuals or small populations after loss of societal control over the waste. The hypothetical releases have been evaluated, in terms of dose commitment and (if pertinent) probability and risk, for all operational steps making up each concept. The dominant scenarios in terms of near-term risk are (1) lava flow up through or over the waste, leading to airborne releases; (2) an explosion or a criticality accident in the waste-processing facility; and (3) a tornado strike or a fire during waste retrieval. The dominant long-term releases are (1) volcanic action; and (2) intrusion of people on the waste site. Although substantial dose commitments to individual members of the public were calculated for the lava flow and intrusion scenarios, no prompt health effects would be expected from the exposures. The effects would be in the form of a slightly increased likelihood of latent cancer induction.

• Research Organization: EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (United States); Quadrex Corp., Campbell, CA (United States). Nuclear Services Corp.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP); USDOE Idaho Operations Office (IO)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-07-1570
• OSTI ID: 5697432
• Report Number(s): CONF-800313-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052002* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Disposal & Storage
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
96 KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION
ACCIDENTS
DOSE COMMITMENTS
EARTHQUAKES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
HUMAN POPULATIONS
IDAHO NATIONAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY
IGNEOUS ROCKS
LAVA
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
Long-Term Waste Management
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
POPULATIONS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
RISK ASSESSMENT
ROCKS
Radioactive Waste Management Complex (RWMC)
Radionuclides
SEISMIC EVENTS
Transuranic (TRU)
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VOLCANIC ROCKS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
Waste Processing
Waste Retrieval