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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Preliminary environmental implications of alternatives for decommissioning and future use of the Western New York Nuclear Services Center

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6671820

This study describes in considerable detail the Western New York Nuclear Services Center (WNYNSC) site, the several facilities at the site and the pertinent features of the surrounding area. The geography, hydrology, geology, soils, seismology, meteorology, ecology, agriculture and population of the area and site are presented. The physical characteristics and present status of the nuclear fuel reprocessing facility, the high-level liquid wastes and tanks, and the waste burial areas are described with emphasis on features which are important to the safety of the site in the present and near-term, on features which affect the safety or expense of decontamination and decommissioning and on features which are important to future uses of the site. The current environmental trends at the WNYNSC are reviewed including a description of the continuing program of site monitoring. Five decommissioning alternatives: layaway, protective storage, dismantlement, deferred dismantlement, and entombment, and several possible future uses for the reprocessing plant are described and discussed. Six alternative plans for management of the high-level liquid wastes (HLLW) and three alternatives for disposing of the HLLW tanks are presented as being technically feasible but differing in effort required and risk to the public remaining after disposal. Several options are described for decommissioning or continued use of the two waste burial areas. These range from complete exhumation, repackaging and removal of the wastes to another site, to reopening for commercial waste disposal.

Research Organization:
Battelle Columbus Labs., OH (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-92-110
OSTI ID:
6671820
Report Number(s):
BMI-X-698-Rev.; ON: DE83004726
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English