SCO shipments from Rocky Flats - Experience and current practice [Surface Contaminated Object]
Conference
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OSTI ID:789961
- BWX Technologies/Safe Sites of Colorado
Decommissioning activities at Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site (RFETS) are expected to generate approximately 251,000 cubic meters of low-level radioactive waste. Almost half of this will be characterized and shipped as the Department of Transportation ''Surface Contaminated Object'' (SCO) shipping class. In the 2 years since an SCO characterization method was implemented, almost 11,000 of the 18,000 cubic meters of low-level waste were SCO. RFETS experience to-date using an SCO waste characterization method has shown significant time and cost savings, reduced errors, and enhanced employee safety. SCO waste is characterized prior to packaging, near the point of generation, by any of the site's 300 Radiological Control Technicians using inexpensive radiological control survey instruments. This reduces on-site waste container moves and eliminates radiometric analysis at centrally located drum or crate counters. Containers too large for crate counters can also be characterized. Current instrumentation is not adequate to take full advantage of the SCO regulations. Future improvements in the SCO characterization and shipping process are focused on use of larger and/or reusable containers, extended-range instruments, and additional statistical methods, so that the full extent of the SCO regulations can be used.
- Research Organization:
- Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site, Golden, CO (US); BWX Technologies/Safe Sites of Colorado, Golden, CO (US); Rocky Mountain Remediation Services, Golden, CO (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Rocky Flats Field Office (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-90DP62349
- OSTI ID:
- 789961
- Report Number(s):
- RFP-5360
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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