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U.S. Department of Energy
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A Program to Stabilize Nuclear Materials as Managed by the Plutonium Focus Area

Conference ·
OSTI ID:8215
 [1]; ;  [2];  [3]; ;  [4]; ;
  1. Kenley Consulting; Lockheed Martin Idaho Technologies Company
  2. ANL-W
  3. LMITCO
  4. DOE-ID

This paper describes the program to stabilize nuclear materials, consistent with the Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) plan, Accelerating Cleanup: Paths to Closure. The program is managed by the Plutonium Stabilization and Disposition Focus Area, which defines and manages technology development programs to stabilize nuclear materials and assure their subsequent safe storage and final disposition. The scope of the Plutonium Stabilization and Disposition Focus Area (PFA) activities includes non-weapons plutonium materials, special isotopes, and other fissile materials. The PFA provides solutions to site-specific and complex wide technology issues associated with plutonium remediation, stabilization, and preparation for disposition. Our paper describes an important programmatic function of the Department of Energy nuclear materials stabilization program, including the tie-in of policy to research needs and funding for the nuclear materials disposition area. The PFA uses a rigorous systems engineering determination of technology needs and gaps, under the guidance of a Technical Advisory Panel, consisting of complex-wide experts. The Research and Development planning provides an example for other waste areas and should be of interest to Research and Development managers. The materials disposition maps developed by the PFA and described in this paper provide an evaluation of research needs, data gaps and subsequent guidance for the development of technologies for nuclear materials disposition. This paper also addresses the PFA prioritization methodology and its ability to forecast actual time to implementation.

Research Organization:
Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Lab., Idaho Falls, ID (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM) (US)
DOE Contract Number:
AC07-94ID13223
OSTI ID:
8215
Report Number(s):
INEEL/CON-99-00192
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English