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Title: Low-Level Waste Drum Assay Intercomparison Study

Abstract

Nuclear waste assay is an integral element of programs such as safeguards, waste management, and waste disposal. The majority of nuclear waste is packaged in drums and analyzed by various nondestructive assay (NDA) techniques to identify and quantify the radioactive content. Due to various regulations and the public interest in nuclear issues, the analytical results are required to be of high quality and supported by a rigorous Quality Assurance (QA) program. A valuable QA tool is an intercomparison program in which a known sample is analyzed by a number of different facilities. While transuranic waste (TRU) certified NDA teams are evaluated through the Performance Demonstration Program (PDP), low-level waste (LLW) assay specialists have not been afforded a similar opportunity. NDA specialists from throughout the DOE complex were invited to participate in this voluntary drum assay intercomparison study that was organized and facilitated by the Solid Waste Operations and the Safeguards Science and Technology groups at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and by Eberline Services. Each participating NDA team performed six replicate blind measurements of two 55-gallon drums with relatively low-density matrices (a 19.1 kg shredded paper matrix and a 54.4 kg mixed metal, rubber, paper and plastic matrix). This papermore » presents the results from this study, with an emphasis on discussing the lessons learned as well as desirable follow up programs for the future. The results will discuss the accuracy and precision of the replicate measurements for each NDA team as well as any issues that arose during the effort.« less

Authors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
US Department of Energy (US)
OSTI Identifier:
827475
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: Waste Management 2003 Symposium, Tucson, AZ (US), 02/23/2003--02/27/2003; Other Information: PBD: 26 Feb 2003
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; ACCURACY; DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS; LANL; MATRICES; PERFORMANCE; PLASTICS; QUALITY ASSURANCE; RADIOACTIVE WASTES; REGULATIONS; SAFEGUARDS; SOLID WASTES; WASTE DISPOSAL; WASTE MANAGEMENT; WASTES

Citation Formats

Greutzmacher, K, Kuzminski, J, and Myers, S C. Low-Level Waste Drum Assay Intercomparison Study. United States: N. p., 2003. Web.
Greutzmacher, K, Kuzminski, J, & Myers, S C. Low-Level Waste Drum Assay Intercomparison Study. United States.
Greutzmacher, K, Kuzminski, J, and Myers, S C. 2003. "Low-Level Waste Drum Assay Intercomparison Study". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/827475.
@article{osti_827475,
title = {Low-Level Waste Drum Assay Intercomparison Study},
author = {Greutzmacher, K and Kuzminski, J and Myers, S C},
abstractNote = {Nuclear waste assay is an integral element of programs such as safeguards, waste management, and waste disposal. The majority of nuclear waste is packaged in drums and analyzed by various nondestructive assay (NDA) techniques to identify and quantify the radioactive content. Due to various regulations and the public interest in nuclear issues, the analytical results are required to be of high quality and supported by a rigorous Quality Assurance (QA) program. A valuable QA tool is an intercomparison program in which a known sample is analyzed by a number of different facilities. While transuranic waste (TRU) certified NDA teams are evaluated through the Performance Demonstration Program (PDP), low-level waste (LLW) assay specialists have not been afforded a similar opportunity. NDA specialists from throughout the DOE complex were invited to participate in this voluntary drum assay intercomparison study that was organized and facilitated by the Solid Waste Operations and the Safeguards Science and Technology groups at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and by Eberline Services. Each participating NDA team performed six replicate blind measurements of two 55-gallon drums with relatively low-density matrices (a 19.1 kg shredded paper matrix and a 54.4 kg mixed metal, rubber, paper and plastic matrix). This paper presents the results from this study, with an emphasis on discussing the lessons learned as well as desirable follow up programs for the future. The results will discuss the accuracy and precision of the replicate measurements for each NDA team as well as any issues that arose during the effort.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/827475}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Feb 26 00:00:00 EST 2003},
month = {Wed Feb 26 00:00:00 EST 2003}
}

Conference:
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