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Radiological Incident at the WIPPAnalytical Challenges
Mansour Akbarzadeh, ManagerScience & Development/WIPP Labs
Nuclear Waste Partnership, LLC
2016 APHL Annual MeetingJune 6-9, 2016
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Waste Isolation Pilot Plant
26 miles southwest of Carlsbad, NM
2150 feet below the surface
Why salt?Impermeable, easily mineable, free of water,
geologically stable, self sealing
Disposing of TRU waste for 15 years
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WIPP Laboratories’ Facility
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WIPP Laboratories is located in the Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring and Research Center (CEMRC), which is a division of the New Mexico State University (NMSU) College of Engineering
WIPP Labs and CEMRC share the state-of-the-art laboratory facilities with the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) scientific team in Carlsbad
In addition, WIPP Laboratories still maintains a counting room at the site to perform all gross alpha/beta measurements of air filters, and monitoring of emergency samples in an expedited manner
WIPP Laboratories’ Facility
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The laboratory continues to provide radiochemistry analysis in support of Radiological Control, Dosimetry, Radiological Technology, Environmental Monitoring and Environmental Compliance at the WIPP site.
As an independent laboratory, WIPP Labs can accept samples from other DOE and non-DOE clients
WIPP Laboratories (WIPP Labs)
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The current staff of WIPP Laboratories have extensive experience in radiochemistry and analytical procedures.
1 Laboratory Manager 1 QA Manager 2 Scientist - V 1 Scientist - III 1 Scientist - II1 Engineering Tech - I 1 LIMS Administrator1 Open Position
WIPP Laboratories’ Staff
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Alpha Spectroscopy, multi-chamber: 88 detectorsIntrinsic HPGe Gamma Detectors: 7 unitsGas Flow Proportional Counters: 3 unitsUltra low background beryllium/
germanium oxide Shielded Liquid Scintillation Analyzer: 1 unit
ICP-MS: 1 unit
Instrumentation
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WIPP Laboratories’ Facility
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WIPP Laboratories’ Facility
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WIPP Laboratories strives to report all results within 21 days from sample receipt.
Turnaround time is driven by the clients and typically falls within the following categories:
Emergency: 8-16 hoursExpedite: 3-5 daysRegular: 21-30 days
Sample Turn-Around-Time (T.A.T.)
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February 5, 2014 Salt Truck Fire
February 14, 2014 Radiological Incident
WIPP Site Incident Overview
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February 14, 2014
CAM AlarmDampers Close
Filtration mode initiated
WIPP Site Incident Overview
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February 14 Incident
Station A filter showed ~4,000,000 dpm alpha, ~1,000,000 dpm beta
Station B Filters (after HEPA) showed ~28,000 dpm alpha, 6,000 dpm beta
Showed that the system functioned as designed
WIPP Site Incident Response
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February 14 Incident
Initial request for analysis was for normal analytes of interestAlpha
238Pu, 239/240Pu, 241Am, 234U, 235U, 238UBeta
90SrGamma
40K, 60Co, 137Cs
WIPP Site Incident Response
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February 14 Incident
Initial gamma screen of station A and B filters241Am identified at elevated activities
Pu isotopes present, but not quantifiable in low
energy range
WIPP Site Incident Response
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February 14 Incident
Destructive analysis requested by the client
Alpha 238Pu, 239/240Pu, 241Am confirmed
Beta Pu micro-precipitate filters show beta activity by LSA,
confirming 241Pu
WIPP Site Incident Response
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February 14 Incident
All subsequent analyses related to incident were analyzed only for Pu and AmThe most prominent analytes had been identifiedQuicker TAT for Pu and Am analyses requested
WIPP Site Incident Response
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WIPP Laboratories Primary mission becameBioassay monitoring of site workers
Environmental monitoring
Upon request, samples known to have elevated
activities from the underground were quantified,
but kept to a minimum to avoid any possibility of
cross contamination
WIPP Site Incident Response
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Samples received in one week following incident
Matrix Samples Received
Fecal 33
Urine 27
Air Filter 40
Soil/Sediment 33
Water 11
Vegetation 7
Total 151
WIPP Site Incident Response
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Rapid Digestions
Vacuum box separation
Extended hours of operation
2 shift system
Cross train all employees
WIPP Site Incident Response
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Vacuum Box Technology
WIPP Site Incident Response
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Matrix Samples ReportedFecal 34
Urine 166
Air Filter 288
Soil/Sediment 89
Water 44
Vegetation 39
Total 660
Samples Specific to February 14, 2014, Incident up to June 15, 2014
WIPP Site Incident Response
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Vacuum Box Technology
WIPP Site Incident Response
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High Activity samples in low level lab Sensitive Bioassay samples in house Cross contamination risks Time spent on decontamination increases
Sample Analysis Too many samples, not enough people, not enough space Shortage of Supplies Waste backlog
Employees 30 days with no days off Typographical/transcription errors Re-define employees’ roles / cross training Split shifts (increase length of day without adding too many extra hours
to individual employee day)
WIPP Site Incident ResponseInitial Challenges
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EM Low Volume Air Filter Samples
19 individual glass fiber filters weekly
Increased from original 8
WIPP Site Incident Response
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EM Low Volume Air Filter Samples
19 individual glass fiber filters weekly15 consecutive weeks10 day TATActivities above background for “Location 1” for 2
weeks following incidentActivities above background for “Locations 2, 3,
and 5” in the week following incident
WIPP Site Incident Response
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Bioassay Samples
34 expedite Fecal samples analyzed 22 workers notified of low level exposure (<10mrem)
166 expedite Urine samples analyzed144 routine Urine samples analyzed concurrently
CDC confirmed the results of WIPP Laboratories by performing independent bioassay analysis
WIPP Site Incident Response
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Vegetation Samples
32 large area un-prepped samples arrived in one day while over 200 samples were in house
4 weeks TAT met
Sample analysis was quoted by an outside lab at $100k with 4-6 weeks TAT
WIPP Site Incident Response
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EM Soil and Vegetation
Sampling Sites
WIPP Site Incident Response
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Soil/Sediment Samples32 un-prepped samples arrived with the vegetation
samplesHomogenization neededRapid leach utilized as the target was surface
contamination2 positive for Pu-239 not Am-241, determined to likely
be Gnome Project r4 weeks TAT met
WIPP Site Incident Response
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Samples of OpportunitySamples collected from various points around the
site after each rainfall (>100 extra samples)Samples collected from March 2 and March 26
show low levels of Am-241 activitySamples of opportunity were collected after rain
events from WIPP site building roof top and roadway drainage. Highest concentration is ~3% of the EPA drinking water standard for alpha radioactivity.
Road kill near the site collected when opportunity arose
WIPP Site Incident Response
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February 15, 2014 – June 15, 2014 WIPP Laboratories Summary
1 lab with 3 fume hoods 4 fully trained prep lab staff (including NWP Project Manger),
2 fully trained count room staff, 2 data reviewers, 1 QA officer
Nearly 700 Emergency Response Samples Analyzed for Pu and Am
Routine samples from the WIPP Site and outside clients continued to be analyzed during the same time frame for Pu, U, Am, Sr, Np, Th, and gamma emitters
No contamination as evidenced by clean laboratory blanksMAPEP analyses completed on time NRIP 8 hour TAT samples analyzed
WIPP Site Incident Response
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Throughout 2014 and most of 2015 WIPP Facility went through a comprehensive recovery plan.
Restart plan has been initiated and continues the progress achieved on a daily basis.
Expected re-opening of WIPP is: 2016
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Recovery Progress Has WIPP Poised to Resume Operations in 2016
The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Carlsbad Field
Office (CBFO) and Nuclear Waste Partnership (NWP),
the management and operations contractor for the Waste
Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) have made significant
progress in recovery efforts at WIPP following the 2014
salt haul truck fire and radiological release.
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Additional Underground Ventilation
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Underground Stability Improved
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Respiratory Requirements Reduced
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Radiological Risk Reduced
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Emergency Response Capabilities Bolstered
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Fire Corrective Actions Completed
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Fire Corrective Actions Completed
• Installation of automatic fire suppression systems has been completed
• Combustion control program has been implemented• Additional egress strobes and reflectors to make
underground exiting easier• Dozens of drills have been conducted for exiting the
underground• New underground personnel accountability system
has been implemented
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Re-Start Preparations
With only a handful of recovery activities remaining, DOE and NWP will begin to focus efforts on a series of re-start activities that are intended to develop proficiencies and test capabilities for site workers, equipment and procedures that will be necessary for resumption of waste emplacement operations.
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Integrated Cold Operations
Over an eight week period, workers will practice using new equipment, procedures and processes that will now be used for receipt, downloading and placement of waste. Workers will use empty waste containers and conduct drills and exercises on a variety of scenarios designed to test knowledge and develop proficiency at the various waste handling operations.
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Questions?
Thank you!