surplus plutonium disposition...

Surplus Plutonium Disposition Program

Sachiko McAlhany, Senior Technical Advisor, NA-23Todd Shrader, Manager, Carlsbad Field Office, DOE-EMSamuel Callahan, Director, Office of Security, AU-50

National Academies of ScienceJune 2018

M3-SR-180-0017, Rev. 0

Reviewed and determined to be UNCLASSIFIED.DC/RO: C. R. Dyer, Sr. QA SpecialistDate: 7/10/2018

1

Surplus Plutonium Disposition ProgramMFFF Approach and Dilute and Dispose Approach

MOX Fuel Approach

Plutonium Oxide Feed

Spent Fuel

High Level Waste Repository

(Yucca Mountain)

MOX Fuel

Commercial Nuclear Reactors

MOX Fuel Fabrication Facility

Fuel Fabrication

Dissolve and

PurifyWaste

Solidification Building

SRS Waste Management

Waste IsolationPilot Plant

Dilute and Dispose

Waste IsolationPilot Plant

Pantex:Pit Storage

Weapons Dismantled at Pantex LANL:

Pit Disassembly and Convert to Oxide

SRSNon Pit Plutonium

StorageDilute and Dispose

Approach

Liquid Waste

Options

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Proposed Surplus Plutonium DispositionMaster Summary Schedule

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56

Color

Prepare for Disposal

WBS 23.3.2.2

Surplus P tManagementWBS 23.3.2.1

LANLPANTEXMOX Fuel

Dilute & Process

WBS 23.3.2.4

Non-Pit Pu ProcessingWBS 01.78

Surplus Pu Disposition Master Summary Schedule

NNSA

Gov't Fiscal Year

Site

Program Management & Integration

WBS 23.3.1

Key and Critical

M lestones

Geological Repository

DisposalWBS 23.3.2.5

WIPPSRS

MOX FuelWBS 23.3.2.3

Sta t Repos to yD sposal of Non

P t Mate al

Deactivat on Design

7.8 MT Non-Pit Material Geolog cal Repository Disposal Operations

SRS Start 7.8 MT Repository Shipments

Non-Pit Pu Process Operations

Complete LCCE Validation

Complete New NEPA Analysis (34MT ROD)

o ect Schedu e Cont ngency

MOX Project Termination

Complete PD Emplacement Operations

Complete Characterization & Shipping Operations

Complete Dilution

Operations

Complete Surplus P t Shipment Operat ons

Schedule Margin (Management Reserve & Contingency)

Mods Complete

Start Repository Disposal of SPD Material

LANL CD-2/3A Approved

Complete Dilute Operations

Steady-State Characterization, Packaging & Shipping Operat ons

Non-Pit Oxide Production

SPD Pro ect Dilute

Mobilize Dilution Processing Steady-State Dilute and Process Operations

Mobilize Characterization & Pkging

SAVY Feed Spec Ramp up Oxide Production

LANL CD-1 Approved

Steady State Operation of Oxide Production

LANL Deactivation

Ongoing Pit Packaging & Surveillance Operations Surplus Pit Management Steady-State Shipments (on two lines) to Preparation for Disposal'

Process Equipment Installation Project

Logistical Support Center & Support Buildings Project

Develop Characterizat on & Packag ng Capability

26.2 MT Pit Material Geological Repository Disposal Operations

Deactivation

MOX Feed Spec

Sand a WIPP Impact Assessment

SE10019

SRS Complete Implementation Verification Protocol

SPD P oject Ea yF n sh CD 4 App oval)

W2020

L12380

N1460

Independent Verification Req'ts Identified N10089

N10049

L1050L14160

P1160

W PPSM1200 1210

SE10000

SKO2090

SKO1980

SKO5350-SKO8510

SKO8530

L8730

W9999

P1650

Ramp Up

S1100

P1460-P1450P1130-P1440

L8370 - L8350

L6690 - L14190

L2750

SE10419-SE10439

SKE1030-1160

SKE1160SE1800

New NEPA Analysis (34MT)N1040

Initial Dilution Shipments Start

3013 Feed Spec L12390- 3640Complete Prepare for Disposal Operations

L13010L2660 - L2740

SM1000

Establish MD2 Capability

P799

EPA / NMED PCN Approved - 34 MT

N1475

L5050

LANL CD-0 Approved

LANL CD-1 Approved

L1050

LANL CD-2/3A Approved

L14160SRS Start 26.2 MT RepositoryShipments

SE10939

Complete Pu Emplacement at the

Geological RepositoryW999

W2100

Complete Preparation for

Disposal OperationsL13010

Complete Characterizat on & ShippingOperations

SE1000

NS9999

Complete Surplus Pit Shipments To LANL

P1650

LANL CD-4 Approved

L14190

WIPPVP1190

W2020

SE1850

L2750 - L2780

SPD Project CD-4 Approved With Schedule ContingencySKE1180

P o ect Schedu e Cont ngency

SPD ProjectCD-4

Approved w/ Schedule Contingency

SPD ProjectCD-4

Approved

SKE1160 SKE1180

SKO1900

N10129

LANL AoA's Complete

N10189

P t D sassembly & Conve s on 23.3 2 2 2

Commence Deact vat on

SPD P oject CD 3AApp oved

SKE1070

SPD P oject CD-1App oved

SKE1030

SPD P oject CD-2/3App oved

SKE1120

WIPP Ventilation System Line Item Project Complete

W1000

LANL CD-0 Approved

L5050

Complete Removalof 1 MT From SC

N10219

LANL Authorized to Increase Production

L1330

Commence Deact vat on

W PP Complete IndependentVerification Mods

LANL Steady-State

SPD Throughput Increase

SPD Steady-State Throughput

Pantex Start Up Packaging Line 2

P1460

SPD ProjectCD-3A

Approved

SKE1070SPD Project

CD-1Approved

SKE1030

N1040

n t a 7.8 D ut on Sh pments Sta t

SKO2090SKE1160

L2750

Provide 34 MT Inventory Data to

CBFO N10259

CBFO - Submit PCN to EPA

N1495

EPA Approves

PCNN10249 N1475

SPD ProjectCD-2/3

Approved

SKE1120

LANL Inc ease P od. to

400kg/y

L14300


600kg/y

L14310


700kg/y

L14320


1000kg/y

L14330


1400kg/y

L14340


1500kg/y

L14350

Pantex Plant

Surplus Pit Management

Los Alamos National Lab

Prepare for Disposal

Savannah River Site

Dilute and Process

Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

Geological Repository Disposal

NNSA Authorize

Shipments to SC

N1050

L14390

P1140

SKO8740

SE1093

LANL New Equipment Throughput Increase

L14240

SKO8620

P ep fo D sposal at S eady State

SKO8820

W10029

Inc easeP oduct on

to 150kg

Inc easeP oduct on

to 800kg

nc easeP oduct on to 1250kg

nc easeP oduct on to 1500kg

SKO8770 SKO8780 SKO8790 SKO8800

L8630 - L8690

Capac ty nc ease @ Packag ng L ne 2

EPA Review PCN

SKO8820

Cut Off Inputs 2024 CRA

N10279

EPA Recertificat on (CRA) N10289

Repository Upgrades, if needed (Security & Verification Protocol)

Savannah River Site – Dilute and Dispose Process

Can with Pu oxide is placed in a glovebox

Pu oxide is placed in new can along with dry inhibitor to dilute

Pu to less than 10 weight percent

Pipe cutter opens outer and inner can

Puncture device vents can prior to opening to relieve any

pressure

Can is sealed and mechanically

manipulated to further homogenize contents

Can is removed from glovebox, assayed,

packaged into approved NRC-licensed drum for

disposal at WIPP

• Dilute and Dispose involves diluting plutonium oxide with inhibitor materials, packaging it into approved containers, and disposing of the diluted plutonium as TRU waste at WIPP for permanent disposal.

• Requires installation of additional equipment to meet higher capacity requirements

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4

Characterization

Process to determine the physical, chemical and radiological contents of TRU waste containers to ensure that waste is acceptable for disposal at WIPP

Acceptable Knowledge Radiography

Non-destructive assay

Statistical headspace gas analysis

Visual confirmation of each waste to prevent disposition of prohibited items, such as aerosol cans or liquids

Determine radiological contents

Determine volatile organic compound contents

Statistical solids sampling & analysis

Performed on samples of homogeneous waste to analyze for chemical hazards

Establish vetted documentation of waste stream describing origin of waste, content, and waste parameters

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Transportation

Waste containers are loaded into protective shipping containers (such as TRUPACT-II) and shipped via dedicated commercial carrier

Shipping containers are loaded onto specially designed flatbed trailers. State personnel inspect load before departure

Drivers inspect their rigs and load every 3 hours or 150 miles. Some states require additional inspections at their ports of entry

For safety and security reasons, shipments are tracked throughout their journey using a satellite system (TRANSCOM)

WIPP-trained state and local emergency responders (~30,000) along all shipping routes, with frequent exercises

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Contact Handled Waste Disposal Operations

Each shipment receives security inspection, radiological survey, and documentation review

Shipping containers are unloaded and transferred to the waste handling building thru airlocks

Health physics technicians perform radiological surveys as shipping containers are unloaded

Waste is lifted from shipping containers using overhead cranes

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Waste Emplacement

Waste containers are placed on waste hoist for 2155’ descent

into underground

In underground, waste is removed from the hoist and

transported to a disposal room

Waste is emplaced in recently mined rooms. Magnesium

oxide is placed on waste stack to control solubility of

radionuclides in event of hypothetical brine intrusion

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Surplus Plutonium Waste Form

• Composition− Ferrous Metals 60 to 85 wt%− Inorganic Compounds 10 to 30 wt%− Non-Ferrous Metals 5 to 15 wt%− Plastic (packaging) 2 to 5 wt%− Cementitious Material 0 to 3 wt%

• Blend can and packaging mass for dilute and dispose− Shielded Container/Closure ~3,500 g− Adulterant ~1,350 g− PuO2 (or other fissile materials) ~170 g (i.e., 150 fissile gram equivalent) − Containers and packaging ~250 g

• Meets WIPP Waste Acceptance Criteria

• Sandia prepared report identifying specific adulterant considerations to ensure waste form would not adversely impact WIPP long-term performance

• Sandia also tasked to evaluate the long-term repository performance of emplacing the surplus plutonium at WIPP if added to the waste already emplaced and projected to be emplaced at closure of WIPP

– Inventory: Generate an inventory report containing the surplus plutonium as input for Performance Assessment calculations (LANL)

– Criticality: Perform post closure criticality analysis (ORNL)– Geo-Mechanics: Simulate the deformation and crushing of CCOs as WIPP creeps

closed (SNL)– Features, Event, Processes (FEPs): Update FEPs in advance of conducting performance

assessment calculation, as needed, considering the possible addition of plutonium to the disposed inventory at closure of WIPP (SNL)

– Chemistry: Understand the quantity and chemical composition of the diluent material to be used in the Criticality Control Overpack containers (SNL)

– Performance Assessment: Integrate information listed above into performance assessment calculations to determine whether WIPP would remain compliant with EPA restrictions on cumulative releases over the 10,000-year regulatory period of interest (SNL)

• Schedule: Work suspended: Completion date TBD

• To date, no issues identified

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Repository Performance

• Prepare National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)– NEPA establishes process for decision makers to use in

considering potential environmental impacts of major actions • Utilizes existing technologies within existing operational facilities

– May require minor, routine permit modifications at the sites for Line Item construction projects during construction

• Have not identified any permit modifications required at WIPP specifically for the proposed 34 MT surplus plutonium mission

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Environmental Regulatory Requirements

• DOE O 474.4 “Safeguards and Security Program” – Defines roles and responsibilities

• DOE O 474.2 “Nuclear Material Control and Accountability”- Establishes requirements for developing, implementing, and maintaining a nuclear material and accountability program

• Termination of Safeguards– Must determine that the nuclear material has no programmatic value in

consultation with the Program Office and Office of Nuclear Material Integration

– Must meet criteria for attractiveness level E or if D or higher, approval received from departmental element after consultation with Office of Environment, Health , Safety and Security (AU) and for NNSA facilities, from Associate Administrator for Defense Nuclear Security after consultation with AU

– For disposal of Category II or greater quantity of Special Nuclear Material, security analysis for theft or diversion of the material performed jointly by shipping and receiving site/facility

– Ensure that the level of security specified by DOE line management as a condition of termination of safeguards is implemented effectively

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Safeguards and Security - Termination of Safeguards

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Safeguards and Security – Attractiveness Levels

Excerpt from DOE O 474.4

• Documents the security strategies for protection of material, facilities involved, transportation, and equivalencies that may be required throughout the duration of the combined EM and NNSA 40 MT surplus plutonium disposition campaign

– Describes each facility and the security strategies in place today– Identifies roles and responsibilities– Aligns and adjusts with installation of new capabilities and increased

production– Security continues throughout program, including at WIPP, consistent with

operations today– Evaluates threats periodically throughout the program– Identifies processes for contingency planning – incorporates risk mitigation

strategies

• Approval by the Deputy Secretary

• Schedule for approval:– June 2018 Draft prepared however work suspended– Expect approval TBD

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Campaign Plan

• Documents the results of the Risks and Opportunities Assessment for the dilute and dispose approach

• Identifies risks and opportunities and handling strategies

– Risks primarily assessed in the following categories: Projects, Operations, Staging, Regulatory, Personnel, Transportation

• Monte Carlo simulation performed on risk impacts to determine Technical and Programmatic Risks Assessment (TPRA) risk and Schedule margin risk at 70% confidence level

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LCCE Risks and Opportunities Analysis Report

• 48 active events identified for the dilute and dispose approach (40 risks and 8 opportunities of which 1 risk was avoided)

• Categorized as either Program Risk (16 events) or Execution Risk (29 events)

• Primary Risks: – Anomalous Events - Anomalous events occurring at one or more of the

sites could interrupt operations, causing an impact to schedule and cost– Equipment Failure - higher-than-expected failure rate of infrastructure,

processing equipment, or shipping containers could interrupt operations, causing an impact to schedule and cost

– Impactful Delays: Longer-than-planned durations of activities could extend the schedule and increase cost

• Examples include: installation of equipment at LANL; execution of the line item project at SRS; ability to hire, qualify, and retain critical staffing; and extended WIPP outages

• Avoided Risk: Insufficient in-line storage at LANL– Added sufficient storage safes

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LCCE Results and Primary Risks

• Assesses technologies used in the proposed dilute and dispose approach and identifies activities to further mature technologies if necessary

• Identified 59 technologies required for program implementation

• Identified 5 critical technological elements that are necessary for successful completion of the program including pit cutter, two involving shipping packages, oxidation of Pu/HEU, dilute processing

– None involve new technologies– Limited modifications to existing technologies or expanded demonstration

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LCCE Technology Readiness Assessment and Maturation Plans