ML19282D292
| ML19282D292 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07106400 |
| Issue date: | 04/03/1979 |
| From: | WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY, DIV OF CBS CORP. |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19282D291 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7905300142 | |
| Download: ML19282D292 (9) | |
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INFORMATION FOR PLUTONIUM WASTE DRUM SHIPMENTS l
WESTINGHOUSE NUCLEAR FUEL DIVISION PLUTONIUM FUELS DEVELOPMENT LABORATORY l
l Docket No. 71-6400 Certificate of Compliance No. 6400 April 3,1979 7905300 /9g Q
TAB 1,E OF CONTENTS Seetion Title
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INTRODUCTION l-1
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[ WASTE CHARACTERIZATION AND HANDLIN.G TECHNIQUES 2-1 2
2.1 Soft Wastes 2-1 2.1.1 Waste Description 2-1 2.1.2 Currenc Packaging Methods 2-1 2-2 2.1.3 Packaging Procedures 2.2 Hard Wastes 2-3 2.2d Waste Description 2-3 2.2.2
' Current Packaging Methods 2-3 2.2.3 Packaging Procedures 2-4 3
OVERPACK PACKAGING PROCEDURE 3l e
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SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION Plutonium-bearing solid wastes, generated within the Westinghouse Plutonium Fuels Development Laboratory (PFDL), are packaged in DOT Specification 17H 9
55-gallon drums and transported to a disposa1 site in a Super Tiger package.
Specific restrictions, however, have been placed on shipment of these wastes
~ unless it is shown that the inner 55-gallon drums containing plutonium in excess of twenty curies will not release the plutonium when the entire shipping package is subjected to the normal and accident conditions of transport.
Waste descriptions, packaging methods, and other significant areas of information are described in the following sections, in support of a request for exemption per 10 CFR 71.42(b3).
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i SECTION 2 WASTE CHARACTERIZATION AND HANDLING TECHNIQUES 2.1 SOFT WASTES
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2.1.1 Waste Description y
This material includes plastic sheeting, glove box gloves, paper, cardboard, prefilter media, empty polyethylene bottles, canner's gloves, shoe covers, etc. These wastes account for the largest percentage of all the waste genera ted. The soft wastes generated within glove boxes contain a plutonium contamination which is "smearable" but not visually datectable.
Supportive '
measurement data show-that an individual waste package, removed from a glove b'ox, normally contains low ~ level quantities of plutonium contamination.
Non-glove box soft wastes are handled as potentially contaminated because
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they are in the laboratory area.
The activity levels from these wastes are less than detectable.
N 2.1.2 Current Packaging Methods Soft wastes generated within glove boxes are removed in 12-mil thick PVC bags using specialized bag-out procedures and heat-sealing t6chniques.
Each 5
sealed bag of waste is placed into another 12-mil PVC bag which is also sealed.
This double-bagged package is then placed into a large 4-mil thick PVC bag which lines the 17H drum.
When the drum is filled, the liner is sealed with plastic tape.
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Potentially contaminated non-glove box soft wastes are packaged in the same manner as the glove box wastes regardless of their nondetectable levels of con tamination.
Soft wastes are compacted when required as part of a volume reduction p rogram. Soft packages, described above, are transferred to a specific
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9 glove box, opened, placed into the compactor bag, and subsequently compacted. After a specific quantity of soft packages are compacted, the package is removed, double bagged as previously described, and placed into the lined 17H drum.
A typical compacted package with double bag has a dimension of 22" high x 16" length x 10" width.
Each sealed soft package, whether noncompacted or compacted, is nondestruc-tively assayed to determine the plutonium content.
If a package contains a quantity of plutonium contamination greater than 15 grams as specified by a PFDL operational procedure, it will be returned to the glove box area of
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origin for investigation, redistribution, and repackaging.
2.1.3 Packaging Procedures A.
Current packaging methods for noncompacted and compacted soft wastes will remain the same.
B.
Procedures will be revised to implement the following segregation requirements during packaging into 17H drums:
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Soft wastes will not be comingled with hard wastes within the same 17H drum.
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Compacted soft wastes will not be comingled with noncompacted soft wastes within the same 17H drum.
2 2.2 HARD WASTES 2.2.1 Waste Description 1
This material includes failed equipment, empty metal cans, tools, defective glassware, solidified liquid waste, etc.
These wastes currently account for a.small percentage of m.e PFDL waste generated.
This waste is closely e'xamined and precondihoned prior to renoval from the glove box.
Precondi-tioning includes brushing and wiping these waste items to collect any residual material that may be present.
Non-glove box hard wastes are handled as potentially contaminated because they are in the laboratory area.
N 2.2.2 Current Packaging Methods Hard wastes generated within glove boxes are packaged using the doubic-bag procedure and heat-sealing techniques describe'd in Section 2.1.2 All sharp _
edges and pointed items are rounded off and blunted prior to packaging to prevent tearing and rupture of the bag material.
Potentially contaminated non-glove box wastes are packaged in the same manner.
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t lo Defective and broken glassware, e.g., beakers, pipets, etc., is crushed in l
quart cans, covered by a lid, taped closed, and double bagged.
Liquid waste is solidified in concrete in 30-gallon drums.
The 30-gallon drum, sur-rounded by a plastic bag drum liner, is located inside a 17H 55-gallon drum.
The void space between the 30-gallon drum and the 55-gallon drum is filled with an absorbent. After the concrete-liquid mixture hardens, the 30-gallon drum is sealed, the bag is taped closed, and the lid of the 17H drum is sealed.
Liquid waste is assayed prior to solidification to ensure that the package does not exceed 15 grams of plutonium contamination.
2:2.3 Packaging ProceEures A.
All contaminated hard waste items will be treated for fixation of the contamination prior to packaging.
Dependent on the specific hard item, the method of treatment would include the use of a plastic strip coat, a plastic dip process, concrete solidification, etc. As an example, crushed glassware would be solidified in concrete, tools could be dipped, weigh balances could be sprayed, etc.
B.
Procedures will be revised to implement the following waste segregation requirements during packaging into 17H drums:
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Hard wastes will not be comingled with noncompacted and compacted soft wastes within the same 17H drum.
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Plastic packing material will be added in the 17H drum to fill voids surrounding the double-bagged packaged hard item.
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C.
In the case of a soli'dified drum, the void space between the 30-gallon and the 55-gallon drums will be filled with an absorbent or plastic packing material.. The drum liner will be heat-sealed closed instead of taped closed.
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5ECTION 3 OVERPACK PACKAGING PROCEDURE A full load of 42 drums placed in the. Super Tiger will be required.
In the event a full load of contaminated waste is not available at the time of i
shipment, additional drums, whether full or empty, will be added to ensure the full complement of 42 drums.
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