ML20206J425

Forwards Rept Summarizing Status,Progress & Expenditures of West Valley Demonstration Project for Quarter Ending 880630 in Response to H.R.97-177 Requirement

ML20206J425
Person / Time
Site:	West Valley Demonstration Project
Issue date:	10/03/1988
From:	Bunch D ENERGY, DEPT. OF
To:	Roe R HOUSE OF REP., SCIENCE, SPACE & TECHNOLOGY (FORMERLY
References
REF-PROJ-M-32 24941, NUDOCS 8811280186
Download: ML20206J425 (7)

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Dear Mr. Chairman:

Public Law 96 368, the West Valley Den.onstration Project Act of 1980, authorized the Department of Energy to carry out a high-level liquid nuclear waste management demonstration project at the Western New York Nuclear Service Center near West Valley, New York. The primary pur ose of this project is to demonstrate solidification and preparation of hi h-level radioactive waste for disposal in a federal repository. The follow n report, prepared in response to a requirement in House Report 97-177,g summarizes the status, arogress, and expenditures of the West Valley Demonstration Project (Protect) fo the quarter ending June 30, 1988.

During the A)ril - June quarter, a significant Project milestone was realized wit 1 the start of treatment of the high-level liquid waste stored at Nest Valley. The volume of the high-level waste will be reduced by approximately 90 percent by removal of the radioactivity in the liquid portion. Operation of the integrated radwaste treatment system is the culmination of several years of design, construction, and testing of four integrated subsystems.

Performance of the :ntegrated system h2s exceeded the design criteria.

The De)artment has completed development of a new project baseline with a Total Project Cost Estimate of $800 million through solidification of the radioactive waste that is scheduled to begin in October 1992. Significant advances were made ir, nonradioactive testing of the solidification system, in testing the high level waste form, and in minimizing the exposure of werkers to radiation.

Should you have questions or require additional inforestion concerning this report, please contact Kathryn Martell on 586-2764.

Sincerely, OriRinal stRned by Delbert F. Bunch Princi sal Deputy Assistant Secretary for iuclear Energy bcc:

QA Enclosure j.

J. P. Hamric, ID T, DeSoer,flYSERDA l l ccr Ho%.rable Manuel lujan, Jr.

J. Hurt, flRC Ranung Minority Member W. Bixby, WVP0 Gd&mLnu 6311280186 8S1003 FDR PROJ M-32 PDC 24941

ACCOMPLISHMENTS WEST VALLEY DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR THE QUARTER ENDING JUNE 30, 1983 Preceding Quarter Synopsis In the January - March quarter, major effort was focused on preparations to meet the scheduled date cf June 1988 for start of treatment of the highly radioactive liquid waste stored in an underground tank. Checkou, and testin of several subsystems included the successful decontamination of slight y radioactive condensate. This both confirmed system capability and provid d the operators with additional experience. Modifications to the cement solidification system were ahead of schedule. Subsequent test runs indicated tnat the production rate would support full integrated systems o)eration. Preliminary analysis of subsystem performance indicated that t.1e system would meet or exceed all design criteria. The Department completed the development of a new )roject baseline with a Total Project Cost Estimate of $800 million, whic1 includes the cust of radioactive vitrification, scheduled to start in October 1992. The Concentrator Feed Makeup Tank, the sole remaining key component of the vitrification facility used to homogenize the glass recipe prior to feeding to the melter, was successfully installed.

Current Quarter Summary During the April - June quarter, the Project achieved a significant milestone when the Integrated Radwaste Treatment System (IRTS)d tank at began processing the high-level liquid waste stored in an undergroun West Valley. Decontamination of supernate using an ion exchange method bes an May 23. followed by liould waste conditionina operations on May 26.

anc start of~ solidification t'n cement on June 1.

The o00,000 gallon's of waste at West Valley consists, by volvme, of about 10 percent solids on the bottom of the tank and 90 percent liquid supernate. A>out half the total radioactivity is contained in the liquid. Cumpletion of supernate treatment will signal a significant reduction in waste volume. The sludge which will remain in the underground tank after supernate processing, will, be combined with the ion exchange material and glass forming agents and sent to a melter to be made into glass. The solidification of the high-level waste into glass is scheduled to begin in late 1992.

During the first two campaigns, et.h subsystem of the IRTS has met or exceeced its design requirements.

During the first two campaigns, over 42 000 gallons of radioactive supernate were processed into 783 orums of solidcementwasteform. The residual radioactivity of these dr"ms was on the order of 10-70 millirems / hour, well within the facility des'9i requirements.

In conjunction with the IRTS startup, the most comprehensive media day yet sponsored by the Project was held June 7.

Television coverage appeared on two local Buffalo stations and on Cable News Network (CNN). r Msitive article written for the New York Times and its wire service m 'eprinted in several major newspacers across the country and resulted v :he appeatance of an additional article in the Chicago Tribune.

Progress continued on the development of the capability to solidify the high-level waste into a glass waste form. The longest nonradioactive melter test run to date successfully operated 15 consecutive days at

• 99 percent systems availability. The test run met the planned objective of 80 liter / hour feed rate, about half of what is required for full production operation.

Measurements of feed rate and glass level in both melter and canister provided information needed to validate system operating models.

A sample of glass made during a recent similar large-scale run, tested by Pacific Northwest Laboratory, has been shown to meet durability tests and specifications identified in the Waste Acceptance Preliminary Specifications.

On-site radir. tion sxposure of workers, continues to be extremely low. The site's collective dose through June was 9.2 person-rem, only 21 percent of the year to date budget. Taking into consideration the uncertainties l

I tssociated with the startup of four integrated subsystems handling hignly radioactive liquid, this achievement is considered outstanding.

Table 1 provides a financial summary of Department of Energy allocations and corts through this report period. Operating contractor personnel reached 452 in June 1988.

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Table 1 FINANCIAL REPORT ON THE WEST VALLEY DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR QUAR?ER ENDING JUNE 30, 1988 (DollarsinMillions)

Cumulative Cost Cumulative Costs Through Third Quarter Costs Through Mar. 31, 19M FY 1988 June 30, 192 Operating Expenses 271.2 11.0 282.2 f

Capital Equipment 1.2 0.0 1.2 General Plant Projects 1.5 0.0 1.5 Total 273.9 11.0 284.9 i

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I AddressLisi j

l Addressee Copy list l

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1.

Honorable Robert A. Roe cc:

Chaiman, Comittee on Science, Honorable Manuel Lujan, Jr.

Space and Technology Ranking Minority Member Nouse of Representatives l

Washington, D.C.

20515 j

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I 2.

Honorable Morris K. Udall cc' Chairman, Comittee on Interior Honorable Don Young and Insular Affairs Ranking Minority Member r

House of Representatives i

Washington, D.C.

20515

{

I 3.

Honorable Philip Sharp cc:

i Chairman Honorable Carlos J. Moorhead Subcomittee on Energy and Power Ranking Minority Member Comittee on Energy and Commerce House of Representatives Washington, D.C.

20$15 l

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i 4.

Honorable Tom Bevill cc:

2 Chairman Subcomittee on Energy Honorable John T. Myers l

andWalerDevelopment Ranking Minority Member 1

Comittee on Appropriations j

j House of Representatives i

Washington, D.C.

20515

[

I 5.

Honorable J. Bennett Johnston ec:

Chairman, Comittee on Energy Honorable James A. McClure and Natural Resources Ranking Minority Member United States Senate t

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Washington, D.C.

20510

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6.

Honorable J. Bennett Johnston ec:

I Chairman, Subcommittee on Energy Honorable Mark 0. Hatfield

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and Water Development Ranking Minority Member Comittee on Appropriations j

United States Senate Washington, D.C.

20510 t

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I 7.

Honorable Daniel P. Moynthan N/A United States Senate l

l Washington, D.C.

20510

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8.

Honorable Alfonse D' Amato N/A United States Senate Washington, D.C.

20510 9.

Honorable Jack Keep N/A House of Representatives Washington, D.C.

20515

10. Honorable Amo Houghton, Jr.

N/A House of Representatives Washington, D.C.

20515

11. Ms. Nelle Miller N/A Office of Management and Budget New Executive Office Building Washington, D.C.

20503 1

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