Lessons Learned at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant: Share, Listen, and Learn to Earn Stakeholder Acceptance

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leif G. Eriksson
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Pilot Plant ◽  
Role Model ◽  
The United States ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
Host Community ◽  
Deep Geological Repository ◽  
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant ◽  
Geological Repository

Abstract On March 26, 1999, the United States (U.S.) Department of Energy (DOE) opened the nation’s first deep geological disposal system (repository) for long-lived radioactive wastes/materials (LLRMs) at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) site, New Mexico, United States of America (USA). The opening of WIPP embodies gradually achieved acceptance, both local and global, on scientific, institutional, regulatory, political, and public levels. In the opinion of the author, five significant determinants for the successful siting, certification, and acceptance of WIPP, were the existence of: • A willing and supportive host community; • A strong, independent regulator; • A regulatory framework widely perceived to (over)protect public health and the environment; • A structurally simple, old, stable, host-rock with excellent radionuclide containment and isolation characteristics; and • An open siting, site characterization, repository development, certification and recertification process with regularly scheduled opportunities for information exchanges with affected and interested parties, including a) prompt responses to non-DOE concerns and b) transparency/traceability of external-input into, and the logic behind, the DOE’s decision-making process. The nation’s and the world’s next deep geological repository for LLRMs is currently scheduled to open in 2010. As follows, in addition to providing a national solution to safe disposal of LLRMs, the opening and continued safe operation of WIPP provides an international role model that effectively dispels the global myth that LLRMs cannot be safely disposed in a deep geological repository.

Materials Interface Interactions Test (MIIT); in-Situ Testing of Simulated Hlw Forms in Salt- Performance of Srs Simulated Waste Glass After up to 5 Years of Burial at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP)

1991 ◽  
Vol 257 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.G. Wicks ◽  
A.R. Lodding ◽  
P.B. Macedo ◽  
D.E. Clark
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Pilot Plant ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
The United States ◽  
Waste Glass ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
High Level Waste ◽  
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant ◽  
High Level

ABSTRACTThe first field tests conducted in the United States involving burial of simulated high-level waste [HLW] forms and package components, were started in July of 1986. The program, called the Materials Interface Interactions Test or MIIT, is the largest cooperative field-testing venture in the international waste management community. Included in the study are over 900 waste form samples comprising 15 different systems supplied by 7 countries. Also included are approximately 300 potential canister or overpack metal samples along with more than 500 geologic and backfill specimens. There are almost 2000 relevant interactions that characterize this effort which is being conducted in the bedded salt site at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), near Carlsbad, New Mexico. The MIIT program represents a joint endeavor managed by Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, N.M., and Savannah River Laboratory in Aiken, S.C. and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. Also involved in MIIT are participants from various laboratories and universities in France, Germany, Belgium, Canada, Japan, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In July of 1991, the experimental portion of the 5-yr. MIIT program was completed. Although only about 5% of all MIIT samples have been assessed thus far, there are already interesting findings that have emerged. The present paper will discuss results obtained for SRS 165/TDS waste glass after burial of 6 mo., 1 yr. and 2 yrs., along with initial analyses of 5 yr. samples.

Independent Technical Oversight of WIPP: An Operating Repository

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
James K. Channell ◽  
Matthew K. Silva
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Pilot Plant ◽  
The United States ◽  
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant ◽  
Environmental Evaluation ◽  
Geological Repository ◽  
Evaluation Group ◽  
Transuranic Wastes

Abstract The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), a geological repository for the disposal of transuranic wastes from the United States defense programs, began disposing of waste in March 1999. The experience of the Environmental Evaluation Group (EEG) indicates that a technical oversight group that focuses on objective technical evaluations can add credibility to a nuclear repository project. The group can also have an effect on a variety of design, regulatory, and operational details of the project.

The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant: A Global Opportunity for Partnerships With a Purpose

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inés R. Triay ◽  
Mark L. Matthews ◽  
Leif G. Eriksson ◽  
Frank D. Hansen
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Pilot Plant ◽  
The United States ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
International Programs ◽  
Strategic Partnerships ◽  
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant ◽  
Deep Geological Disposal ◽  
Scientific Technical ◽  
Underground Research Laboratory

Abstract On March 26, 1999, the United States (U.S.) Department of Energy (DOE) Carlsbad Field Office (CBFO) opened the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico, United States of America (USA), for safe deep geological disposal of up to 175,584 cubic meters (m3) of long-lived radioactive wastes/materials (LLRMs). Twenty-four years of intensive, iterative interactions with scientific, environmental, public, institutional, political, and regulatory interest groups resolved all regulatory and legal challenges involved in bringing a deep geological repository for LLRMs to adequate scientific, technical, institutional, political, and public acceptance and fruition. International strategic partnerships and research and development (R&D) collaborations are cornerstones in both past and current strategies designed to timely, cost-effectively, and safely accomplish the CBFO mission. The primary objectives of the CBFO’s international programs are to: 1. Acquire information supporting the CBFO mission. 2. Present and share CBFO mission information, expertise, and facilities of potential interest and/or value to other radioactive waste management and disposal programs, including using the WIPP underground research laboratory (URL) for joint R&D and training.

The Role of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in the Cleanup of the U.S. Nuclear Weapons Complex

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynne K. Smith ◽  
Mary L. Bisesi
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Nuclear Weapons ◽  
Pilot Plant ◽  
The United States ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
United States Department ◽  
National Academy Of Sciences ◽  
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant ◽  
Term Operation ◽  
Transuranic Waste

As a result of nuclear weapons production, the United States of America produced significant quantities of transuranic waste, which consists of clothing, tools, rags, residues, debris and other items contaminated with small amounts of radioactive man-made elements — mostly plutonium — with an atomic number greater than that of uranium. Transuranic waste began accumulating in the 1940s and continued through the Cold War era. Today, most transuranic waste is stored at weapons production sites across the United States. In 1957, the National Academy of Sciences concluded that the most promising disposal option for radioactive wastes was disposal in deep geologic repositories situated in the salt formations. After nearly a decade of study, the United States Department of Energy decided in January 1981 to proceed with construction of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) at a site 41.6 km (26 miles) southest of Carlsbad, New Mexico. After years of study, construction, and permitting, the WIPP facility became operational in early 1999. As the United States continues to clean up and close its former nuclear weapon facilities, the operation of WIPP will continue into the next several decades. This paper will provide on overview of the history, regulatory, and public process to permit a radioactive repository for disposal of transuranic wastes and the process to ensure its long-term operation in a safe and environmentally compliant manner.

Engineered Barriers in the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shankar Ghose
Keyword(s):  
New Mexico ◽  
Pilot Plant ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
Protective Measure ◽  
Salt Mine ◽  
Deep Geological Repository ◽  
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant ◽  
Disposal Facility ◽  
Geological Repository ◽  
Engineered Barriers

The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) is a deep geological repository being developed by the Department of Energy as a research and disposal facility in the bedded salt deposit of New Mexico. WIPP is essentially an underground salt mine at 2150 feet (655 meters) below the surface and operates on multiple barrier mechanism. Engineered barriers provide an additional protective measure to prevent the movement of fluid towards the accessible environment. Four types of engineered barriers are used in the WIPP disposal system. This paper presents an analysis of the effectiveness of the engineered barriers in various repository environments.

Best Practices and Lessons Learned from Nuclear Materials Retrieval Programs of the United States Department of Energy

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaatrin Abbott ◽  
Zachary Geroux
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
The United States ◽  
Nuclear Material ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
Nuclear Materials ◽  
United States Department

Abstract The Atomic Energy Act, as amended, authorizes the United States (U.S.) Department of Energy (DOE) and its predecessor agencies to distribute nuclear materials to public or private institutions for the purposes of education as well as research and development. Significant transformations throughout the nuclear industry have led to changes in programmatic responsibility for loaned nuclear materials. DOE has established several programs to catalog, transfer ownership, retrieve, and/or dispose of these loaned nuclear materials. The variety of loaned nuclear material types, as well as operational and regulatory variations between facility licensees have created unique challenges for the retrieval and dispositioning processes. These include packaging and transportation, confirmation of regulatory jurisdiction, property transfer, and disposal of sources with no remaining economic value. This paper explores the methods and actions taken by DOE to address these challenges. Lessons learned and best practices identified from these programs are also presented.

Sharing Lessons Learned and Best Practices in Deactivation and Decommissioning Techniques Among U.S. Department of Energy Contractors

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael B. Lackey ◽  
Sandra L. Waisley ◽  
Lansing G. Dusek
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
The United States ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Significant Progress ◽  
Energy Facility ◽  
Engineering And Technology ◽  
Implementation Guidelines

Approximately $153.2 billion of work currently remains in the United States Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Environmental Management (EM) lifecycle budget for United States projects. Contractors who manage facilities for the DOE have been challenged to identify transformational changes to reduce the lifecycle costs and develop a knowledge management system that identifies, disseminates, and tracks the implementation of lessons learned and best practices. At the request of the DOE’s EM Office of Engineering and Technology, the Energy Facility Contractors Group (EFCOG) responded to the challenge with formation of the Deactivation and Decommissioning (D&D) and Facility Engineering (DD/FE) Working Group. Since October 2006, members have already made significant progress in realizing their goals: adding new D&D best practices to the existing EFCOG Best Practices database; participating in lessons learned forums; and contributing to a DOE initiative on identifying technology needs. The group is also participating in a DOE project management initiative to develop implementation guidelines, as well as a DOE radiation protection initiative to institute a more predictable and standardized approach to approving authorized limits and independently verifying cleanup completion at EM sites. Finally, a D&D hotline to provide real-time solutions to D&D challenges is also being launched.

scholarly journals Nuclear Facility Safety at the United States Department of Energy

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Frias ◽  
José R. O. Muñoz ◽  
Louis Restrepo ◽  
James L. Tingey ◽  
David L. Y. Louie
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Nuclear Safety ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Nuclear Facility ◽  
Near Misses ◽  
States Department ◽  
Safety Research

Abstract Nuclear facility safety is crucial to preventing and/or reducing high consequence-low probability accidents and, thus reducing the potential risks posed by United States Department of Energy (DOE) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) operations at their facilities/activities. DOE/NNSA has the responsibility of developing, issuing, maintaining, and enforcing nuclear safety Directives while fostering a culture that promotes nuclear safety research and development. Lessons learned from past accidents, near misses, and experiments/analyses are also important resources for improving operational nuclear safety in the safety community. This paper first identifies and describes the current Directives in place, including safety review and regulatory process, and safety programs that support implementation of the Directives. This paper also describes a contractor’s approach to identifying and implementing safety using these Directives and lessons-learned in multiple discipline areas of nuclear safety.

Integrated Approach to Remediatiion of Multiple Uranium Mill Tailing Sites for the US DOE in the Western United States

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bill Van Dyke ◽  
Tom Dabrowski
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Public Involvement ◽  
The United States ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
Western United States ◽  
Maximum Efficiency ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Remedial Action ◽  
Low Level

This paper provides a case history of a highly successful approach that was developed and implemented for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for the cleanup and remediation of a large and diverse population of uranium mill tailings sites located in the Western United States. The paper addresses the key management challenges and lessons learned from the largest DOE Environmental Management Clean-up Project (in terms of number of individual clean-up sites) undertaken in the United States. From 1986 to 1996, the Department of Energy’s Grand Junction Projects Office (GJPO) completed approximately 4600 individual remedial action site cleanup projects for large- and small-scale properties, and sites contaminated with residual hazardous and radioactive materials from former uranium mining and milling activities. These projects, with a total value of $597 million, involved site characterization, remedial design, waste removal, cleanup verification, transportation, and disposal of nearly 2.7 million cubic yards of low-level and mixed low-level waste. The project scope included remedial action at 4,200 sites in Grand Junction, Colorado, and Edgemont, South Dakota; 412 sites in Monticello, Utah; and, 44 sites in Denver, Colorado. The projects ranged in size and complexity from the multi-year Monticello Millsite Remedial Action Project, which involved investigations, characterization, remedial design, and remedial action at this uranium millsite along with design of a 2.5 million cubic yard disposal cell, to the remediation and reconstruction of thousands of smaller commercial and residential properties throughout the Southwestern United States. Because these projects involved remedial action at a variety of commercial facilities, businesses, churches, schools and personal residences, and the transportation of the waste through towns and communities, an extensive public involvement program was the cornerstone of an effort to promote stakeholder understanding and acceptance. The Project established a DOE model for rapid, economical, and effective remedial action. During the ten years of the contract, the management operations contractor (Duratek) met all project milestones on schedule and under budget, with no cost growth from the original scope. By streamlining remediation schedules and techniques, ensuring effective stakeholder communications, and transferring lessons learned from one project to the next, the contractor achieved maximum efficiency and the lowest remediation costs of any similar DOE environmental programs at the time.

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