Progress and Lessons Learned in Transuranic Waste Disposition at The Department of Energy's Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project Page: 1 of 11
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WM'06 Conference, February 26-March 2, 2006, Tucson, AZ
PROGRESS AND LESSONS LEARNED IN TRANSURANIC WASTE DISPOSITION
AT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S
ADVANCED MIXED WASTE TREATMENT PROJECT
J. D. Mousseau
S. C. Raish
F. M. Russo
Bechtel BWXT Idaho, LLC
765 Lindsay Boulevard
Idaho Falls, Idaho, 83402
ABSTRACT
This paper provides an overview of the Department of Energy's (DOE) Advanced Mixed Waste
Treatment Project (AMWTP) located at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and operated by
Bechtel BWXT Idaho, LLC (BBWI). It describes the results to date in meeting the 6,000-cubic-
meter Idaho Settlement Agreement milestone that was due December 31, 2005. The paper
further describes lessons that have been learned from the project in the area of transuranic (TRU)
waste processing and waste certification. Information contained within this paper would be
beneficial to others who manage TRU waste for disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant
(WIPP).
INTRODUCTION
In May of 2005, BBWI assumed prime contractor management and operations responsibilities
for the AMWTP located outside of Idaho Falls, Idaho. The mission of the facility is to prepare
transuranic (TRU) waste for transport to and disposal at the WIPP near Carlsbad, New Mexico.
A challenging near-term regulatory milestone under the 1995 Idaho Settlement Agreement was
to complete shipment of 6,000m3 of waste out of Idaho by the end of December 2005. As of
May 1, 2005, at the time the AMWTP contract was taken over by BBWI, only 625m3 of TRU
waste that counted against the milestone had been shipped to WIPP.
Upon assuming operations, BBWI defined seven production lines with a combined output
capable of meeting the 6,000m3 milestone. This included two process lines to be operated by the
WIPP Central Characterization Project (CCP). All seven lines are now operational. In June
2005, the BBWI TRU Waste Program and Plant Operations hired additional staff to meet
increased production needs. The baseline plan included the WIPP CCP becoming certified in
mid-July to support AMWTP waste shipments to WIPP.
To meet the 6,000m3 milestone, the AMWTP concentrated on two categories of waste: solids
(S3000) and debris (S5000). Debris was contained in and processed from both boxes and drums,
and solids were processed only from drums. For the TRU waste processed through December
2005, 55% of the total volume came from debris boxes, 10% came from debris drums, and 35%
came from solids drums.
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Mousseau, J. D.; Raish, S. C. & Russo, F. M. Progress and Lessons Learned in Transuranic Waste Disposition at The Department of Energy's Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project, article, May 18, 2006; United States. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc892702/m1/1/: accessed June 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.