Page 4 - SRNS Today January 2022

4 | SRNS TODAY | JANUARY 2022

Keeping it moving

New X-ray at SRS next step to waste removal

With the recent installation of equipment at the Solid Waste
Management Facility (SWMF), newly generated transuranic (TRU)
waste can now be characterized and certified by the National TRU
Program, paving the way for off-site shipment and disposal at the
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP).
The equipment, a Real Time Radiography unit, utilizes an X-ray system
to allow the contents of waste containers (e.g., 55-gallon drums or
standard waste boxes) holding radioactive waste to go through a non-
destructive examination (NDE). A transuranic waste drum is loaded into the Real Time Radiography unit
for characterization.
WIPP has specific standards for the waste containers allowed to
be disposed in their underground repository. The NDE portion of
characterization verifies and validates that the waste within each generated from SRS operations to be certified and ultimately shipped
container matches the documentation provided by SRS and that it to WIPP.”
does not contain any WIPP-prohibited items, without operators having The term transuranic refers to elements with an atomic number
to physically open the TRU waste container. greater than that of uranium (92). TRU wastes typically consist of
“The TRU waste we have shipped off-site in the past few years had protective clothing, tools, rags, equipment and miscellaneous items
already been characterized using equipment that was removed from contaminated with small amounts of plutonium.
the SWMF several years ago,” said Kerri Crawford, SRNS Solid Waste This equipment is owned by DOE’s Central Characterization Program
Programs Manager. “Operation of this equipment, in conjunction for use throughout the DOE Complex. It was previously used by
with other TRU waste characterization equipment installed at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, then sent for refurbishment
Solid Waste Management Facility last year, will allow new TRU waste before being provided to SRS for use in SWMF.

F Area legacy facilities move to dayshift only operations

SRS continues to make progress towards closure of some legacy services and methods from SRNL’s analytical laboratory facilities in F
facilities in the Site’s F Area Complex, with the reduction from 24-hour Area to SRNL’s main laboratory in A Area, several miles away. All 59
coverage to day operations in November 2021. Laboratory Methods have been relocated and established in A Area.
“The three main legacy facilities in F Area Complex are Building 235-F, Deactivation of the legacy F/H Laboratory is projected to be complete
the F/H Analytical Laboratory, and the F Canyon chemical separations in FY2027. Between FY2018 and FY2021, 45 labs no longer in
facility,” said Verne Mooneyhan, F Area Facility Manager for SRNS. use were placed in layup, which will help accelerate deactivation.
“These facilities are in various stages of facility deactivation, and Additionally, DOE-HQ recently approved excessing of F/H Labs and
surveillance and maintenance, which have required operators to be support structures.
present in the area 24/7. However, recent cessation of analytical Historically, F Canyon was used as a chemical separations facility
operations, implementation of new DOE-approved technical safety to recover plutonium-239 and uranium-238. F Canyon chemically
requirements for facility operations — called a Safety Basis — and dissolved and processed spent nuclear fuel, much like the H Canyon
deactivation progress have allowed us to move to days.” facility at SRS continues to do today. F Canyon deactivation was
Building 235-F was part of the original construction in the early completed in 2010, and the facility is awaiting decommissioning.
1950s and was utilized for several production missions throughout Transitioning away from 24-hour operations came with challenges
its operational life, each of which left a mark on the robust facility. Its and obstacles ranging from available resources due to COVID-19,
operations benefited the nation’s defense, NASA and DOE. Deactivation to the implementation of two nuclear safety basis revisions
will place the facility in a stable condition for long-term safe storage happening concurrently within the facility. This effort involved multiple
until the eventual decommissioning. Deactivation is scheduled to be organizations from around SRS and required them to take a significant
complete in September 2022. deep dive into the preparations to set up the area for the transition.
Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) has performed “Moving to days in these legacy facilities in F Area, frees up
analytical sampling from radiochemical processing and radiological manpower for other important missions on-site,” said Mooneyhan.
environmental monitoring programs at facilities across the Site for “Most importantly, it’s one step closer to deactivating portions of
over 55 years and utilized the F/H Analytical Laboratory, one of F F Area and allowing us to fulfill our commitment to cleaning up the
Area’s legacy facilities. To reduce costs and streamline capabilities, environment from activities related to the Cold War.”
SRNS and SRNL completed a multi-year project to relocate analytical