Hazardous material inventory reduction at nuclear and high hazard facilities

Abstract

Trap Door Site (TA-22) hosts current Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) operations related to detonator development. The Radioactive Liquid Waste Treatment Facility (TA-50) supports TA-55 and the rest of the Lab by processing radioactive liquid waste. Designated as a Research and Development facility, the LANL Plutonium Facility (TA-55) is capable of small lot manufacturing. These three facilities are managed by the Plutonium Science & Manufacturing Directorate (ADPSM). An assessment of these facilities “as-is” material at risk quantities has been completed. Within TA-55 and TA-50, EPIcode results presented nine worse case scenarios for hazardous materials quantities, respectively. No opportunities for long-term reduction in hazardous materials were necessary at TA-22. A chlorine generator that is acceptable for use at TA-55 would eliminate the classification levels and protective action distances for chlorine. Purchasing potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide in containers that weigh 40 pounds or less at TA-55 and hydrochloric acid in 5 gallon containers or less at TA-50 would eliminate classification levels and protective action distances for these chemicals, as well. Pursuing these opportunities will result in a significant reduction of hazardous material containers; from 9 containers to 2. Sodium hydroxide inventory at TA-50 and nitric acid inventory at TA-55 cannot be reduced based on mission-essential needs, i.e., without increasing the overall risk to each facility. In the following report, a Hazardous Material Inventory Reduction approach for ADPSM facilities is outlined, recommendations for future opportunities to reduce chemicals are presented and hazardous material inventories that cannot be reduced based on mission-essential need discussed. Initiatives of this type contribute to ADPSM scientific and technological excellence by increasing operational safety.