Integrated development and testing plan for the plutonium immobilization project

Abstract

This integrated plan for the DOE Office of Fissile Materials Disposition describes the technology development and major project activities necessary to support the deployment of the immobilization approach for disposition of surplus weapons-usable plutonium. The plan describes details of the development and testing tasks needed to provide technical data for design and operation of a plutonium immobilization plant based on the ceramic can-in-canister technology. The plan also presents tasks for characterization and performance testing of the immobilization form to support a repository licensing application and to develop the basis for repository acceptance of the plutonium form. Essential elements of the plant project (design, construction, facility activation, etc.) are described, but not developed in detail, to indicate how the test results tie into the overall plant project. Given the importance of repository acceptance, specific activities to be conducted by the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management to incorporate the plutonium form in the repository licensing application are provided in this document, together with a summary of how immobilization activities provide input to the license activity and waste qualification. The ultimate goal of the immobilization project is to develop, construct, and operate facilities that will immobilize from about 18 to 50 tonnes of US surplus plutonium materials in a manner that meets the ``spent fuel'' standard and is acceptable for disposal in a geologic repository. The can-in-canister technology is accomplished by encapsulating the plutonium-containing ceramic forms within large canisters of high level waste glass.