EES Focus AreasEES Group PagesCONTACTS
|
Capabilities
CB has four major scientific capabilities in support of WIPP and the CBFO: Actinide Chemistry. CB's core capability is conducting actinide chemistry to support repository performance at WIPP. Actinide chemistry, the area of knowledge concerning elements heavier than uranium, is important to WIPP. A new collaboration with New Mexico State University's Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring & Research Center (CEMRC) seeks to better understand the behavior of these elements. This research program also includes repository science investigations to better use WIPP, reduce costs, and ensure safe and economical use far into the future. CB's new research program at the WIPP site will apply advanced laboratory capabilities to studies of the chemistry of materials. These studies are important for geologic repositories and to strengthening the field of repository science. CB is also studying plutonium behavior in the WIPP environment with laser photoacoustic spectrometry and other state-of-the-art equipment. To accommodate these needs, a mobile contaminant analysis automation (CAA) laboratory has been located at CEMRC. DOE's Environmental Management Office of Science and Technology (EM-50) developed the CAA Laboratory with Los Alamos as a mobile laboratory that can be quickly sent to a site in need of specific chemical or contaminant characterization and analysis. Waste Characterization. CB is WIPP's senior technical advisor for waste characterization. Waste characterization involves collecting and checking information on defensegenerated transuranic waste to ensure that the waste contains only materials that are approved and that meet the requirements for disposal at WIPP. In collaboration with various Laboratory chemistry organizations, CB develops and implements innovative approaches for nondestructive assay and evaluation, headspace gas analysis, and Àacceptable knowledge.” Acceptable knowledge includes a number of techniques used to characterize TRU mixed waste such as process knowledge, records of analysis acquired before the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA, EPA 1994), and other supplemental sampling and analysis data. As an alternative to sampling and analysis, acceptable knowledge can be used to meet all or part of the waste characterization requirements under RCRA. The current waste certification process is a quality assurance and audit-based process to ensure that each generator and storage site implements requirements and maintains compliance. This process is complex and both timeand money-intensive. Experience at the large-quantity sites (LQS) such as Los Alamos since 1999 has demonstrated that implementing a costeffective waste confirmation audit process at each of the 17 small-quantity sites (SQS) would not be practical. In cooperation with CB, DOE is devising a plan to provide the SQS with characterization and certification capability. DOE's National TRU Program also aims to centralize the waste confirmation process at a central confirmation facility (CCF) at WIPP. Achieving a performance-driven confirmation system through implementation of the CCF is a principal component of the optimized national TRU waste system As DOE's CBFO technical lead for the newly reorganized TRU and mixed waste focus area, CB is responsible for identifying complexwide TRU waste technology needs and proposing solutions through the EM-50 system. Waste Optimization. CB leads CBFO efforts to implement innovative concepts and technologies to increase efficiencies throughout the DOE complex. With the WIPP repository open, efforts now focus on achieving the following strategic visions of DOE's WIPP and National Transuranic Waste Program: In addition, CB leads CBFO planning efforts to accelerate the disposition of TRU waste by 20 years, for a DOE-projected savings of $8 billion. TRUPACT II Mobile Loading Unit. The TRUPACT II mobile loading unit, managed by CB, received DOE National Transportation authorization in November 2001. It is ready for deployment to DOE TRU waste generator and storage sites throughout the United States. CB was the lead for DOE's successful National Transportation Authorization Audit, a critical milestone for WIPP and optimization efforts. The mobile loading unit, which is transported by truck, contains a suite of equipment capable of safely loading authorized containers of defensegenerated TRU waste into the TRUPACT II containers that DOE uses to ship defense-generated transuranic waste to WIPP. |
Related Sites
|