Update on Waste Disposition & Transportation. Intergovernmental Meeting

Transcription

1 Update on Waste Disposition & Transportation Intergovernmental Meeting Betsy Forinash Director, National TRU Program, EM-4.21 November 16,

2 Overview The Current EM Organization Structure Low-Level Radioactive Waste (LLW) Policy & Goals Waste Disposition Highlights Status of Greater-Than-Class C (GTCC) LLW and GTCC-like Waste Disposal Update on Transuranic (TRU) Waste Shipments to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Transportation 2

3 Savannah River National Laboratory EM-1 Assistant Secretary EM-2.1 Chief of Staff DCOS Organization Chart 8/01/2017 Special Projects Office EM-2 Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary - International Program - Correspondence Center EM-4 Regulatory and Policy Affairs APDAS EM-3 Field Operations APDAS EM-5 Corporate Services APDAS EM-4.1 Infrastructure Management and Disposition Policy Director 4.11 Infrastructure and D&D 4.12 Subsurface Closure EM-4.2 Waste and Materials Management DAS 4.21 National TRU Program 4.22 Waste Disposal 4.23 Nuclear Materials 4.24 Packaging & Transportation EM-4.3 Regulatory Intergovernmental and Stakeholder Engagement Director 4.31 Regulatory Compliance 4.32 Intergovernmental and Stakeholder Programs EM-3.1 Safety, Security, and Quality Assurance DAS ADAS 3.11 Field Operations Oversight/CNS Safety Management Operational Safety Standards and Quality Assurance (Robe Safeguards, Security, and Emergency Preparedness EM-3.2 Technology Development Director EM-3.3 Chief Engineer Chief Engineer 3.31 Major Constructions and Modifications 3.32 Operations and Processes Field Sites - Carlsbad - Idaho - Los Alamos - Oak Ridge - Office of River Protection - Portsmouth & Paducah - Richland - Savannah River Site - EM Consolidated Business Center EMCBC Field Sites - Moab - ETEC - SPRU - West Valley - LBNL - Brookhaven - EM-NV - EM NNSA Sites (NNSS, LLNL, SNL) - HQ Field Liaisons EM-5.1 Resource Management Acting, DAS ADAS 5.11 Budget and Planning Budget Program Planning 5.12 Information Systems 5.13 Workforce Management EM-5.2 Acquisition & Project Management DAS ADAS 5.21 Acquisition and Contract Management 5.22 Project Management 5.31 External Affairs EM-5.3 Communications Acting Director 5.32 Communications Services

4 LLW Policy & Goals DOE Order defines policy and allows DOE sites to use on-site and off-site disposal paths, as well as commercial treatment and disposal facilities. DOE closely monitors potential changes in the commercial market treatment and disposal waste volumes are considerably lower since legacy wastes are largely gone. Low-level Waste Disposal Facility Federal Review Group (LFRG) Goals: o o o Confirm that the disposal of LLW at DOE facilities is conducted in a manner that is protective of public health and safety and the environment by providing regulatory oversight. Ensure consistency in approach and application with the design, construction, operation, and closure of LLW disposal facilities. Ensure compliance with DOE requirements. 4

5 Waste Disposition Highlights In February 2017, the Idaho site marked the completion of a 15-year effort to retrieve 65,000 cubic meters of TRU waste at the Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project for eventual off-site shipment. Los Alamos National Laboratory has completed treatment of the remediated nitrate salt drums. In July 2017, workers completed the construction of the 33-million gallon Saltstone Disposal Unit 6 at Savannah River Site. In September 2017, demolition began on the vitrification facility at West Valley Demonstration Project. Waste emplacement and shipping operations resumed at WIPP in early

6 Millions of Cubic Feet Complex-wide LLW/MLLW Disposal Rates by Disposal Location FY13 Actual FY14 Actual FY15 Actual FY16 Actual FY17 FY18 OnSite Commercial NNSS TBD

7 Status on GTCC LLRW & GTCC-Like Waste Disposal In February 2016, DOE published the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Disposal of Greater-Than-Class C (GTCC) Low-Level Radioactive Waste and GTCC-Like Waste. o GTCC LLW has radionuclide concentrations that exceed the limits for Class C LLW. Current inventory is ~12,000 cubic meters. o GTCC LLW currently does not have a defined disposal path. o GTCC-like waste is DOE owned or generated LLW or TRU waste with characteristics similar to GTCC LLW, and with no identified disposal path. o Preferred alternative: land disposal at generic commercial facilities and/or WIPP geologic repository. In accordance with the Energy Policy Act of 2005, before the Secretary of Energy makes a final decision on the disposal alternative(s) to be implemented, a Report to Congress must be submitted. o The Report to Congress was submitted to Congress on November

8 Path Forward Submit Report to Congress Await Congressional Action Issue Record of Decision The Report to Congress will: Describe alternatives under consideration Identify waste volume, concentration, and other relevant characteristics Identify the Federal and non- Federal options for disposal Describe actions to ensure safe disposal of identified radioactive wastes Describe projected costs Identify options for ensuring that the beneficiaries of the activities resulting from the generation of GTCC LLW bear all reasonable costs of disposing of such wastes Identify statutory authority required for disposal of GTCC LLW 8

9 Update on TRU Waste Shipments to WIPP WIPP shipments resumed in April 2017 Overview of Waste Disposition Activities Spring 2017 LLW Forum Meeting Doug Tonkay Director of Waste Disposal Office of Environmental Management April 25,

10 Update on TRU Waste Shipments to WIPP cont. Current emplacement rates are 5-6 shipments per week The goal is to continue to ramp-up emplacements in FY 2018 Emplacement ramp-up depends on: o Altering work shifts o Efficiencies with operational experience o Adequate ventilation is available for all underground activities 10

11 Update on TRU Waste Shipments to WIPP cont. In November, WIPP received its 12,000th shipment of waste since Sites currently shipping (shipments through end of October) o Idaho National Laboratory (59) o Savannah River Site (9) o Waste Control Specialists (13) o Oak Ridge National Laboratory (10) Los Alamos National Laboratory expected to begin shipping later in FY 2018 Sites estimated to ship in the next few years: o o o Argonne National Laboratory Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Sandia National Laboratory 11

12 EM s Office of Packaging and Transportation Provides guidance, tools, and support for DOE programs to assure safe, compliant, reliable, and efficient packaging & transportation of the Department's materials (hazardous and non-hazardous) Management & approval of Type B & fissile packaging certification Transportation regulations & standards support DOE motor carrier evaluations Negotiates national freight rate tenders/contracts Transportation emergency preparedness & stakeholder outreach 12

13 FY16 DOE Shipments 13

14 FY16 EM Shipments 14

15 Questions? 15