Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “WASTE MANAGEMENT”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 records

Environmental Management Waste Management Facility Operations Team Commitment to Safety - 18546

The Environmental Management Waste Management Facility (EMWMF) is an above-grade waste disposal facility that is owned by DOE and operated by URS | CH2M Oak Ridge LLC (UCOR), a contractor to DOE's Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management. The EMWMF landfill is located on the Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) and has a 2.18 M cubic yard capacity. EMWMF is a key component of the cost-effective ORR cleanup program and accepts remediation waste from across the ORR. Multiple low-level and low-level mixed CERCLA waste streams are disposed at EMWMF, mostly as direct-dumped demolition and remediation debris. EMWMF receives and disposes of a myriad of contaminated waste streams and waste types, including massive structural steel from some of the largest buildings ever constructed, contaminated soils from legacy disposal areas, containers that must be grouted under negative pressure, and special waste that must be tightly controlled. Support activities include managing several million gallons of landfill wastewater per year and driving around 20,000 miles per year to transport leachate to a treatment facility. Even with the wide range of waste accepted and the diversity of support activities, EMWMF Operations has maintained an impressive safety record of no lost workday cases in nearly 16 years of continuous operation and was recently awarded the National Safety Council's Superior Safety Performance Award. This safety record is a testament to the commitment to safety by both workers and management. Several factors are key to the EMWMF Operations safety record. UCOR senior management established safety as a priority and allocates proper funding and resources. EMWMF Operations management embraces safety as an integral part of the work and also 'walks the talk'-emphasizing safety over productivity and showing personal commitment to safety. A stable workforce promotes a culture where safety is valued and helps train new personnel in this culture. The UCOR integrated safety management approach to work control is fully embraced, where worker feedback is highly valued and used to better identify and control job hazards. Finally, job supervisors actively encourage input. Worker concerns, suggestions, and observations are encouraged and positively addressed. As a result, the entire Operations Team is committed to identifying and mitigating hazards. This team commitment to safety results in a culture where safety is not only valued, but is expected. Safety concerns are identified and addressed proactively, and communication is encouraged. This strong safety culture and outstanding safety record have also proven to be good business, with the facility available to receive waste 99.6% of available work hours and outstanding turnaround times on waste shipments. The EMWMF Operations team commitment to safety can be used in other environments to develop an engaged, safety-conscious workforce. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Water Management Successes at the DoE's Environmental Management Waste Management Facility - 19194

URS-CH2M Oak Ridge LLC (UCOR) manages the cleanup of the 2,200-acre East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP) for its client, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The ETTP site was contaminated with radioactive, hazardous and industrial wastes generated by more than 40 years of national defense and energy missions. Stormwater management is a critical activity at the DoE's Oak Ridge Reservation Environmental Management Waste Management Facility (EMWMF) due to the high average rainfall and the consequences if inadequately managed. EMWMF is located in East Tennessee with an average rainfall of 54.25 inches/year. EMWMF has implemented a successful, multipart strategy to maximize the margin of safety, reduce the volume of stormwater requiring management, and otherwise minimize operational impacts from large volumes of landfill water. The strategy consists of: - Pre-planning and preparation; - Landfill storm water prevention; - Inventory minimization; - Accelerated storm water removal. Since implementation of this aggressive water management strategy in 2017, EMWMF has reduced the volume of leachate requiring management by approximately 27%. This reduction increased the safety and compliance for the EMWMF, while at the same time, reduced costs. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

New Cap Design Expands Capacity of DOE Environmental Management Waste Management Facility (EMWMF) Oak Ridge, Tennessee - 19185

UCOR, an AECOM-led partnership with Jacobs, manages the cleanup of the 2,200-acre East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP) for its client, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The ETTP site was contaminated with radioactive, hazardous and industrial wastes generated by more than 40 years of national defense and energy missions. Onsite waste disposal is a key component of DoE's cleanup strategy. Less expensive onsite disposal allows remaining funding to be used to accelerate cleanup activities. The initial cover design was intended to be revised and updated as the Environmental Management Waste Management Facility (EMWMF) neared closure. However, accelerating review and modification of the design resulted in additional waste disposal volume that will extend the life of the EMWMF. Two design modifications were implemented: 1) reducing the final cover thickness from 14 ft to 11 ft while maintaining protectiveness, and 2) changing the height of the landfill by reducing the width of the top deck. These two design changes resulted in an additional 130,000 cubic yards of landfill capacity for Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) demolition and remediation waste and extended the expected life of the EMWMF by approximately 2 years. The addition of more inexpensive onsite waste disposal capacity will continue to facilitate cost-effective cleanup activities at the ORR. (author)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Solid waste generation and characterization in the University of Lagos for a sustainable waste management

Waste characterization is the first step to any successful waste management policy. In this paper, the characterization and the trend of solid waste generated in University of Lagos, Nigeria was carried out using ASTM (D5231-92) and Resource Conservation Reservation Authority RCRA Waste Sampling Draft Technical Guidance methods. The recyclable potential of the waste is very high constituting about 75% of the total waste generated. The estimated average daily solid waste generation in Unilag Akoka campus was estimated to be 32.2 tons. The solid waste characterization was found to be: polythene bags 24% (7.73 tons/day), paper 15% (4.83 tons/day), organic matters 15%, (4.83 tons/day), plastic 9% (2.90 tons/day), inert materials 8% (2.58 tons/day), sanitary 7% (2.25 tons/day), textile 7% (2.25 tons/day), others 6% (1.93 tons/day), leather 4% (1.29 tons/day) metals 3% (0.97 tons/day), glass 2% (0.64 tons/day) and e-waste 0% (0.0 tons/day). The volume and distribution of polythene bags generated on campus had a positive significant statistical correlation with the distribution of commercial and academic structures on campus. Waste management options to optimize reuse, recycling and reduce waste generation were discussed.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Comparing Legacy Waste Management to Advanced Reactor Waste Management

The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) are organizing an international workshop on the implementation of radioactive waste management and decommissioning strategies in small modular reactors (SMRs) and advance reactor technologies. The event will take place in Ottawa, Canada on 7-10 November 2022. The workshop will convene participants from various fields of expertise in the areas of radioactive waste management, decommissioning, nuclear science and development, transportation, as well as young professionals, communication experts and researchers. The goal of the workshop is to devise a guideline document that will serve implementers in understanding key issues in decommissioning and waste management of new reactors from the design perspective, aiding in the licensing process and in future decommissioning and waste management activities. DOE has invested considerably in the innovation of advanced reactors. Interaction in this workshop allows INL and DOE to articulate the importance of looking at the back-end of the fuel cycle for advanced reactors. The back-end of the fuel cycle is important to the success of advanced reactors, and DOE may need to manage this material in the future after it is discharged from reactors. I have been asked to present at the track titled "Operational and Design Optimization Consideration Related to Decommissioning and Radioactive Waste Management for SMRs/Advanced Reactors".

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

EPA's Suite of Tools for Managing Waste Following a Large-Scale Incident - 19420

Large-scale disasters have the potential to generate a significant amount of waste. For example, Hurricane Katrina and the Joplin Missouri tornado resulted in 100 million and 1.5 million cubic yards of waste respectfully. Man-made chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) incidents either by way of terrorism, war, or accidents have the potential to generate as much or more hazardous waste. Recovery is profoundly impacted by waste management issues. The quantification, segregation, transportation, and storage of waste can be an arduous and costly undertaking. Furthermore, these processes are intricately linked with decisions made throughout the recovery timeline. Therefore, the remediation, including waste management, must be holistically considered. Understanding these complex interactions can be facilitated by using models and tools that adhere to the 'system-of-systems' approach. To better understand and predict waste management issues the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Homeland Security Research Program (HSRP) is developing a suite of tools and resources for planning and recovery purposes. The waste management suite consists of four tools: - Incident Waste Decision Support Tool (I-WASTE): characterizes and produces order-of-magnitude estimates for the weight and volume of waste materials that may require management and/or disposal, as well as identifies and locates potential treatment and disposal facilities. - Waste Estimation Support Tool (WEST): estimates waste generated from remediation and cleanup activities following a wide-area radiological or biological incident; - Waste Storage and Staging Tool: identifies and prioritizes potential locations for staging and storing waste; - Waste Logistics Tool: estimates optimal routes with consideration to cost, time, and logistical requirements (e.g., resource demand, transportation type, access limitations, etc.) associated with transporting large volumes of waste from disaster-stricken areas to intermediate waste staging/temporary storage/on-site processing sites to off-site waste management facilities; and This paper will present EPA's waste management suite of tools, their purpose and application to large-scale incidents, and a case study demonstrating their use in a hypothetical scenario. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

UNREVIEWED DISPOSAL QUESTION EVALUATION: Disposal of the Idaho National Laboratory Radioactive Waste Management Complex Low-Level Waste at the Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site, Nevada National Security Site, Nye County, Nevada

This Unreviewed Disposal Question Evaluation (UDQE) assesses whether the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Radioactive Waste Management Complex (RWMC) Low-Level Waste (INEL11006367N, Revision 4 [INL 2017]) is suitable for shallow land burial (SLB) at the Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site (RWMS) on the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). Disposal of the INL RWMC Low-Level Waste meets all U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Manual DOE M 435.1-1, Radioactive Waste Management Manual, Chapter IV, Section P performance objectives (DOE 1999). The INL RWMC Low-Level Waste is recommended for acceptance without conditions.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Comparative environmental evaluation of construction waste management through different waste sorting systems in Hong Kong

Highlights: • Environmental performance of building CWM through different sorting systems was evaluated by LCA. • Environmental impacts of CWM systems depend on the composition of waste. • Significant environmental benefits are observed for CWM through on-site sorting system. • On-site sorting promotes materials recovery and reduces waste disposal into landfill sites. - Abstract: This study aimed to compare the environmental performance of building construction waste management (CWM) systems in Hong Kong. Life cycle assessment (LCA) approach was applied to evaluate the performance of CWM systems holistically based on primary data collected from two real building construction sites and secondary data obtained from the literature. Different waste recovery rates were applied based on compositions and material flow to assess the influence on the environmental performance of CWM systems. The system boundary includes all stages of the life cycle of building construction waste (including transportation, sorting, public fill or landfill disposal, recovery and reuse, and transformation and valorization into secondary products). A substitutional LCA approach was applied for capturing the environmental gains due to the utilizations of recovered materials. The results showed that the CWM system by using off-site sorting and direct landfilling resulted in significant environmental impacts. However, a considerable net environmental benefit was observed through an on-site sorting system. For example, about 18–30 kg CO{sub 2} eq. greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission were induced for managing 1 t of construction waste through off-site sorting and direct landfilling, whereas significant GHGs emission could be potentially avoided (considered as a credit −126 to −182 kg CO{sub 2} eq.) for an on-site sorting system due to the higher recycling potential. Although the environmental benefits mainly depend on the waste compositions and their sortability, the analysis conducted in this study can serve as guidelines to design an effective and resource-efficient building CWM system.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Nevada National Security Site 2017 Waste Management Monitoring Report Area 3 and Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Sites

Environmental monitoring data are collected at and around the Area 3 and Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Sites (RWMSs) within the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). These data include direct radiation exposure, as well as radiation from the air, groundwater, meteorology, and vadose zone. This report summarizes the 2017 environmental data.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

NEVADA NATIONAL SECURITY SITE 2021 WASTE MANAGEMENT MONITORING REPORT AREA 3 AND AREA 5 RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT SITES

Environmental monitoring data are collected at and around the Area 3 and Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Sites (RWMSs) within the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). This report summarizes the 2021 environmental data to provide an overall evaluation of RWMS performance and to support environmental compliance and performance assessment (PA) activities.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Nevada National Security Site 2019 Waste Management Monitoring Report Area 3 and Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Sites

Environmental monitoring data are collected at and around the Area 3 and Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Sites (RWMSs) within the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). This report summarizes the 2019 environmental data to provide an overall evaluation of RWMS performance and to support environmental compliance and performance assessment (PA) activities. Some of these data (e.g., radiation exposure, air, and groundwater) are presented in other reports (Mission Support and Test Services, LLC 2019, 2020a, 2020b). Direct radiation monitoring data indicate exposure levels at the Area 3 and Area 5 RWMSs are within the range of background levels measured at the NNSS. Slightly elevated exposure levels outside the Area 3 RWMS are attributed to nearby historical aboveground nuclear weapons tests. Air monitoring data at the Area 3 and Area 5 RWMSs show that tritium concentrations in water vapor and americium and plutonium concentrations in air particles are below Derived Concentration Standards for these radionuclides. Groundwater monitoring data indicate the groundwater in the uppermost aquifer beneath the Area 5 RWMS is not impacted by RWMS operations. Results of groundwater analysis from wells around the Area 5 RWMS are below established investigation levels. Leachate samples collected from the leachate collection systems at the Area 5 mixed low-level waste disposal unit are below established contaminant regulatory limits. During 2019, precipitation at the Area 3 RWMS was 77 percent above average, and precipitation at the Area 5 RWMS was 69 percent above average. Water balance measurements indicate that evapotranspiration from the vegetated weighing lysimeter at the Area 5 RWMS dries the soil and prevents downward percolation of precipitation more effectively than evaporation as measured from the bare-soil weighing lysimeter. Vadose zone monitoring in the Area 3 and Area 5 RWMS soil covers shows no evidence of precipitation percolating through the covers to the waste. Moisture from precipitation did not percolate below 120 centimeters (3.9 feet [ft]) in the vegetated final cover on the U-3ax/bl disposal unit at the Area 3 RWMS during 2019. There was no drainage through 2.4 meters (8 ft) of soil as indicated from the Area 3 drainage lysimeters that received only natural precipitation. At the Area 3 RWMS, which received three times the natural precipitation, 57 percent of the applied precipitation and irrigation drained from the bare-soil drainage lysimeter. All 2019 monitoring data indicate that the Area 3 and Area 5 RWMSs are performing within expectations of the model and parameter assumptions for the facilities’ PAs.

2019↗

Nevada National Security Site 2015 Waste Management Monitoring Report Area 3 and Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Sites

Environmental monitoring data are collected at and around the Area 3 and Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Sites (RWMSs) within the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). These data include direct radiation exposure, as well as radiation from the air, groundwater, meteorology, and vadose zone. This report summarizes the 2015 environmental data to provide an overall evaluation of RWMS performance and to support environmental compliance and performance assessment (PA) activities. Some of these data (e.g., radiation exposure, air, and groundwater) are presented in other reports developed by National Security Technologies, LLC. Direct radiation monitoring data indicate exposure levels at the RWMSs are within the range of background levels measured at the NNSS. Slightly elevated exposure levels outside the Area 3 RWMS are attributed to nearby historical aboveground nuclear weapons tests. Air monitoring data show that tritium concentrations in water vapor and americium and plutonium concentrations in air particles are below Derived Concentration Standards for these radionuclides. Groundwater monitoring data indicate the groundwater in the uppermost aquifer beneath the Area 5 RWMS is not impacted by RWMS operations. Results of groundwater analysis from wells around the Area 5 RWMS were all below established investigation levels. Leachate samples collected from the leachate collection system at the mixed low-level waste cell were below established contaminant regulatory limits. During 2015, precipitation at the Area 3 RWMS was 0.9% above average, and precipitation at the Area 5 RWMS was 25% above average. Water balance measurements indicate that evapotranspiration from the vegetated weighing lysimeter dries the soil and prevents downward percolation of precipitation more effectively than evaporation as measured from the bare-soil weighing lysimeter. The 1.8 inches of precipitation in September reached the lowest sensors at 180 cm on the Cell 5S and 5N covers, however the sensors on the floor do not indicate any signs of the precipitation percolating thru the waste to the floor. Moisture from precipitation did not percolate below 150 centimeters (cm) (5 feet [ft]) in the vegetated final cover on the U-3ax/bl disposal unit at the Area 3 RWMS. A second remedial revegetation trial was done on the southern portion of the North Cover. In March 2015 it was determined that germination occurred on both the mulched and non-mulched treatments that were irrigated, but that no germination occurred on the non-irrigated treatments. By June the seedlings observed in March were gone, possibly grazed by rabbits which were observed inside the rabbit-proof fence. In August the entire area was sprayed with the herbicide glyphosate in an attempt to minimize weed seed production. During 2015, there was no drainage through 2.4 meters (8 ft) of soil as indicated from the Area 3 drainage lysimeters that received only natural precipitation. Thirty-one percent of the applied precipitation and irrigation drained from the bare-soil drainage lysimeter, which received 3 times the natural precipitation. All 2015 monitoring data indicate that the Area 3 and Area 5 RWMSs are performing within expectations of the model and parameter assumptions for the facilities’ PAs.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Waste Management: Challenges and the Integrated Waste Strategy - 19160

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) currently faces various waste management challenges and CNL's Integrated Waste Strategy is adapting to manage them. As Canada's premier nuclear science and technology organization, CNL is a global leader in developing peaceful and innovative applications from nuclear technology through its expertise in the scientific field, including physics, metallurgy, chemistry, biology and engineering. As demands change, CNL is shifting its focus to alpha therapies for cancer treatments and sustainable energy solutions. The next decade will see CNL decommission the sites it manages across Canada, whilst transforming Chalk River Laboratories (CRL) into a new, world-class facility which will have the capability to demonstrate the commercial viability of advanced reactor designs including Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). This is being enabled through an accelerated decommissioning program for all CNL operated sites, while renovating CRL, which includes revitalizing essential site infrastructure, and investment in new, world-class science facilities in a modern campus environment. With decommissioning and revitalization occurring simultaneously, the long-term strategy and vision for CNL presents some unique challenges to waste management. Therefore, integrated, collaborative and coordinated waste management is a vital component to ensuring a successful future. The Integrated Waste Strategy coordinates, and provides alignment of, waste management across CNL and: - Includes all CNL operated (Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) owned) sites; - Considers all CNL managed waste (including radioactive and non-radioactive operational, decommissioning, legacy and historic waste) for the planned lifetime of the sites; - Defines waste routes using a life cycle approach (from the generation of waste to final disposal) A baseline Integrated Waste Strategy and associated action plan to mitigate identified gaps and issues have been produced. A program of work is underway to close those gaps identified in a consistent, transparent, prioritized and justified manner. One of the key challenges is to ensure that waste management planning is completed effectively and in a timely manner. This will enable the provision of suitable and sufficient waste capability to meet CNL's long-term strategy. The Integrated Waste Strategy has been developed and maintained through engagement at all levels across CNL, ensuring buy-in of proposed solutions. Key process stakeholders include generators of CNL managed waste to ensure integrated consideration of legacy, current and future waste generation; waste management personnel to identify requirements, including processing, storage, transport and disposal; AECL as the client and waste liability owner; and the public to ensure they understand the 'big picture' regarding waste strategy. (author)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Development of a Waste Management Organization for the Whiteshell Laboratories Closure Project - 18317

Whiteshell Laboratories (WL) has been generating and managing radioactive waste for over fifty years in support of a wide variety of research and operational applications. The current mission of the WL site, located in Manitoba, Canada, is to fully decommission the site to an approved end-state criterion and to disposition the waste in compliance with national and provincial regulations. To expedite the decommissioning schedule from over thirty years to nine years, which was a contractual commitment for the site operating company, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), it became apparent that a centralized and optimized organization be established to coordinate all waste management activities and to fulfill the mission to process, condition, transport and disposition all radioactive wastes, which include Low-Level Waste (LLW), Intermediate-Level Waste (ILW) and High-Level Waste (HLW). The WL Waste Management Division was effectively established as a two-person operation in 2016 and has rapidly expanded to fulfill the mandate of managing nearly 30,000 cubic meters of LLW, ILW and HLW. This paper outlines the early lessons learned from managing important organizational changes without disrupting ongoing work practices; developing executive-level waste management strategies based on options studies and cost-benefit analysis comparisons; selection of storage vs. disposal disposition strategies; evaluation and selection of transportation methods and packages for LLW, ILW and HLW; and the need to develop an entire suite of programmatic documentation and procedures to support and instill a strong conduct of operations culture. The waste management strategy, which now focuses on transporting the waste to another province (Ontario) in a disposal ready form, represents the first large-scale radioactive waste transportation campaign in Canada that includes all three classes of waste. This paper provides additional insight on the overall waste management strategies for the WL Closure Project. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Nevada National Security Site 2018 Waste Management Monitoring Report: Area 3 and Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Sites

Environmental monitoring data are collected at and around the Area 3 and Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Sites (RWMSs) within the Nevada National Security Site. This report summarizes the 2018 environmental data to provide an overall evaluation of RWMS performance and to support environmental compliance and performance assessment activities.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

2016 Waste Management Monitoring Report Area 3 and Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Sites

Environmental monitoring data are collected at and around the Area 3 and Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Sites (RWMSs) within the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). These data include direct radiation exposure, as well as radiation from the air, groundwater, meteorology, and vadose zone. This report summarizes the 2016 environmental data to provide an overall evaluation of RWMS performance and to support environmental compliance and performance assessment (PA) activities. Some of these data (e.g., radiation exposure, air, and groundwater) are presented in other reports, developed by National Security Technologies, LLC Direct radiation monitoring data indicate exposure levels at the RWMSs are within the range of background levels measured at the NNSS. Slightly elevated exposure levels outside the Area 3 RWMS are attributed to nearby historical aboveground nuclear weapons tests. Air monitoring data show that tritium concentrations in water vapor and americium and plutonium concentrations in air particles are below Derived Concentration Standards for these radionuclides. Groundwater monitoring data indicate the groundwater in the uppermost aquifer beneath the Area 5 RWMS is not impacted by RWMS operations. Results of groundwater analysis from wells around the Area 5 RWMS were all below established investigation levels. Leachate samples collected from the leachate collection system at the mixed low-level waste cell were below established contaminant regulatory limits. During 2016, precipitation at the Area 3 RWMS was 8% below average, and precipitation at the Area 5 RWMS was 8% above average. Water balance measurements indicate that evapotranspiration from the vegetated weighing lysimeter dries the soil and prevents downward percolation of precipitation more effectively than evaporation as measured from the bare-soil weighing lysimeter. Vadose zone monitoring on Area 5 and Area 3 RWMS cell covers shows no evidence of precipitation percolating through the covers to the waste. Moisture from precipitation did not percolate below 150 centimeters (cm) (5 feet [ft]) in the vegetated final cover on the U-3ax/bl disposal unit at the Area 3 RWMS. During 2016, there was no drainage through 2.4 meters (8 ft) of soil as indicated from the Area 3 drainage lysimeters that received only natural precipitation. Forty-four percent of the applied precipitation and irrigation drained from the bare-soil drainage lysimeter, which received 3 times the natural precipitation. All 2016 monitoring data indicate that the Area 3 and Area 5 RWMSs are performing within expectations of the model and parameter assumptions for the facilities’ PAs

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Sixth National Report for the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management

The United States of America (U.S.) ratified the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management (Joint Convention) on April 9, 2003. The Joint Convention establishes an international peer review process among Contracting Parties and provides incentives for nations to take appropriate steps to bring their spent fuel and radioactive waste management activities into compliance with general safety standards and practices. An extensive U.S. legal and regulatory structure ensures the safety of spent fuel and radioactive waste management. This report describes radioactive waste management in the U.S. in both the commercial and government sectors, and provides annexes with information on spent fuel and waste management facilities, inventories, and ongoing decommissioning projects. It also provides detailed information on spent fuel and radioactive waste management safety, as well as transboundary movements (imports/exports) and disused sealed sources, as required by the Joint Convention.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗