Potentially Contaminated Wastes

DOE-STD-1128-98

Guide of Good Practices for Occupational Radiological Protection in Plutonium Facilities

8.0

WASTE MANAGEMENT

A material is a waste once there is no identified use or recycle value for it. Normally, wastes are

considered by their physical form as either solids, liquids, or gasses, except that containerized

liquids are considered solid waste under some of the current regulations. Although these forms are

each processed differently, there are interrelationships. For example, it may be possible to reduce

solid waste by replacing disposable protective clothing with reusable clothing that must be

laundered. The laundry will produce liquid waste. In treating liquid waste, solids may be

generated, for example, filters or ion exchange resins. By careful engineering, waste generation,

and treatment alternatives, a site can minimize the total waste volume and elect to generate types of

waste that can be disposed of. The following sections address potentially contaminated waste and

waste terminology and handling of airborne waste, solid waste, and liquid waste. The treatment of

excess materials to reclaim plutonium is not a waste treatment process and is not discussed here.

8.1

POTENTIALLY CONTAMINATED WASTES

This section discusses the generation, processing, storage, and disposal of wastes in plutonium

facilities. It is divided by waste types, treatability groups, and waste disposal.

8.1.1 Waste Types

In addition to the classification of waste by physical form, regulatory definitions determine

how waste can be disposed. The Secretary of Energy Notice 37-92, "Waste Minimization

Crosscut Plan Implementation" (SEN, 1992), requires annual reports of waste generation by

type, waste stream, site, and program. The waste classifications used in the DOE Annual

Reports are defined in Table 8.1.

A plutonium facility may generate any of these types of waste, except that high-level waste

(HLW) will be generated only from irradiated reactor fuel. Any waste containing at least

100 nCi/g of transuranics (TRU), including plutonium, will be classified as TRU or TRU

mixed waste. Waste containing detectable quantities of radioactive materials but less than

100 nCi/g of transuranics will be low-level waste (LLW).

The distinction between sanitary waste and very low-level radioactive waste can be

technically a difficult one. Sometimes, material is designated LLW waste because the

conditions of use could have resulted in contamination that would be difficult to detect.

Techniques and limitations for doing this are discussed below with reference to solid waste.

8-1