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DOE-STD-1128-98
Guide of Good Practices for Occupational Radiological Protection in Plutonium Facilities
personnel exposures, maintaining containment of radioactive material during the dismantling of
contaminated items, and reducing the volume of TRU material were the primary considerations
during the decommissioning activities. A large modified glove box provided containment for
dismantling and cutting up the various equipment using a plasma-arc unit. A passive, gamma-ray
nondestructive assay technique (heavily shielded NaI detector with collimator) was used to measure
the plutonium content of cut-up pieces. Finally, the loaded waste drums were measured using a
waste drum counter to ensure that plutonium levels were less than 100 nCi/g.
A number of plutonium-contaminated facilities have been decommissioned at Mound Laboratory
(Bond et al., 1987). Interdepartment management teams, including representatives from program
management, operations, project engineering, maintenance, technical support, and environmental,
safety, and health were established for the D&D projects. The team met monthly to discuss
program status and they met quarterly with DOE staff. A graded D&D approach was used. First,
standard cleaning (e.g., wiping with a damp cloth) and flushing techniques were used to remove
loose contamination. Then, more aggressive decontamination methods were performed inside
temporary enclosures. Finally, glove boxes and equipment that could not be decontaminated to
unrestricted release levels were cut into sections using a plasma-cutting method and then packaged
as waste. The plasma-cutting method generated less smoke, thus reducing the particulate
accumulation on the HEPA filters.
During cleanup of a plutonium-contaminated storage facility, strippable fixatives were used as a
contamination control and a decontamination method (King, 1980). Fixatives in combination with
cheese cloth were used to clean smooth vertical surfaces and difficult-to-reach areas. The cheese
cloth was placed on the area to be cleaned and then sprayed with a fixative. The cheese cloth and
fixative were then stripped from the surface, removing contamination in the process. Accidental
criticalities can be a concern when disposing of this material that contains fissile material
contamination, as discussed in Section 8.0, and criticality safety specialists should be consulted.
Facility personnel also need to determine if the fixative is classified as a hazardous material and
dispose of it accordingly.
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