Decontamination and Decommissioning of Uranium Facilities

DOE-HDBK-1113-98

Radiological Safety Traning for Uranium Facilities

Module 102 - The Nuclear Fuel Cycle

be classified as low-level waste provided the concentration of transuranic

activity is less than 100 nCi/g." LLW could be in the form of liquids, solids, or

gasses. Liquid waste is usually processed to remove radioactive material and

then recycled or disposed.

Solids may be volume-reduced by incineration or compaction. Soluble forms in

liquid may be solidified to isolate radioactive contents.

Gases are either changed to a solid form and disposed of as a solid or

compressed and stored as gases. These gases may be released after sufficient

time has elapsed for decay of the radioactive component of the gas.

HLW

High-level waste (HLW) is defined in DOE Order 5820.2a as "The highly

radioactive waste material that results from the reprocessing of spent nuclear

fuel, including liquid waste produced directly in reprocessing and any solid

waste derived from the liquid, that contains a combination of transuranic waste

and fission products in concentrations requiring permanent isolation.

HLW comes primarily from the reprocessing of spent fuel. It is typically in

liquid form, and it is collected and stored in tanks. The liquid waste is then

solidified (stabilized) for disposal. All HLW is ultimately to be disposed of by

deep burial.

Decontamination and Decommissioning of Uranium Facilities

Uranium and its byproducts from the nuclear fuel cycle may present health risks due to

radioactivity or chemical properties. Past and present DOE uranium facilities and their

surrounding areas may contain contamination fr om uranium or its byproducts. DOE

recognizes that they have a responsibility to restore these potentially contaminated