Purpose - std301320040026

DOE-STD-3013-2004

content. This Standard does not restrict the isotopic composition of plutonium, but relies instead

on the 19-watt heat generation limit to cap the content of short half life radionuclides. The 19-

238

241

Pu content to approximately 33 grams and the

Am content to

watt limit restricts the

approximately 165 grams, assuming in each case that no other significant heat generating

species are present. This makes the percentage limits redundant for purposes of this standard.

Sealed sources and irradiated fuels are excluded from the scope of this Standard, as are

unstabilized forms such as solutions.

Fifty years was selected as a reasonable upper limit to the time that material might have to be

stored.

A.2. Purpose

This Standard replaces DOE-STD-3013-2000 [USDOE 2000], which replaced DOE-STD-3013-99

[USDOE 1999]. It changes the allowable contamination on the outer surface of the inner

container from that specified in 3013-99. That standard (3013-99) updated the guidance in

DOE-STD-3013-1996 to include a broader concentration and classification range of plutonium-

bearing materials. Information developed since issuance of that Standard has led to changes

that improve the assurance of safety, and/or improve practical aspects of stabilization,

packaging and storage without compromising safety. Among those changes are the following

(note that the stabilization process, the stability criterion and the container have all remained

unchanged from DOE-STD-3013-96):

Research supporting DOE-STD-3013-96 was performed using pure plutonium dioxide and

those results were extrapolated to 50 wt% plutonium content. This Standard includes in its

basis considerable research on actual site oxide materials covering the full range of actinide

content specified in the scope statement.

A critical assumption in pressurization analysis for DOE-STD-3013-96 is the reaction with

plutonium dioxide that fixes oxygen from adsorbed water and leaves a hydrogen-rich

atmosphere. The research supporting this Standard has shown that a second reaction, the

recombination of oxygen and hydrogen to form water, is also very effective in removing

oxygen from the package atmosphere. This hereby strengthens the assumption that oxygen

will not be present at levels that would cause significant pressurization.

Research has shown that oxide materials other than pure plutonium dioxide are unlikely to