Table 8.3. Interim Recommendations for Storage of Plutonium Metal and Plutonium Oxide

DOE-STD-1128-98

Guide of Good Practices for Occupational Radiological Protection in Plutonium Facilities

Table 8.3.

Interim Recommendations for Storage of Plutonium Metal and Plutonium Oxide at

Department of Energy Facilities

The following recommendations are made to improve current plutonium storage safety practices. Until

new equipment and facilities become available to package plutonium based upon long-term standards,

these recommendations are applicable to plutonium metal or plutonium oxide stored outside of glove-

box lines in containers that do not have certified hermetic seals (i.e., per ANSI N14.5 (ANSI, 1997a)).

Plutonium solutions, metal turnings, or particles with specific surface areas greater than 1 cm2/g

should not be stored outside of glove boxes.

All packages containing plutonium metal should be taped, re-taped, and placed in plastic bags

prior to handling.

Inspections should incorporate use of adequate personnel protection. Inspection practices

should be codified in surveillance plans. These plans should reflect current facility operating

status. There must be personnel radiological surveillance during all handling operations.

Personnel protection during operations should include protective clothing and gloves and, if

necessary, respiratory protection.

Inspection of containers should be integrated with audits for materials control and

accountability (MC&A) to minimize container-handling and attendant radiation exposure to

ALARA levels.

Containers should be inspected for abnormalities (e.g., mass change, container deformation, or

discoloration) using visual inspection, weighing, or video surveillance where such capability

exists. Findings should be recorded for safety and MC&A evaluations. Visual inspections

should be made at intervals of 1 week and 1 month after the material's initial containment and

annually thereafter.

Packages containing more than 0.5 kg of plutonium metal should undergo an annual

surveillance in which the total mass of the package is determined to an accuracy of 0.5 g and

compared with the preceding year's mass and with the initial (reference) mass at the time of

packaging. A storage package should be evaluated (e.g., opened and inspected, radiographed) if

any of the following conditions are evident:

The outer storage vessel is bulged or distorted.

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