Los Alamos National Laboratory

DOE-STD-1128-98

Guide of Good Practices for Occupational Radiological Protection in Plutonium Facilities

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LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY

The Los Alamos National Laboratory conducts

nuclear weapons research, development and testing;

plutonium chemistry and metallurgy research;

fabrication of radioisotope thermoelectric generators;

explosives testing involving depleted uranium;

accelerator-based nuclear physics research and applied technologies;

tritium research and applications;

materials science and testing involving radioactive materials and accelerators;

nuclear criticality experimentation;

mixed fission product analysis including hot cell work;

decontamination and decommissioning of large scale radiological facilities; and

radioactive and mixed waste treatment and storage.

It also uses X-ray devices, neutron generators, and sealed sources. Generally, the site has a limited

quantity of plutonium, which is handled and stored as a result of laboratory operations. However,

Building TA-55 has significant quantities of stored plutonium including metal, oxides, and other

residues.

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MOUND LABORATORY

The Mound plant manufactures neutron sources, chemical explosive detonators, explosive timers,

explosive actuated transducers, explosive switches, heat sources fueled with 210Po and 238Pu,

calorimeters, and some tritium-containing reservoirs. Other activities included stockpile evaluation

of small explosive and electrical components and tritium-containing reservoirs, assembly and

testing of radioisotopically fueled thermoelectric generators, and the separation, purification and

commercial sales of a variety of stable isotopes and tritium. Prior to 1976, some work was done

with unencapsulated 238Pu. However, after that time, all heat source fabrication was done with

encapsulated 238Pu. Since its beginning in 1954, the isotopic heat source programs have produced

numerous small and large General Purpose Heat Sources for space applications, including the

Apollo lunar missions, and cardiac pacemakers. Limited activity is still in progress.

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NEVADA TEST SITE

The Nevada Test Site has been used extensively for testing of nuclear weapons, both surface and

underground, as well as other related types of testing. Except for weapons components and the

residue of the testing programs, no plutonium has been handled, processed, or stored at the site. A

device assembly facility has been constructed on the site but has not yet been used. It would handle

plutonium only as prefabricated components.

B.10 PANTEX PLANT

The Pantex Plant is responsible for fabricating chemical high explosive components for nuclear

weapons; disassembling nuclear weapons that have been retired from the stockpile; assembling

nuclear weapons for the nation's stockpile; and maintaining and evaluating nuclear weapons in the

stockpile. Currently, the major effort at the site is disassembly of weapons, with approximately

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