Savannah River Site

DOE-STD-1128-98

Guide of Good Practices for Occupational Radiological Protection in Plutonium Facilities

reactor-based nuclear physics research and materials testing;

hot cell work to support analysis of fuel and material components;

use of X-ray devices, neutron generators, and sealed sources;

decontamination and decommissioning of radiological facilities;

environmental restoration;

radioactive and mixed waste treatment and storage; and

proposed thermal battery and medical radioisotope production.

The Tonapah Test Range was established in 1957 for testing nuclear weapons ballistics, parachutes,

and other non-nuclear functions for Sandia National Laboratories. Fourteen potential release areas

in need of characterization have been identified.

This site has been used for various tests for which a remote site was needed for safety or security

reasons. These tests have involved beryllium, uranium, and plutonium. Plutonium is the greatest

concern, with three areas fenced due to plutonium contamination from dispersal tests.

B.13 SAVANNAH RIVER SITE

The Savannah River Site has extensive operations involving plutonium. Both F and B Areas

contain facilities that process irradiated fuel and recover plutonium. Additional facilities provide

analytical and measurement capabilities. Both 238Pu and 239Pu have been handled and stored at the

site.

B.14 VALLICITOS NUCLEAR CENTER

The Vallicitos Nuclear Center is a commercially owned research site near San Francisco which is

no longer active. From 1962 through 1979, the site was used for mixed oxide fuel fabrication for

the DOE. A hot cell onsite was used to examine uranium fuel and reactor components and was

later converted to study mixed oxide (uranium and plutonium) fuel cell rods. Decontamination is

scheduled to begin in 1997.

B.15 WEST VALLEY DEMONSTRATION PROJECT OFFICE

The West Valley Demonstration Project is on the site of the only commercial nuclear fuel

reprocessing plant to operate in the United States. Most of the material processed was irradiated

metallic uranium fuel from the Hanford N-Reactor although commercial fuel was stored and

processed as well. The facility reclaimed uranium and plutonium from the spent fuel using a

process similar to the PUREX process used at Hanford. The decontamination and

decommissioning of the plutonium-contaminated facilities is in progress.

B-5