Design Objectives cont'd - doe-std-1128-98

DOE-STD-1128-98

All managers of facilities or activities that generate hazardous,

radioactive, and mixed waste are responsible for:

-- Minimizing the volume and toxicity of all radioactive, hazardous,

and radioactive mixed waste generated, to the extent economically

practicable

-- preparing and updating waste minimization plans for their waste-

generating facilities or activities. Small waste generators in a larger

facility may be grouped with others in a facility or activity plan

-- implementing the facility-specific or activity-specific waste

minimization plan

-- providing input to the organization responsible for waste

characterization and minimization, to support the waste minimization

program

-- communicating waste minimization plans to their employees, and

ensuring that employees receive appropriate training

-- ensuring that existing system/equipment replacement or modification

is designed and installed to minimize generation of waste

-- developing new waste minimization strategies, and identifying

cognizant staff for waste minimization communications between

facility personnel

-- identifying new waste generating facilities or activities and

significant process changes to existing facilities or activities to the

waste characterization and waste minimization organization.

Waste volume control, or waste minimization, involves limiting the

amount of material that becomes contaminated, segregating clean and

contaminated material, and prolonging the useful life of equipment and

material to minimize replacement. Sometimes, materials can be

completely cleaned so that disposal as sanitary waste (or refurbishment

in clean areas) is an option.

Program design decisions can affect TRU waste-generation. For

example, the quantity of protective clothing may be a significant factor.

If an incinerator is available, combustible protective clothing may be

selected to have a low ash content and generate a minimum of harmful

effluents such as oxides of nitrogen or halogenated compounds. In other

facilities, water-washable, reusable protective clothing may minimize

waste disposal.

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