Los Almos National Laboratory

DOE-STD-1128-98

design testing. Plutonium is an incidental radioisotope encountered at the Idaho Chemical

Processing Plant.

B.7

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.

B.8

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.

B.9

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-2