Table 8.3. Interim Recommendations for Storage of Plutonium Metal and Plutonium Oxide at Department of Energy Facilities

DOE-STD-1128-98

Interim Recommendations for Storage of Plutonium Metal and Plutonium

Table 8.3.

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 glovebox 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:

a. The outer storage vessel is bulged or distorted.

b. Hydride-catalyzed oxidation is suspected. Such reaction is indicated by a

mass increase

in either of two circumstances:

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