Storage - hdbk1132990064

DOE-HDBK-1132-99

Because many state governments have the authority to designate traffic routes

for shipment of radioactive material, close coordination with state and local

agencies is recommended.

The shipping and receiving area in a PPHF should accommodate the convoy of

safe-secured-transport (SST), including its escort vehicles. The area should be

free of any obstacles (other buildings and structures) during loading and

unloading of the plutonium payload to establish a clear line-of-sight by site

security forces.

Radiation monitoring equipment should be available in the shipping and

receiving area for surveying the radiation level on the surface of the SST and

the containers during receipt of radioactive material from off-site. The shipping

and receiving area may also be equipped with a decontamination port if a

radiation survey indicates that the surface of a container is contaminated.

Storage. A PPHF should include a storage facility (such as a vault-type room)

in the process area to provide storage and staging functions. The following

features should be considered in the design of the storage facility:

Operation of the storage vault should comply with the strict regulation of

fire loading.

Packaging and unpackaging of plutonium in the storage vault area

should provide for minimizing the build-up of packaging material.

Storage racks and shelves should be designed and constructed to meet

seismic requirements.

Spacing between storage units should be sufficient to satisfy criticality

controls.

Layout of storage racks should minimize radiation exposure to operating

personnel and provide line-of-sight by safeguards and security.

I-48