Management of Commercially Generated Radioactive Waste - U.S. ...

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Primary Wastes: Untreated initial wastes resulting from operation of fuel cycle facilities
other than waste management facilities (wastes from operation of waste management
facilities are secondary wastes).
Pyroxene: A group of dark rock-forming silicate minerals closely related in crystal form
and analogous in chemical composition to the amphiboles; found chiefly in igneous rocks.
Rad: Radiation absorbed dose, the basic unit of absorbed dose of ionizing radiation. A
dose of 1 rad isi equivalent to the absorption of 100 ergs of radiation energy per gram of
absorbing material.
Recharge: In hydrology, a source or means for replenishment of water withdrawn or discharged
from an aquifer.
rem (roentgen equivalent man): A quantity used in radiation protection to express the
effective dose equivalent f6r all forms of ionzing radiation. It is the product of the
adsorbed dose in rads and factors related to relative biological effectiveness.
Remotely Handled Waste: Waste package having surface dose rate greater than 0.2 R/hr. Such
packages require extensive shielding and/or remote handling to protect operating personnel.
Remotely handled wastes were termed intermediate-level wastes in DOE/ET-0028 and
DOE/ET-0029.
Repository (Federal): A Federally owned and operated facility for storage or disposal of
specific types of waste from DOE sites and/or licensees.
Retrievability: Capability to remove waste from its place in isolation with approximately
the same level of effort and radiation exposure as required to place the waste.
RH-TRU: Remotely handled TRU waste.
Risk (mathematical): Product of the consequences and the probability of the event's
occurrence.
Roentgen: A unit for measuring gamma or "x-ray" radiation. The Roentgen is defined by
measuring the effect of the radiation on air. It is that amount of gamma or x-rays
required to produce ions carrying 1 electrostatic unit of charge in 0.001293 g of dry air
under standard conditions; 1 R = 2.58 x 10-4coulomb/kg.
RWSF: Retrievable waste storage facility.
Scrubbers: An apparatus that chemically removes impurities from exhaust gas emissions.
Secondary Wastes: Wastes that result from applying waste treatment technologies to primary
wastes.
Sedimentary Basin: A geologically depressed area that has thick sediments in the interior
and thinner sediments at the edges.
Seismicity: The phenomenon of earth movements as manifested by earthquakes.
SFPF: Spent fuel packaging facility.
Shield: A continental segment of the earth's crust which has been relatively stable over a
long period of time and which has exposed crystalline rocks mostly of Precambrian age; in
general, representing the oldest rocks of the continent.
Shielding: A material interposed between a source of radiation and personnel for protection
against the danger of radiation. Commonly used shielding materials are concrete, water
and lead.
Shipping Cask: A specially designed container used for shipping radioactive materials.
SHLW: Solidified high-level waste.