DOE 2000. - Waste Isolation Pilot Plant - U.S. Department of Energy

WIPP RH PSAR DOE/WIPP-03-3174 CHAPTER 1
each drum and the identity of each drum is confirmed. Three RH waste drums are loaded into a WIPP
facility canister which is lowered into the shielded insert, installed on the shuttle car, located in the
Transfer Cell. The grapple hoist in the Facility Cask Loading Room lifts the waste canister into the
facility cask. The loaded facility cask is moved into the waste shaft’s hoist cage for transfer to the
disposal horizon.
At the disposal horizon, the facility cask is transported by a forklift into the waste disposal room. In the
disposal room, the waste canister is removed from the facility cask, emplaced in a horizontal borehole
and then a shield plug is installed in the borehole. Details of the RH waste operations are provided in
Section 4.3.
The RH waste, consisting of radiologically hazardous and chemically hazardous material, received for
placement in the WIPP facility must conform with the RH Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC). Draft
criteria have been prepared (RH Draft WAC 5 ) and are currently being reviewed. These criteria will be
formalized prior to receipt of RH waste. The purpose of the RH WAC is to summarize the waste
acceptance criteria that RH-TRU waste must meet before it can be transported to, managed, and disposed
of at the WIPP. These criteria serve as the DOE’s primary directive for ensuring that TRU waste is
managed and disposed of in a manner that protects worker and public health and safety and the
environment.
The operational philosophy at the WIPP facility is to start radiologically clean and stay radiologically
clean. As a canister is removed from the 72B road cask or drums removed from the 10-160B road cask,
contamination surveys, damage inspections, and identity verifications are performed. If any identity
discrepancies are found and/or any levels of radiation, contamination, or significant damage in excess of
acceptance criteria are found, actions will be taken in accordance with approved procedures. Also, any
local area of contamination may be decontaminated prior to continuation of the waste handling process.
1.2-3 January 24, 2003