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

WIPP RH PSAR DOE/WIPP-03-3174 CHAPTER 5
deriving a reasonable maximum for CI, as well as the distribution of PE-Ci contents in the individual
10-160B cask, drum, and facility canister assumed to be involved or damaged.
Based on the data in Appendix A, the average MAR in a waste canister is about 3.3 PE-Ci. The 72-B
waste canister has a "bounding" inventory of either 80 PE-Ci (direct loaded canister) or 240 PE-Ci
(loaded with three 55-gal drums). These values were selected to account for variations in the
radionuclide content of the waste canisters. For the 10-160B cask, a "bounding" inventory of 20 PE-Ci
for a 10-160B cask or a single 55-gal drum in the cask and 60 PE-Ci for a facility canister loaded with
three 55-gal drums from three 10-160B casks.
The adequacy of these assumptions and the WIPP RH TRU facility design basis are evaluated in detail
based on the accident results in Section 5.2.4. Receipt of waste for disposal at WIPP that does not meet
the applicable Operations and Safety Requirements of the WIPP RH WAC will first require the
performance of an Unreviewed Safety Question Determination (USQD) in accordance with the
requirements of 10 CFR 830.203, Unreviewed Safety Question Process. 18
5.1.2.2 TRU Mixed Waste
Hazardous waste, as defined in 40 CFR 261, Subparts C and D, 19 often occurs as co-contaminants with
TRU waste from defense-related operations, resulting in TRU mixed waste. The BIR 17 estimates the
quantities of Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulated TRU waste to be shipped from
each generator site. The most common hazardous constituents in the TRU mixed waste consist of the
following:
Metals
Some of the TRU mixed waste to be emplaced in the WIPP facility contains metals for which toxicity
characteristics were established (EPA hazardous waste codes D004 through D011). These materials are
known to be present based on acceptable knowledge of waste-generating processes and various analytical
results used to verify acceptable knowledge. Cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, selenium, and silver
are present in discarded tools and equipment, solidified sludges, cemented laboratory liquids, and waste
from decontamination and decommissioning activities. A large percentage of the waste consists of lead
lined glove boxes, leaded rubber gloves and aprons, lead bricks and piping, lead tape, and other lead
items. Lead, because of its radiation-shielding applications, is the most prevalent metal present.
Halogenated Volatile Organic Compounds
Some of the mixed waste to be emplaced in the WIPP facility contains spent halogenated organic
solvents (EPA hazardous waste numbers F001 through F005). The presence of these compounds is
confirmed by analytical results from headspace gas sampling of TRU mixed waste. Methylene chloride;
Tetrachloroethylene; trichloroethylene; carbon tetrachloride; 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane; and
1,1,1-trichloroethane (EPA hazardous waste codes F001 and F002) are the most prevalent halogenated
organic compounds identified in TRU mixed waste that may be managed at the WIPP facility during the
Disposal Phase. These compounds are commonly used to clean metal surfaces prior to plating, polishing,
or fabrication; to dissolve other compounds; or as coolants. Because they are highly volatile, only very
small amounts typically remain on equipment after cleaning, or in the case of treated wastewaters, in the
sludges after clarification and flocculation.
5.1-6 January 22, 2003