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

WIPP RH PSAR DOE/WIPP-03-3174 CHAPTER 5
The WIPP facility will not accept waste that exhibits the characteristics of ignitability, reactivity, or
corrosivity. The DOE ensures through administrative and operational procedures at the generator sites
that TRU mixed waste received at the WIPP facility does not exhibit these characteristics. These
characteristics are generally associated with liquid wastes or specific waste forms that may react
violently. The HWFP, Chapter C, 20 and the RH WAC, 10 prohibit liquid waste, explosives, compressed
gases, oxidizers, and pyrophorics. The prohibition of these materials is key to limiting the hazards
associated with WIPP RH TRU waste handling activities.
The TRU mixed waste received at WIPP will not be aqueous or liquid, will not contain RH WAC
prohibited materials, and will be capable of being handled at standard temperatures and pressures without
reaction to oxygen or water. The RH WAC 10 specifies that liquid waste is not acceptable at WIPP. The
WIPP facility will not accept RH casks holding waste that would be considered a liquid waste. Every 72-
B canister holding waste shall contain less than 1.58 gal (6 L) of residual liquid. Every 10-160B drum
(55-gallon) holding waste shall contain less than 0.53 gal (2L) of residual liquid. Each 72-B canister or
10-160B drum must contain as little residual liquid as is reasonably achievable.
Additionally, TRU mixed waste cannot contain explosives, compressed gases, oxidizers, or
non-radionuclide pyrophoric materials. (Waste generators have submitted information on waste streams
based on known waste generation processes that indicate certain waste streams may have the potential for
reactivity, ignitability, or corrosivity.) These characteristics must be eliminated prior to waste acceptance
for disposal at the WIPP.
The WIPP will manage TRU mixed waste in a manner that mitigates the buildup of explosive or
flammable gases within the waste. Containers are vented through individual particulate filters, allowing
any gases that are generated by radiolytic and microbial processes within a waste container to escape; to
prevent over pressurization.
The WIPP facility is designed to manage only compatible waste. Therefore, a compatibility analysis was
performed to identify potential incompatibilities for all defense generated TRU mixed waste reported in
the BIR. 17 Wastes were screened for incompatibilities based on their chemical content and physical
waste form. The compatibility analysis also took into account waste compatibility with various aspects
of the repository such as shaft, seal, and panel closure materials, backfill, and fire suppressant materials.
To ensure the integrity of the WIPP facility, waste streams identified to contain incompatible materials or
materials incompatible with waste canisters cannot be shipped to WIPP unless they are treated to remove
the incompatibility. Only those waste streams that are compatible, or have been treated to remove
incompatibilities, will be shipped to WIPP.
The DOE will only allow generators to ship those waste streams with EPA hazardous waste codes listed
in Chapter A of the HWFP. 20 Characterization of all waste streams will be performed as required by the
WAP. If during the characterization process, new hazardous waste codes are identified, those wastes
cannot be accepted for disposal at the WIPP facility until a permit modification has been submitted and
approved. Similar waste streams at other generator sites will be examined more closely to ensure that the
newly identified code does not apply. If other waste streams also require a new hazardous waste code,
shipment of these waste streams will also cease until a permit modification has been submitted and
approved. Approval will be based on the physical and chemical properties of the waste.
The RH WAC requires the following information about the waste to be shipped to WIPP: radionuclide
identification and quantities; confirmation of the waste form, identification, and indication that no
excluded items have been detected; identification of the RCRA constituents identified from headspace
5.1-9 January 22, 2003