| OSTI Document ID | 184271 |
|---|---|
| Local PDF | osti/184271.pdf |
| Title | Environmental Assessment Radioactive Source Recovery Program |
| Publication Date | 1995 Dec 20 |
| Description/ Abstract |
In a response to potential risks to public health and safety, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is evaluating the recovery of sealed neutron sources under the Radioactive Source Recovery Program (RSRP). This proposed program would enhance the DOE`s and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission`s (NRC`s) joint capabilities in the safe management of commercially held radioactive source materials. Currently there are no federal or commercial options for the recovery, storage, or disposal of sealed neutron sources. This Environmental Assessment (EA) analyzes the potential environmental impacts that would be expected to occur if the DOE were to implement a program for the receipt and recovery at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, New Mexico, of unwanted and excess plutonium-beryllium ({sup 238}Pu-Be) and americium-beryllium ({sup 241}Am-Be) sealed neutron sources. About 1 kg (2.2 lb) plutonium and 3 kg (6.6 lb) americium would be recovered over a 15-year project. Personnel at LANL would receive neutron sources from companies, universities, source brokers, and government agencies across the country. These neutron sources would be temporarily stored in floor holes at the CMR Hot Cell Facility. Recovery reduces the neutron emissions from the source material and refers to a process by which: (1) the stainless steel cladding is removed from the neutron source material, (2) the mixture of the radioactive material (Pu-238 or Am-241) and beryllium that constitutes the neutron source material is chemically separated (recovered), and (3) the recovered Pu-238 or Am-241 is converted to an oxide form ({sup 238}PuO{sub 2} or {sup 241}AmO{sub 2}). The proposed action would include placing the {sup 238}PuO{sub 2} or {sup 241}AmO{sub 2} in interim storage in a special nuclear material vault at the LANL Plutonium Facility. |
| OSTI ID | 184271 |
| Report Numbers line line docnumall | |
| Other ID Numbers | ON: DE96004641; NC: NONE |
| Document Type | Technical Report |
| Research Organization | USDOE Los Alamos Area Office, NM (United States) |
| Sponsor Organization | USDOE, Washington, DC (United States) |
| Bibliographic Source | OSTI |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Pages/Size | 70 p. |
| System Entry Date | 1996 Feb 27 |
| Subject Category Code | 05 NUCLEAR FUELS |
| Descriptors | AMERICIUM 241; SEPARATION PROCESSES; PLUTONIUM 238; RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS; BERYLLIUM; CLADDING; NEUTRON SOURCES; PUBLIC HEALTH; OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY; WATER QUALITY; LAND USE; AIR QUALITY; MATERIALS RECOVERY; LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES |
| Format | Other: PL: |
| Availability | INIS ; OSTI as DE96004641 |
| Notes | PBD: 20 Dec 1995 |
| Reference Numbers | SCA: 052000;054000;053002; PA: EDB-96:034606;NTS-96:010103;INS-96:006352; SN: 96001527591; TVI: 10226; TRN: 96:001271 |