CASE STUDY OF STRATEGY FOR WIPP CERTIFICATION OF REMOTE- HANDLED TRANSURANIC WASTES: BATTELLE COLUMBUS LABORATORIES

Several small quantity sites (SQS) across the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) complex are currently storing from one to a few hundred drums of transuranic (TRU) waste. The majority of SQS have waste management goals with respect to the status of site cleanup that require the completion of decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) activities under aggressive schedules. The key driver for these SQS goals is the existence of Consent Orders and State Agreements with governing agencies. At each SQS, the development of a strategy for ensuring a timely disposal option for this waste is critical. Currently, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) is the identified option for TRU waste disposal from these sites. While the small volumes of waste generated by SQS will not be responsible for filling the pipeline to the WIPP, compliance with these agreements is a high priority for the DOE. Prior to receiving authority to transport TRU waste to the WIPP for permanent disposal, each site must demonstrate compliance with transportation and disposal requirements under the WIPP TRU Waste Certification Program (Program). The DOE-Carlsbad Area Office (CAO), which administers the Program, determines site readiness to perform TRU waste certification, characterization, an