1 Summary

The U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) has submitted a planned change request to use shielded containers for emplacement of selected remote-handled (RH) transuranic (TRU) waste streams on the floor of the repository. The use of the shielded containers will enable DOE to significantly increase the efficiency of transportation and disposal operations for RH TRU waste at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). The shielded container design has 1-inch thick lead shielding sandwiched between a double-walled steel shell with a 3-inch thick steel lid and base. The lead for the container may be recycled from excess DOE stock. This design has passed the drop testing for Department of Transportation (DOT) Type 7A specifications and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Type B specifications for shipping in the HalfPACT transportation container. The drop tests demonstrated that there will be no significant reduction in shielding capabilities under normal or accident conditions. These results ensure that the shielded container is safe for transportation and handling and will prevent releases under the most severe accident conditions. The design and testing results are being prepared for submittal and regulatory approval. RH TRU waste whose activity is low enough to result in a dose rate of less than 200 millirem/hour on the outside surface of the shielded container is a candidate for emplacement in shielded containers. The shielded containers will be emplaced in the disposal rooms, along with CH TRU waste, but these waste streams will remain designated as RH TRU waste in the WIPP Waste Information System. A recent performance assessment has demonstrated that the use of shielded canisters for these waste streams has an insignificant impact on long-term performance of the repository