Data quality objectives for TWRS privatization, phase 1: Tank waste transfer control

The Phase 1 privatization contracts (DOE-M 1996) require that the Project Hanford Management Contractors, on behalf of the US Department of Energy, Richland Operations Office, deliver the appropriate quantities of the proper composition of feed on schedule. The Feed Process Management Team (FPMT) was created with responsibility for establishing requirements, identifying and recommending baseline change control, assuring correlation management of tank contents (e.g., feed pedigrees), and requiring understanding among the various TWRS elements so the right feed is produced on schedule (Boston 1996). The FPMT has charged the Double Shell Tank (DST) Waste Inventory Control (WIC) (LMHC 1997) group to develop and implement the waste configuration control needed to insure that the ability to deliver feed on schedule is not adversely impacted. The WIC group, which has representatives from engineering, environmental, operations, and waste feed delivery, reviews proposed waste transfers and technical issues affecting the TWRS waste inventory. The WIC group either approves proposed transfers or, if a unanimous decision is not obtained, elevates approval to the FPMT. A representative from the FPMT is present at the WIC group meetings where waste transfer approvals are decided, and WIC relays information to the FPMT as needed. The TWRS waste process includes waste inventory control, waste consolidation, waste transfers, compatibility, feed staging for privatization, and technical issues affecting waste transfers. Pumping restrictions are outlined in Wicks 1997. The mobilization, retrieval, transfer, pretreatment, staging, and delivery of feed to the privatization contractors takes place in the DST system. These tanks support multiple programs; therefore, the tank space must be allocated and controlled so as not to interfere with the delivery of feed by creating space bottle-necks or by significantly changing the composition or quantity of feed. Each feed tank selected for Phase 1 processing has been identified as a source of waste for a particular feed envelope. These feed envelope descriptions are identified in the Phase 1 privatization contracts