THE MURMANSK INITIATIVE - RF: SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OFCONSTRUCTION – NEXT STEP: ACCEPTANCE TESTING

摘要

“The Murmansk Initiative - RF” was conceived to address Russia’s ability to meet thernLondon Convention prohibiting ocean dumping of radioactive waste. The Initiative,rnunder a trilateral agreement initiated in 1994, has upgraded an existing low- level liquidrnradioactive waste treatment facility, increased its capacity from 1,200 m 3 /year to 5,000rnm 3 /year, and expanded the capability of the facility to treat liquids containing salt (up torn10 g/L). The three parties to the agreement, the Russian Federation, Norway, and thernUnited States, have split the costs for the project. Russia conducted all constructionrnactivities at the facility. Construction is complete. Start-up testing has been completedrnboth in manual phase and with automation controls in effect. These start- up activitiesrnhave included processing of actual radioactive liquid waste from the Arctic icebreakerrnfleet, and incorporation of these wastes into a cementation process of Russian design.rnWith the completion of these activities, the requirements of the tri- lateral agreement,rnknown as the “Oslo Protocol” have been fulfilled. This paper will report on the results ofrnthe start-up testing activities in addition to the “acceptance testing” phase of the project.rnThe acceptance testing requires the processing of 2000m3 of decommissioned submarinernLLRW over a six- month time frame. This important phase of the project began on 01rnOctober 2000. Progress of this phase of the project, including Russian licensing activitiesrnwill be reported. Discussion will also report on any modifications to the proposedrnoperational schedule for the facility. “Lessons Learned” will be evaluated and discussed,rnin addition to a discussion of potential follow-on activities for this unique region of thernRussian Federation.