PROCESSING OF PANTEX WET WASTE FOR DISPOSAL AT THE NEVADA TEST SITE

摘要

The Department of Energy’s Pantex Plant is where the nation’s nuclear weapons are beingdismantled. The facility generated low-level radioactive waste contaminated with tritium. Thewaste consists of scintillation liquid, scintillation vials (glass and plastic) and support material(dry activated waste). The waste was generated as a result of plant processing and area surveys.Mason and Hanger Corporation under contract to DOE to operate the Pantex Plant processedthese waste streams for interim storage by crushing the solids and separating the liquids.GTS Duratek further treated the waste streams for disposal at the Nevada Test Site (NTS).Drums containing scintillation vials were dewatered, compacted and repacked. The liquidcollected was injected into an incinerator at GTS Duratek’s Bear Creek Facility. The supportmaterial was compacted and repackaged. All empty metal containers were recycled through theMetal Melt facility. The compacted waste was sent to NTS for final disposal.