Publication Laka-library:
Vol II, Part 7: Mound, Working Group Assessment (1994)
| Author | Plutonium Working Gr US DoE |
| Date | September 1994 |
| Classification | 3.01.5.30/14 (UNITED STATES - GENERAL NUCLEAR WEAPONS PLANTS + CLEAN UP) |
| Front | 
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From the publication:
Mound EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This is the report of a visit to the Mound site by the Working Group Assessment Team (WGAT) to assess plutonium vulnerabilities. Purposes of the visit were: to review results of the site's self assessment of current practices for handling and storing plutonium; to conduct an independent assessment of these practices; to reconcile differences and assemble a final list of vulnerabilities; to calculate consequences and probability for each vulnerability; and to issue a report to the Working Group. This report, representing completion of the Mound visit, will be compiled along with those from all other sites with plutonium inventories as part of a final report to the Secretary of Energy. Another objective of the visit by the WGAT was to inform the public and local stakeholders of the project's mission, its modus operandi, and the specific results of the Mound assessment. To this end, an "In Briefing" was held at the outset of the WGAT visit to explain purposes and actions to be taken, and an "Exit Briefing" was held at the conclusion of the visit to reveal results. Both meetings were announced publicly and were accessible to the public. Questions from the public as well as from Mound personnel were addressed at each of the briefings. This report also provides an accounting of these meetings. The Site Assessment Team (SAT) had conducted its self assessment and had drafted a report of its findings prior to the visit by the WGAT. Three proposed "vulnerabilities" were identified by the SAT. The WGAT reviewed the SAT report and found that it needed to be supplemented in order to provide sufficient detail to substantiate the objectives of the assessment. Discussions between the two teams explored the deficiencies, and necessary corrections were identified for implementation by the SAT. The WGAT conducted "walkdowns" of the four facilities identified by the SAT as containing plutonium, namely SW /R Building, T Building, Building 38 and Building 50. The team interviewed a number of workers and managers, discussed impressions with the SAT, and concluded the visit by identifying nine additional vulnerabilities. Two of the vulnerabilities identified at Mound are believed to be generic to all sites within the DOE weapons complex. The first of these relates to the loss of institutional memory for the processes and configurations associated with the buildings, equipment, and material packaging. Such loss of institutional memory is exacerbated by continuing reduction in operating budgets. Most replacement personnel do not have, nor can they acquire, "hands-on" experience with plutonium because operations and facilities are shut down.
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