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Vol II, Part 13: Sites with small Pu Holdings WG Asses. (1994)

Author	Plutonium Working Gr US DoE
Date	September 1994
Classification	3.01.5.30/20 (UNITED STATES - GENERAL NUCLEAR WEAPONS PLANTS + CLEAN UP)
Front

Sites with Small Plutonium Holdings

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Based on the kind, quantity, form and configuration of their plutonium holdings, 
22 DOE sites were considered to possess either out-of-scope plutonium or small 
quantities of plutonium having a low potential for ES&H vulnerabilities. These 
22 sites, which include 44 separate facilities, were not visited by a Working 
Group Assessment Team (WGAT), but provided written responses to a standard 
set of questions (the Question Set) for each of their facilities possessing 
plutonium. Additional information was received by telephone.

The aggregate plutonium inventory for the sites reviewed is approximately 
1.7 kilograms, of which 1.5 Kg is contained in sealed sources. Metal, powders
and liquid solutions make up the remainder. On a site basis, plutonium inventory 
ranges from approximately one milligram (North Atlas Facility and West Valley) 
to approximately 0.75 Kg (INEL).

One vulnerability was proposed by the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC), 
and was reconciled by the Working Group based on corrective actions taken by 
SLAC. Based on the written and verbal information received from these sites, the 
Working Group identified no vulnerabilities.

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The Secretary of Energy's memorandum of March 15, 1994, (Reference 1) established 
an initiative with the objective of conducting a comprehensive assessment of the 
environment, safety and health (ES&H) vulnerabilities arising from the Department's 
operations, handling and storage of its current plutonium holdings. This assessment 
was to encompass all forms and isotopes of plutonium under the Department's 
custody or control, but exclude plutonium in intact nuclear weapons. Plutonium in 
high level, low level and TRU waste and materials covered in the Department's spent 
nuclear fuel vulnerability assessment were also excluded from the study. The 
Plutonium ES&H Vulnerability Assessment Working Group, which was formed for 
the purpose of planning, managing and conducting the assessment, will produce a 
final report for the Secretary by September 30, 1994. The assessment will provide an 
essential information base needed to identify interim corrective actions and options 
for the safe management of plutonium.

Based on available information on the kind, quantity, form and configuration of 
plutonium holdings and the potential for ES&H vulnerabilities, twenty two sites 
were considered to possess either out-of-scope plutonium, or small quantities of 
plutonium having a much lower potential for ES&H vulnerabilities (for example, 
sites possessing only sealed sources). Copies of the Project Plan and the Assessment 
Plan (References 2,3) were provided to each of these sites. The sites were requested 
to provide written responses to the Question Set in the Assessment Plan for each of 
their facilities possessing plutonium.

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