Publication Laka-library:
Vol II, Appendix B, Part 2: Hanford, Site Assessment (1994)
| Author | Plutonium Working Gr US DoE |
| Date | September 1994 |
| Classification | 3.01.5.30/23 (UNITED STATES - GENERAL NUCLEAR WEAPONS PLANTS + CLEAN UP) |
| Front | 
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From the publication:
Hanford Site EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Hanford Site is a 1,450-km2 (560-mi2) tract of semiarid land located within the Columbia River Basin in southeastern Washington State. Figure 1 is a Site Map. Since the early 1940s, the Hanford Site has been engaged primarily in weapons material production and nuclear energy research and development. Since the late 1980s, the mission of the Hanford Site has changed to one of restoration and cleanup.One legacy of earlier missions is several facilities that contain quantities of plutonium. These plutonium quantities potentially present Environmental, Safety and Health vulnerabilities for the Site. In order to effectively evaluate the vulnerabilities, this Hanford Site Self Assessment of Plutonium Environmental Safety and Health Vulnerabilities was conducted. The Assessment Plan detailed the methodology to be used in conducting the assessment including detailed question sets which are included as Appendix B. Completion of these question sets was the process used to identify vulnerabilities. More than 500 Hanford Site buildings were evaluated for inclusion in this Assessment. All buildings that have ever handled plutonium were identified and designated as in-scope or out-of-scope of this assessment. Burial grounds, tank farms, and liquid waste disposal sites (e.g., pond, cribs, ditches and reverse wells [french drains]), were defined as out-of-scope by the U.S. Department of Energy-Headquarters (DOE-HQ) Assessment leaders. Facilities that have been turned over to the Decontamination and Decommissioning Program were also excluded from the scope. Plutonium contained in irradiated fuel (e.g., the Fast Flux Test Facility and K Basins) is covered in the Spent Fuel Vulnerability Assessment. The table of contents at the front of Appendix C lists each of the specific concerns or vulnerabilities that were identified by this review. The vulnerability evaluation matrix in Appendix D shows the consequence and likelihood rankings of these vulnerabilities based on criteria established by the DOE. There was no discovery of previously unknown conditions or circumstances; however, the review has provided the opportunity to refocus attention on some matters that need thoughtful consideration and response. There were no catastrophic consequences identified. Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) identified three vulnerabilities in its facilities. These vulnerabilities result from the lack of knowledge about the form and packaging of some of the older material stored within its facilities. Delays in the disposition or shipment of unneeded materials to a more isolated area increase the probability of this material being involved in an incident. PNL possesses only small quantities of plutonium or other transuranics or U-233. As a result, no other events were credible either because of the low probability of occurrence or the low consequence.
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