Publication Laka-library:
Vol II, Appendix B, Part 12: Pantex, Site Assessment (1994)
| Author | Plutonium Working Gr US DoE |
| Date | September 1994 |
| Classification | 3.01.5.30/33 (UNITED STATES - GENERAL NUCLEAR WEAPONS PLANTS + CLEAN UP) |
| Front | 
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From the publication:
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The President has directed an Interagency Working Group to conduct a comprehensive review of long-term options for the disposition of surplus plutonium. In support of this effort, the Secretary of Energy has requested that information be gathered and assessed to develop a comprehensive understanding of the environmental, safety, and health issues surrounding the inventory of fissile materials in storage outside of intact nuclear explosives. The Secretary of Energy has requested that the Office of Environment, Safety and Health assume the primary responsibility to perform this assessment The Environment, Safety and Health (ES&H) plutonium vulnerability assessment must be completed by September 30, 1994. The Assistant Secretary for the Office of Environment, Safety and Health established the Plutonium ES&H Vulnerability Assessment Project, which included elements such as Working Group, Support Group, the Site Assessment Teams, and Working Group Assessment Teams. The Pantex Site Assessment Team (SAT) was tasked to complete a site assessment, identify any existing vulnerabilities, and produce a report documenting this assessment. The objective of the Pantex Site Assessment Team is to characterize ES&H vulnerabilities. An ES&H vulnerability is defined as a condition or weakness that may lead to unnecessary or increased radiation exposure of the workers, release of radioactive materials to the environment, or radiation exposure of the public. The assessment encompasses all forms and isotopes of plutonium at Pantex with the exception of plutonium in nuclear explosive assemblies. The assessment builds on existing information to the extent possible and is based on the plutonium holdings and associated ES&H vulnerabilities as of May-June 1994. The facilities addressed by the Pantex Site Assessment Team include Bay 27 of Bldg. 12- 26, the Pit Vault of Building 12-26, the North Vault of Building 12-42, Cell 8 of Building 12-44, Assembly/Disassembly Bays, Assembly/Disassembly Cells, various facilities containing sealed sources and the Zone 4 West Magazines. These are the facilities at Pantex Plant where disassembled nuclear explosive components (pits and radioisotopic thermoelectric generators (RTGs)) and sealed sources containing plutonium exist. Pits contain metallic weapons-grade plutonium hermetically sealed within a metal cladding. RTGs contain approximately 10 grams of Pu-238 oxide encapsulated in a virtually impact- and fire-proof cladding consisting of three layers of exotic metals, further encapsulated in a stainless steel vessel.
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