WASTE MANAGEMENT >90

"Working Towards a Cleaner Environment"

Waste Processing, Transportation, Storage and Disposal,Technical Programs and Public Education

Volume II

HLW & LLW Technology

Proceedings of the

Symposium on Waste Managementat Tucson, Arizona

February 25-March 1,1990

Sponsored byFuel Cycle and Waste Management

Division of

American Nuclear SocietyAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers

U.S. Department of Energyand

The University of Arizona

College of Engineering& Mines

Roy G. Post

Editor

Morton E. Wacks

Technical Program Chairman

Donna McComb

Paula Messer

Proceedings Coordinators

UB/TIB Hannover100 916 740

89

RN 6678(1990,2)

PROGRAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Morton E. Wacks. U of A (Chairman)HanyBabad.WHCAshok V. Bankley, VAPowerJohn Bartlctt

Gary Benda, Chem Nuclear

NedBibler.WSRCLeon E. Borduin, LANLStanleys, Bom, ANLSteve Brown, Dames & MooreJohn C. Bradburne, NUSRobert E. Browning. USNRCAusic Clement, TVARon Coley, RLD ConsultingPeter Colombo, BNLTom A. Cotton, JKAssoc.

Julie D'Ambrosia, NJOA. Scott Dam, Weston

Jas S. Devgun, ANL

Richard Doyle, ATI

JoyFiore,SAICJohn Gervcrs, LECMaurice Ginniff, UKNIREXWilliam T. Gregory III, ASMEEd. Helmlnski, Radioactive ExchangeThomas P. Hillmer.ANPPClyde Jupiter, Jupiter Corp.Myron KaczmarsW,WasteChemHiroshi Kuribayashi, JGCBob LaRiviere, SAIC

Sheila Little, Fluor Daniel

Lance Loucks, Duke PowerHomer Lowenberg, LowenbergAssoc.B.S. (Pete) Mays, CP&LJames McCray, U ofAEarl McDaniel, ORNLJack McElroy, PNL

C.S.Mogg,BNFLBala NafcTWECNeil Norman, Bechtel

Larry C. Oyen, Sargent &. LundyReiner Papp, KfKSJ.S. (Jack) Parry.NWTRBAlex Perge, Consultant

Glenn Pierce, S.M. Stollcr

Allison M. Piatt, PNL

Roy G. Post, U ofA

Lawrence Ramspott, LLNLJohn Randall, NYS EnergyAuth.Angle Register, U ofAVern Rogers, R&ALawrence Rutland, Burns & Roe

Tom Smith, EG&G-IDA. Lowell Snow, WestonVincent Stagliola, Boston Ed.

Thomas Stevens, B&WJames Strahl, WestonJohn Stucker, Carter-Goblc

Ganesan Subbaraman, RI

Ed. C.Tamuzzer, Yankee AtomicJames E. Testa, USERachel Trefry, UofADale Uhl, Wastren, Inc.

UndaUlland, Bechtel

Regan Voit, LN TechnologyRayWalton, ANL, USDOEMary G. White, Consultant

Robert Williams, EPRIDonald Wood, WHCH. Richaid Yoshimura, SNL

Dave Zigelman, WEC

TABLEOF CONTENTS

VOLUME II

POSTER-LLW-I, WASTE FORM, TRANSPORTATION CONTAINERS AND SITES-

/. G.McCray, UofAZ, Co-Chair

Mobile Concrete Solidification Systems for Power Reactor Waste 3

E. Tchemitcheff

Shielded Railway Transporter System Equipment Design and Operational Features 11

R. P. Biitts

Developing an ANSI Standard for Semitrailers Used to Transport Radioactive Materials 19

P. Gregory

Low-Level Radioactive Waste Involved in Transportation Events 23

C. E. CashweU

Transcom's Next Move: Improvements to DOE's Transportation Satellite Tracking System 29

L. H. Harmon

An Overview of the ORNL Waste Handling & Packaging Plant 35

D. W. Turner

Automation Through the PIP Concurrence System Improves Information Sharing Among DOE Managers ....43

R. M. Imholz

Leach Studies of Chelating Agents and Influence on Radionuclide Leaching from Simulated LLW/ILW

Cement Waste Forms 49

P. Vejmelka

Leaching Ratio from Pellet Package 57

KYui

Effects of Varying Recharge on Radionuclide Flux Rates to the Water Table at a Low-Level Solid

Waste Burial Site 63

R. Khaleel

Heat Removal Options and Temperature Predictions for a Vault of Grouted Waste 69

B.A. Crea

Groundwater Monitoring at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant 75

R. Kehrman

iii

Readiness Review for Site Characterization: A Systems Approach 85

P. L. Bisese

Facilities for Processing, Packaging and Storage of Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste at the Winfrith

Technology Center 91

A. L Lloyd

Results of Field Testing ofWaste Forms Using Lysimeters 99

/. W. McConnell

BLT:A Source Term Computer Code for Low-Level Waste Shallow Land Burial Ill

C. J. Suen

The Migration of Cesium-137 Through Cement Formulations Applicable to Radioactive Waste Management . ..125

At. J. Rudin

Low-Level Waste Shallow Land Burial Source Term Container Breach and Waste Form LeachingModel Development 131

T. M. Sullivan

Retrieval of Nuclear Waste From a Land Based Deep Repository 139

At. G. Myall

Demonstration of Chemical Treatment Process Development Designed to Generate a Below RegulatoryConcern (BRC) Waste From Radiological and Mixed Wastes 153

D. H. Brady

Development of an Integrated Assay Facility 159

T. V. Molesworth

COMPACT DECISIONS, LICENSING AND REGULATION OF NEW RADIOACTIVE

AND MIXED WASTE DISPOSALFACILITIES--^ Helminsld, RE; E. Jennrich, R&A,Co-Chairs

Below Regulatory Concern Standards: The Limits ofState and Local Authority 167

D. J. Silverman

Radioactive Waste for New Disposal Facilities. 173

R. D. Baird

Advanced Disposal Technologies for New Low-Level Waste Disposal Compact Sites 179

jR. T.Anderson

License Application Approach for the California LLRW Disposal Facility 187

R, K. Gaynor

iv

California's Review ofUS Ecology's Low-Level Radioactive Waste License Application 193

D. J. Womeldorf

LLRW Disposal: Economies of Scale and Half-Life Segregation 197

C. W. Billiard

Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Licensing and Regulations in Pennsylvania 203

W. P. Dornsife

Performance Assessment of the Potential Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Site in Texas 209

R. J. Charbeneau

LLWCHAJRACTERIZATIONANDCLASSIFICATION--iI. C. Tarnuzzer, Yankee Atomic;L. Loucks, Duke Power, Co-Chairs

Advanced LLW Classification System 221

T.Yagi

Classification of Contaminated and Neutron-Activated Concretes from Nuclear Facilities Prior to

Their Decontamination or Decommissioning ,229

At. J. Angus

Nuclear Waste Drum Assayer 235

R. L. Brodzinski

Development of Non-Destructive Actinide Assay Methods for Radioactive Waste 239

B. H. Armitage

Low-Level Radioactive Waste Research Program Plan 247

/. Lambert

TMI-2 Waste Management Experience 255

C. P. Deltete

Identification and Characterization of Department of Energy Special-Case Radioactive Waste 261

R. E. Williams

The Effect of Count Time on Reliably Detectable Activity (RDA) When Assessing Contamination Monitor

Performance 267

N. L. Hassig

v

POSTER-LLW-II, WASTE ANALYSIS, PROCESSING AND CHARACTERIZATION-

R. D. Wojtasek, WHC;J. S. Devgun,ANL, Co-Chairs

Spent Resin Sample Device-The "Rain Gauge" 277

S. B. Presgrove

Degradation of Resins in Epicor-II Prefilters from Three Mile Island .283

/. W. McConnell

Full-Scale Performance of New Organic Resin Ratios and Inorganic Materials for Processing Low

Level Liquids at Diablo Canyon Power Plant 295

K. L. James

Advanced Cement-Solidification Process for Spent Ion-Exchange Resins 299

K. Sauda

Liquid Radwaste Process Optimization at Catawba Nuclear Station 305

B. E. Cauthen

Dewatering of Sludge by Enhanced Electro-Osmosis 313

7. Shoji

Radioactive Liquid Waste Volume Reduction System .317

R. Williams

Waste Dewatering Process Improvements at Brunswick Steam Electric Plant 323

L. Sellers

Rapid Analysis of Non-Gamme Radionuclides Using the "Anabet" System 327

D. Bradbury

ObservedTRU Data From Nuclear Utility Waste Streams .331

R.A. Wessman

Global Positioning Site Environment Evaluator 339

S. LeJJler

Transport Systems for Conditioned Radioactive Waste in Belgium 347

L. Baekelandt

The Influence of Waste Treatment, Conditioning and Packaging on Design for Disposal 353

R P. S. Tufton

Processing of LLW Arising from Dismantling Activities in a Reprocessing Facility 359

L. G. Geens

vi

Formation of Hydrogen and Radioactive Gases in Waste Packages with Cemented Intermediate

Level Waste 363

KKroth

On Site Storage of Low Level Radioactive Waste at Vermont Yankee 369

At. R. Fuller

Processing of Sump Sludges at the Commonwealth Edison Byron Nuclear Generating Station 377

D. Herrmann

Volume Reduction of Filter Media at Susquehanna Steam and Electric Station, .

,385

G. F. Boris

Low-Level Liquid Waste Decontamination by Ion Exchange 389

D. O. Campbell

Phase Characterization of Cementitious Components of a Waste Repository and the Potentia of

Individual Phases for Sorption of Radioisotopes 399

S.Aggarwal

Q'A Very Low Level Quantitative and Qualitative Waste Assay and Release Certification System .407

F. L. Bronson

Solid Low Level Radioactive Waste Management Within British Nuclear Fuels pic ,413

L. F. Johnson

Short-Term and Long-Term Strategies for NPP Krsko Radwaste Management 419

K Fink

Valuation of Cloths for Decontamination by Wiping 423

W. N. Rankin

LLW PROCESSING, PACKAGING AND MEETING CERTIFICATION STANDARDS-

R. Doyle, ATI; M. Van Dale, Yankee Atomic, Co-Chairs

Treatment of Low-Activity-Level Process Wastewaters by Continuous Countercurrent Ion Exchange 429

R. Hall

Treatment and Disposal of Steam Generator and Heat Exchanger Chemical Cleaning Wastes 437

D. W. Evans

The Application ofPolyelectrolytes to Improve Liquid Radwaste Treatment System Radionuclide

Removal Efficiency 447

W.AHomyk

Waste Management Evaluation for PWR Full System Decontamination 457

A. Valvasori

vii

Pilot-Plant Evaluation of the Mobile Wet Oxidation Process 463

5. At. Finger

Uncemented Supercompacted Ash-The Preferential Final Waste Form for Low Level Radioactive Waste 469

S. Halaszovich

Qualifying Concrete for a Low-Level Waste Repository 473

K. E. Philipose

EXPERIENCE IN REMEDIALACTION TECHNIQUES AT CONTAMINATED SITES--

/. S. Devgun,ANL;J. W. Wagoner, II, USDOE, Co-Chairs

Performance of a Radioactive Waste Internment Site 483

D. E. Bernhardt

Demonstration Experience with an Abrasive Blasting Technique for Decontaminating Concrete Pads 489

/. S. Devgun

Environmental Protection Considerations During Decommissioning 497

A. E. Sheil

UMTRA GJVP Commingled Waste Project Investigation: A Case History 503

R. D. Sanders

Characterization and Remediation ofPast-Practice Waste Units at the Hanford Site an

Engineering Perspective 509

JR. A. Carlson

POSTER-HLWTECHNOLOGY--C. DeFigh-Price, WHO, T. Woods, WHC, Co-Chairs

Design of Fixed-Bed Ion Exchange Columns for Wastewater Treatment 517

S. At. Robinson

Cementation-A Solution for Final Disposal? 527

B. L. Ganser

Conceptual Designs for the Conditioning and Packaging of Exchangeable Non-Fuel Core Components for

Final Disposal in Switzerland 535

M. N. loli

Management of Fuel Waste from Fuel Testing Programs and Postirradiation Examination in Sweden 541

A. Holmer

viii

Methodology for the Cost Evaluation of Radioactive Waste Management Routes 549

S. Kowa

Cosine Components in Water Levels at Yucca Mountain 557

/. Rice

Organic Colloid Transport of Radionuclides at Gorleben, West Germany 565

/. P. L. Dearlove

A Review ofSome Geocolloid Transport Studies in the Farfield Relevant to Radioactive Waste Disposal 571

G. Longworth

Control of Water Infiltration into Near Surface LLW Disposal Units-Progress Report on Field

Experiments at a Humid Region Site, Beltsville, Maryland 577

E. O'Donnell

Cooperative LLNL/HAZWRAP Project to Demonstrate Field-Based Measurement ofRetardation

Factors: Part 1. Distribution of Perchloroethylene Around and Within Permeable Zones in Saturated

Alluvial Deposits 587

D.W.Rice, Jr.

Erosion Corrosion ofTanks During Solid Waste Retrieval 597

M. R. Elmore

Performance of Bentonite/Crushed Tuff Seals for Nuclear Waste Repositories 605

S. Ouyang

Environmental Monitoring of Actinide Concentration in Water 613

R. Gold

Intermediate Results from the Laboratory Scale Modeling of the Finnish Reactor Waste Disposal Systems . . ..621

At. Olin

Cost Estimation of the Decommissioning of Nuclear Fuel Cycle Plants: Application to Reprocessing Plants . . ..629

A. Barbe

High-Impact Concrete for FiUmU.S. Department of Transportation Type Shipping Containers 635

W. O. Greenhalgh

Initial Results of Tuff Borehole Sealing Experiments 643

/. Phillip

Analyses of High Level Radioactive Glasses and Sludges at the Savannah River Site 651

C. J. Coleman

BNFLWet Spent Fuel Handling Experience 659

D. R. Coulthart

ix

SPENT FUELSYSTEM MANAGEMENT INCLUDING DISPOSAL--^. R. Nair, WEC,

Co-Chair

Integrated Spent Fuel Storage and Transportation System Using Nuhoms 665

R. Lehnert

A Cold Demonstration of Fuel Consolidation Part II-The Integrated Test 675

/. E. Atatheson

The AVR High-Temperature Reactor-Operating Experience, Storage and Final Disposal of

Spent Fuel Elements 681

jR. Theenhaus

Results of the System Analysis Dual-Purpose Repository 685

R. Papp

Transportation and Storage Optimization of Spent Nuclear Fuel in the United Stataes 693

S. Gupta

STATUS OF THETECHNICAL INVESTIGATIONS AT YUCCA MOUNTAIN--

C. Gertz, Yucca Mountain Project; S. J. S. Parry, NWTRB, Co-Chair

Performance-Assessment Support for the Design of the Yucca Mountain Exploratory-Shaft Facility 701

F. W. Bingham

Seismotechtonic Investigations for Yucca Mountain High-Level Waste Repository: Rationale

for Defining Scope 705

D. C. Gupta

Approach to Developing a Ground-Motion Design Basis for a Facilities Important to Safety at

Yucca Mountain 711

/. L. King

Yucca Mountain Project Prototype Testing 717

W. T. Hughes

Selection of Geohydrologic Boundaries for Groundwater Flow Models, Yucca Mountain, Nevada 725

/. S. Downey

x

TREATMENT AND STORAGE TECHNOLOGY OF HLW--D. Nichols, WSRC;

C. Sombret, CEA, Co-Chairs

Technical and Project Highlights of the Defense Waste Processing Facility 737

E. C. Dillman

Testing a New Cesium-Specific Ion Exchange Resin for Decontamination of Alkaline High-Activity

Waste (U) 747

/. P. Bibler

Double-Shell Tank Waste Pretreatment 753

R. At. Orme

Hanford Waste Vitrification Plant Process Description, Process Advancements, and Hanford Site Interfaces. . .759

K. R. Shah

Monitored Retrievable Storage at Sellafield 765

G. K Wilson

Advanced Joule-Heated Nuclear Waste Glass Melters 771

W. Tobie

TRU PROCESSING, DISPOSALAND REGULATORY ISSUES--*. /. Roberts, WHO,

T. H. Smith, EG&G-ID, Co-Chairs

TRU Waste Certification and Trupact-II Payload Verification 781

E. K. Hunter

Aspiration Requirements for the Transportation ofRetrievably Stored Waste in the Trupact-II Package 787

S. Djordjevic

A System to Control Contamination During Retrieval of Buried TRU Waste 791

G. G. Loomis

Plutonium Inventory Measurements During Decommissioning Operations 797

S. Buck

Active Neutron Interrogation Devices for Gamma Irradiating Solid Alpha Wastes 807

/. Romeyer Dherbey

Treatment of Solid Waste Highly Contaminated by Alpha Emitters: Recent Developments of Leaching

Process with Continuous Electrolyte Regeneration 815

C. Madic

xi

HLW NUCLEAR MATERIALS CHARACTERIZATION, PACKAGE DESIGN ANDPERFORMANCE--//. Bibler,WSRC; W. Lutze, HI, Co-Chairs

A Proposed ASTM Standard Practice for the Prediction of Long-Term Behavior ofWaste PackageMaterials in a Geologic Repository 829

/. L. Pegg

The Structural Integrity of High Level Waste Containers for Deep Disposal 839

T.J.Keer

Performance of Borosilicate Glass, Synroc and Spent Fuel as Nuclear Waste Forms 847W. Lutze

Design & Construction Innovations of the Defense Waste Processing Facility 853

/. At. McKibben

Release of Powdered Material from Waste Packages 861

H. P. Berg

WASTE CONTAINMENT IN THE WIPP REPOSITORY-!?. R. Anderson, SNL; R. H. Neill, EEG, Co-Chairs

Construction of a Cylindrical Brine Test Room Using a Tunnel Boring Machine 869

V. F. Likar

Coupled Fluid-Flow Modeling of Brines Flowing Through Deforming Salt Around the Excavations for theWaste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), in the Permian Salado Formation 873

Af. Wallace

Geochemistry of Salado Formation Brines Recovered from the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Repository . .881

R. Abitz

Studies of Radionuclide Sorption by Clays in the Culebra Dolomite at the WIPP Site, Southeastern

New Mexico .893

At. D. Siegel

HYDROGEOLOGIC CONSIDERATIONS OF RADIOACTIVE DISPOSAL--/?. Simpson,UofAZ; T. J. Nicholson, USNRC

Blending Mining, and Nuclear Industries at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant 903

/. R. Walls

Disposal of Radioactive Waste into Clay Layers the Most Natural Option 907

L. H. Baetsle

xii

Simulation of Gas Flow Beneath Yucca Mountain, Nevada, with a Model Based on the Freshwater Head 915

S. Amter

Fractured Apache Leap Tuff: Interstitial, Hydraulic, Pneumatic, and Thermal Properties 927

7. C. Rasmussen

Long-Term Climatic Stability and the Integrity of a South African Nuclear Waste Site 939

S. J. Posnik

Evaporites and Waste Disposal-Criteria for Long-Term Safety 949

B. Knipping

AUTHORINDEX 957

ATTENDEELIST 961

xiii