At the Albuquerque location of SNL, activities for R&D on national security and energy projects result in the generation and required management of TRU, low-level, mixed, hazardous, solid industrial, and sanitary wastes. SNL also has five spent nuclear fuel storage facilities: the Manzano Storage Structures, the Annular Core Research Reactor Facility, the Sandia Pulse Reactor Facility, the Hot Cell Facility, and the Special Nuclear Materials Storage Facility. Past activities associated with nuclear weapon development, engineering, and testing at the site has resulted in environmental contamination. The principal sources included tests on weapons and weapon components, discharges of radioactive liquids and hazardous chemicals into the environment, oil spills, disposal of radioactive waste and hazardous chemicals in landfills, rocket launches, and burning of waste, including HE. The contaminated facilities range from reactors to scrap yards. SNL is not on the NPL for sites requiring environmental restoration in accordance with CERCLA and SARA. Because there is no spent nuclear fuel, HLW, or TRU waste associated with any of the proposed activities at SNL (nonnuclear fabrication and NIF), there will be no further discussion of these wastes at SNL in this appendix.
Pollution Prevention. A formal Waste Minimization and Pollution Prevention Awareness Program was initiated at SNL in 1989 to comply with EPA regulations and DOE orders. A Waste Minimization and Pollution Prevention Awareness Plan was completed in December 1991 and updated in December 1992 and May 1994. The plan specifies those activities and methods required to reduce the quantity and toxicity of wastes generated at the site.
Low-Level Waste. Onsite disposal of LLW at SNL was terminated in December 1988 as a result of a DOE order. Currently, all newly generated LLW is stored temporarily above ground at generator sites or in transportation containers at the inactive Technical Area III disposal site. In 1994, approximately 53 m3 (69 yd3) of LLW was accepted at the Technical Area III storage site (SNL 1995g:3-5). This waste consisted primarily of fission product and uranium-contaminated waste on a volumetric basis, and tritium-contaminated waste on an activity basis. The total liquid LLW and solid LLW generated in 1994 as packaged for treatment or storage was 0.912 m3 (1.19 yd 3) and 53.3 m3 (69.7 yd3), respectively (SNL 1995f:7). All LLW packages were stored at the Technical Area III storage site and shipped for disposal at NTS.
Mixed Low-Level Waste. Unique tests and experimental programs at SNL have generated small volumes of a broad variety of mixed wastes. The total SNL liquid mixed LLW and solid mixed LLW generated in 1994 as packaged for treatment or storage was 0.007 m3 (2 gal) and 1.94 m3 (2.54yd3), respectively (SNL 1995f:7).
SNL has submitted a Part B Permit application for a permit under RCRA, as amended, to allow for the storage and treatment of mixed radioactive and hazardous wastes. In August 1990, SNL submitted a RCRA Part A Permit application (interim status) to the State of New Mexico for the storage and limited treatment of mixed waste. In October 1992, a permitting strategy in the form of a Letter Agreement was submitted to the State of New Mexico for the SNL mixed waste Part B Permit application. In November 1992, SNL submitted a RCRA Part B Permit application for mixed waste. This application and the Part A application were amended in August 1993 and December 1994 submittals to the state. In January 1995, SNL submitted a revised mixed waste Part A and Part B Permit application to the New Mexico Environment Department. Treatments in the combined permit application now include compaction, stabilization/solidification, shredding/baling, decontamination/waste segregation, pH neutralization, encapsulation, chemical stripping/dissolution, destruction/extraction, chemical precipitation, amalgamation, ion exchange, reverse osmosis, demineralization, and hazard separation.
The Environmental Restoration Program at SNL is being performed under a RCRA Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments Permit. The permit outlines the corrective action or cleanup processes at specific sites at SNL. The Environmental Restoration Program currently has no existing mixed waste in inventory. It is likely that some mixed waste will be generated during corrective action activities such as RCRA closures, RCRA facility investigations, corrective measures studies, and the implementation of selective corrective measures. The possible waste forms include soil and soil cuttings from drilling and excavation, excavated material such as discarded equipment, contaminated groundwater, decontamination liquid from the cleaning of drilling and sampling equipment, and personal protective equipment (SNL 1995c:6-2).
Although there are currently no operational onsite mixed LLW treatment facilities at SNL, plans are underway to develop some limited capabilities to ensure that mixed LLW can be treated to meet the land disposal restrictions treatment standards using existing technologies. The mixed waste site treatment plan at SNL is heavily integrated with the work at other DOE sites that are tasked with developing mobile treatment units for use at multiple sites. This development involves proving-in new applications of technologies that are currently available but will require testing through treatability studies (SNL 1995c:iii).
Other waste streams, such as explosives, are being studied for onsite treatment by SNL because of its unique nature or handling requirements, or for development of treatment procedures that will facilitate eventual disposal, such as those required by the Nevada Operations Office for disposal at NTS. Offsite commercial treatment and disposal is an option for a small volume of scintillation waste and for waste that may not be treatable to meet the NTS Waste Acceptance Criteria (SNL 1995c:iii).
The Radioactive and Mixed Waste Management Facility at SNL Technical Area III was completed in 1990. Due to changes in regulations during construction, some facility upgrades are required before operations can begin. Once operational, mixed LLW will be treated in accordance with the strategies identified in the mixed waste Site Treatment Plan. This 557-m2 (6,000-ft2) facility will provide the means to open, treat, and repackage LLW and mixed LLW. The Radioactive and Mixed Waste Management Facility is expected to be operational in 1996 (SNL 1995g:3-5).
Currently, the Waste Operations Department operates the Technical Area III interim storage site. There are nine units described in the current RCRA Mixed Waste Part B Permit application, as amended in December 1994. The seven Manzano bunkers, the Radioactive and Mixed Waste Management Facility, and Building 6596 will be the main areas for mixed waste storage in the future. No additional storage capacity will be needed based on future generation rates. Most of these units are within the SNL technical areas although explosives are stored in the Manzano bunkers.
The mixed waste streams at SNL have been combined into 16 treatability groups, each with a preferred treatment option. Descriptions of the mixed waste treatability groups, volumes, preferred treatment option, and treatment site and facility are listed in table H.2.7-1. Treatment and storage facilities for LLW and mixed LLW are listed in tables H.2.7-2 and H.2.7-3.
| Treatability Group | Number of Waste Streams | Inventory as of May 1995 (m3) | Projected Generation 1995 to 1999 5 (m3) | Preferred Treatment Option | Treatment Site and Facility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inorganic debris (with an explosive component): neutron generators, thermal batteries, and four small waste streams contaminated wit h energetic materials | 6 | 2.7 | <1 | Deactivation | Onsite treatability study |
| Inorganic debris (with a water reactive constituent): lithium batteries and activated metallic sodium | 2 | 0.04 | <1 | Deactivation | Onsite treatability study |
| Reactive metals: pyrophoric metal powders and finely divided metal powders | 7 | 0.02 | <1 | Deactivation/ stabilization | Onsite treatability study |
| Elemental lead: lead shielding, bricks, pigs, boxes, and gasket | 3 | 0.04 | <1 6 | Macroencapsulate | Onsite using Pantex MTU |
| Aqueous liquids (corrosive): liquid acids or bases (pH < 2.1 or >12.4) | 2 | 0.02 | <1 | Neutralization and stabilization | Onsite treatability study |
| Elemental mercury: tritium-contaminated mercury from temperature and altitude chambers; and tritium and uranium-238 contaminated mercury | 1 | 0.0001 | <1 7 | Amalgamate | Onsite using Pinellas MTU |
| Organic liquids I: hazardous scintillation waste and methanol | 1 | 0.2 | 0 8 | Incineration | Offsite commercial facility |
| Organic debris (with organic contaminants): swipes, wipes, and personal protective equipment contaminated with solvents | 32 | 28 | 1 9 | Thermal desorption | Onsite using GJPO MTU |
| Inorganic debris (with TCLP metals): cadmium sheets or rods, circuit boards with lead or silver solder, batteries, cables, electronic devices, weapons components | 42 | 7 | 15 10 | Macroencapsulate | Onsite using Pantex MTU |
| Heterogeneous debris: contains both organic (combustible) and inorganic (noncombustible) debris | 10 | 29 | 155 11 | No data provided | Onsite |
| Organic liquids II: vacuum pump oils, mixed nonhalogenated solvents, and a grinding sludge with trichloroethylene | 1 | 2.7 | <1 | Hydrothermal processing | Onsite using LANL MTU (Treatability study at LANL) |
| Organic debris (with TCLP metals): swipes, wipes, personnel protection equipment, and trash contaminated with metals | 3 | 0.6 | <1 | Macroencapsulate | Onsite using Pantex MTU |
| Oxidizers: uranyl perchlorates, uranyl nitrates, thorium nitrates, and uranium oxynitrate | 3 | 0.01 | <1 | Deactivation | Onsite treatability study |
| Aqueous liquids (organic contaminants): corrosive liquid with methanol | 1 | 0.01 | 159 11 | Evaporation, oxidation | Treatability study at GJPO |
| Soils <50 percent debris | None | 0 | 89 11 | No current inventory at SNL | No current inventory at SNL |
| Cyanide waste: potassium cyanide with uranium-238 | None | 0.001 | 0 | Oxidation | Treatability study at LANL |
| Total | 114 | 70.3411 | <428 | - | - |
| Treatment Unit | Treatment Method | Input Capability | Output Capability | Total Capacity12 (m3/yr) | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radioactive and Mixed Waste Management Facility | Compaction, solidification, neutralization, precipitation, shredding, and stripping | Liquid and solid mixed LLW, solid LLW | Compacted various waste forms, gamma assay of waste packages, mixing and solidification of liquid wastes, performed bench scale treatment of waste, and segregated and repackaged various waste types | Bench scale | Status: under construction Date available: December 31, 1996 Termination date: January 1, 2020 |
| Storage Unit | Input Capability | Design Capacity 13 (m3) | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annular Core Research Reactor | Liquid and solid mixed LLW and liquid and solid LLW | 29 | Currently not storing waste. Part B submitted November 8, 1992; amended August 30, 1993. Date available: unknown. Termination date: January 1, 2020. |
| Area III Interim Storage Site | Liquid and solid mixed LLW and liquid and solid LLW | 2,520 | Operational; RCRA interim status: August 31, 1993. Termination date: April 1, 2020. |
| Building 819 | Liquid and solid mixed TRU, TRU, mixed LLW, and LLW | 259 | Operational; RCRA Part B permit application submitted; amended August 30, 1993. Termination date: April 1, 2020. |
| Building 6502 High Bay | Liquid and solid mixed LLW | 424 | Nonoperational due to upgrades/major repairs Date available: January 1, 1995. RCRA interim status. Termination date: January 1, 2020. |
| Building 6596 High Bay Waste Storage Facility | Liquid and solid mixed TRU, TRU, mixed LLW, and LLW | 916 | Nonoperational due to upgrades/major repairs. Termination date: July 16, 2020. |
| Explosives Storage Igloo | Solid mixed LLW | 57 | Operational; RCRA interim status: August 31, 1993. Termination date: April 1, 2020. |
| Manzano Facility (7057) | Liquid and solid mixed TRU, TRU, mixed LLW, and LLW | 183 | Operational; RCRA Part B submitted November 8, 1992, and amended August 30, 1993. Termination date: unknown. |
| Manzano Facility (7045) | Liquid and solid mixed TRU, TRU, mixed LLW, and LLW | 183 | Operational; RCRA Part B submitted November 8, 1992, and amended August 30, 1993. Termination date: unknown. |
| Manzano Facility (7063) | Liquid and solid mixed TRU, TRU, mixed LLW, and LLW | 235 | Operational; RCRA Part B submitted November 8, 1992, and amended August 30, 1993. Termination date: unknown. |
| Manzano Facility (7078) | Liquid and solid mixed TRU, TRU, mixed LLW, and LLW | 235 | Operational; RCRA Part B submitted November 8, 1992, and amended August 30, 1993. Termination date: unknown. |
| Manzano Facility (7055) | Liquid and solid mixed TRU, TRU, mixed LLW, and LLW | 235 | Operational; RCRA Part B submitted November 8, 1992, and amended August 30, 1993. Termination date: unknown. |
| Manzano Facility (7118) | Liquid and solid mixed TRU, TRU, mixed LLW, and LLW | 235 | Operational; RCRA Part B permit application submitted November 8, 1992, and amended August 30, 1993. Termination date: unknown. |
| Sandia Pulse Reactor Dense Pac | Solid mixed LLW and solid LLW | 31 | Operational; RCRA interim status. Termination date: April 1, 2000. |
| Sandia Pulse Reactor Nova Vault | Solid and liquid mixed LLW and solid and liquid LLW | 19 | Operational; RCRA interim status. Termination date: April 1, 2020. |
Hazardous Waste. As a research facility, SNL generates a variety of hazardous wastes, many in relatively small quantities. All RCRA-regulated wastes generated (except mixed wastes) are transported offsite for disposal at RCRA-permitted treatment, storage, and disposal facilities. Chemical wastes generated by R&D activities are collected from generator locations, segregated according to DOT hazard class, and transported to the SNL RCRA-permitted Hazardous Waste Management Facility for storage. At the Hazardous Waste Management Facility, the wastes are consolidated and packaged according to DOT and EPA requirements. Packaged wastes are transported by DOT-certified carriers to RCRA-permitted treatment, storage, and disposal facilities or recyclers for final disposition.
During 1994, 691,700 kg (1,524,000 lb) of chemical wastes were managed by SNL's Chemical Waste Management Program, including 86,300 kg (190,300 lb) of RCRA-regulated hazardous waste and 605,000 kg (1,333,800 lb) of solid and recycled materials. A total of 29,780 packages were collected from SNL generators in 1994, packaged into 4,223 containers, and sent to treatment, storage, and disposal facilities and recyclers. The volume of RCRA hazardous waste processed in 1994 decreased from that reported in 1993; however, the quantity of solid and recycled material increases. The volume was influenced by the Kirtland Air Force Base solid waste landfill closure, Environmental Restoration Project remediation activities, and recycling operations (SNL 1995g:3-3).
SNL's Thermal Treatment Facility was issued a treatment permit in November 1994 by the New Mexico Environment Department to thermally treat residual explosives. In 1994, the Thermal Treatment Facility did not treat any residual explosives generated at SNL (SNL 1995g:3-3).
Hazardous waste quantities shipped offsite from SNL in 1994 are shown in table H.2.7-4. A summary of the hazardous waste treatment and storage facilities is shown in tables H.2.7-5 and H.2.7-6.
| Description | Number of Shipments Containing Description | Quantity (kg) | Estimated Volume 14 (m3) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum chloride, anhydrous | 1 | 3 | < 0.1 |
| Articles, explosive, n.o.s. | 7 | 51 | < 0.1 |
| Batteries, wet, filled with alkali | 2 | 5,461 | 3.6 |
| Cartridges, power device | 1 | < 1 | < 0.1 |
| Combustible liquid, n.o.s. | 21 | 1,179 | 1.2 |
| Compressed gases, flammable, n.o.s. | 18 | 572 | 1.1 |
| Compressed gases, flammable, toxic, n.o.s. | 2 | < 1 | <1 |
| Compressed gases, n.o.s. | 6 | 132 | 0.3 |
| Corrosive liquids, flammable, n.o.s. | 2 | 13 | < 0.1 |
| Corrosive liquids, n.o.s. | 72 | 11,266 | 11.3 |
| Corrosive liquids, poisonous, n.o.s. | 5 | 316 | 0.3 |
| Corrosive solids, n.o.s. | 16 | 564 | 0.4 |
| Cyanide solutions | 3 | 224 | 0.2 |
| Detonators, electric | 1 | < 1 | < 0.1 |
| Environmentally hazardous substances, liquid, n.o.s. | 5 | 1,193 | 1.2 |
| Environmentally hazardous substances, solid, n.o.s. | 3 | 303 | 0.2 |
| Flammable liquids, corrosive, n.o.s. | 15 | 403 | 0.4 |
| Flammable liquids, n.o.s. | 87 | 9,775 | 9.8 |
| Flammable liquids, poisonous, n.o.s. | 3 | 60 | < 0.1 |
| Flammable solids, n.o.s. | 24 | 358 | 0.2 |
| Formaldehyde solutions | 1 | 184 | 0.2 |
| Hazardous waste, liquid, n.o.s. | 58 | 18,611 | 18.6 |
| Hazardous waste, solid, n.o.s. | 84 | 56,202 | 37.5 |
| Iron pentacarbonyl | 1 | 4 | < 0.1 |
| Mercuric cyanide, solid | 1 | 7 | < 0.1 |
| Mercury | 4 | 175 | 0.1 |
| Mercury compounds, liquid, n.o.s. | 1 | 4 | < 0.1 |
| Oil | 1 | 780 | 0.8 |
| Oxidizing substances, liquid, corrosive, n.o.s. | 17 | 677 | 0.7 |
| Oxidizing substances, liquid, poisonous, n.o.s. | 1 | 5 | < 0.1 |
| Oxidizing substances, liquid, n.o.s. | 10 | 89 | < 0.1 |
| Oxidizing substances, solid, n.o.s. | 12 | 116 | < 0.1 |
| Paint | 1 | 3 | < 0.1 |
| Perchloric acid | 2 | 19 | < 0.1 |
| Phosphorus pentafluoride | 1 | < 1 | < 0.1 |
| Phosphorus pentasulfide | 1 | 3 | < 0.1 |
| Poisonous liquids, n.o.s. | 24 | 1,751 | 1.8 |
| Poisonous solids, n.o.s. | 19 | 212 | 0.1 |
| Polychlorinated biphenyls | 3 | 1281 | 0.9 |
| Propellant explosive, solid | 4 | 1385 | 0.9 |
| Pyrophoric liquids, n.o.s. | 1 | < 1 | < 0.1 |
| Pyrophoric solids, n.o.s. | 1 | 12 | < 0.1 |
| Rocket motors | 2 | 190 | 0.1 |
| Substances, explosive, n.o.s. | 5 | 22 | < 0.1 |
| Substances that when put in contact with water emit flammable gases, liquid | 6 | 35 | < 0.1 |
| Substances that when put in contact with water emit flammable gases, solid | 26 | 517 | 0.3 |
| Treatment Unit | Treatment Method | Input Capability | Output Capability | Total Capacity15 (m3/yr) | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary Neutralization Unit; (870) | Neutralization | Liquid hazardous waste, corrosive | Neutralized wastewater | Data not available at this time | Nonoperational due to upgrades/major repairs |
| Thermal Treatment Facility | Open Burning | Liquid and solid hazardous waste and reactive waste (absorbent materials, filters, paper, and rags) | Gas, solid hazardous waste, listed, TCLP, carbon ash/possible silver contamination | Limited to 9.1 kg/campaign | Standby mode, RCRA interim status |
| Storage Unit | Input Capability | Design Capacity16 (m3) | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCB Storage Facility (958W) | Liquid and solid hazardous and sanitary waste (also sludge) and PCBs | 10 | Operational; date available: June 1, 1993 |
| Hazardous Waste Management Facility (959) | Liquid and solid hazardous waste (also sludge and gas) | Data not available at this time | Operational; final RCRA Part B permit application submitted: July 31, 1992 |
| Hazardous Waste Management Facility (958) | Liquid and solid hazardous waste (also sludge and gas) | Data not available at this time | Operational; final RCRA Part B permit application submitted: July 31, 1992 |
Nonhazardous Waste. SNL liquid sanitary waste is sent to municipal treatment facilities. SNL contains over 24 km (15 mi) of sewer lines interconnected with those of Kirtland Air Force Base. In June 1994, SNL activated the liquid effluent control system to retain process wastewater for radiological screening prior to disposal into the sanitary sewer. SNL's policy prohibits the disposal of radiological material above regulatory levels into the sanitary sewer system. Discharges by SNL to the publicly owned treatment works are regulated by the city of Albuquerque Public Works Department, Liquid Waste Division, under the authority of the city's Sewer Use and Wastewater Control Ordinance (SNL 1995g:6-1). Solid sanitary waste is collected and taken to the Albuquerque Sanitary Landfill on a regular basis. The total solid sanitary waste generated in 1994 as packaged for disposal was 13,600 t (14,990 tons) (SNL 1995f:7).
The classified waste landfill at SNL is a Class D landfill located in Technical Area III. The unit is an outdoor facility, 0.983 ha (2.43 acres) in size, used for the disposal of classified solid waste generated at SNL R&D facilities. The landfill currently operates under a notice of intent, submitted annually to the State of New Mexico Solid Waste Bureau. The industrial wastes (called classified solid waste) disposed of at this landfill originate from the classified reapplication yard. The waste stream consists of toner cartridges, computer tapes, crates and pallets, weapon components, and related hardware. The remaining capacity of this landfill is 9,635 m3 (12,600 yd 3) (DOE 1994k).
After underground nuclear tests, radioactive and hazardous materials were extracted and analyzed. These activities have resulted in the accumulation of low-level, hazardous, and mixed wastes that must be treated, stored, and disposed of. The Site Book for Waste Management< (May 1994), the Waste Management Plan for the Nevada Test Site (February 1995), and the NTS Site Treatment Plan and Federal Facility Compliance Act Consent Order (March 1996) and the NTS EIS (Draft, December 1995) detail waste management activities at NTS.
Radioactive and hazardous wastes (according to the current definition of hazardous wastes) generated from past nuclear testing activities were disposed of at Areas 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, and 23. These were mixed wastes and LLW composed of debris, drilling mud, decontamination wastes, laboratory, and classified wastes. Areas 3 and 5 are still currently active for waste storage and disposal. Area 3 receives offsite and onsite bulk waste for disposal in subsidence craters. A RCRA closure plan has been submitted to the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection for this facility. The Radioactive Waste Management Site in the north of Area 5 contains LLW management units and receives packaged classified and unclassified LLW. It also has TRU wastes from LLNL in storage, and a hazardous waste accumulation site. The NTS is not currently accepting mixed wastes from any locations. Mixed waste could be accepted from defense related generators within the State of Nevada; however, there is no mixed waste ready for disposal that meets the land disposal restrictions of RCRA. Mixed waste has been disposed of from out-of-state generators, and this practice is planned for the future contingent upon approval and permitting (RCRA Part B) of future mixed waste disposal units and on actions resulting from the Record of Decision (ROD) on the Waste Management PEIS.
In the past, waste disposal at NTS was accomplished through landfills, underground injection and leachfields on NTS, and through offsite disposal of hazardous wastes. A goal of the NTS Environmental Restoration Project is to remove or immobilize hazardous substances, pollutants, and contaminants, while achieving compliance with environmental laws and regulations. Environmental restoration activities will be guided by the ROD from the NTS EIS and be in accordance with the Site Treatment Plan.
Pollution Prevention The Nevada Operations Office is an active participant in DOE's National Waste Minimization and Pollution Prevention Program. A comprehensive Waste Minimization Plan for NTS was completed in 1991, which defines specific goals, methods, responsibilities, and achievements for organizations. A waste minimization organization promotes waste minimization and pollution prevention and assures compliance with DOE orders at NTS. A report on waste generation and waste minimization is published annually. DOE publishes site-wide plans and guidance, and each contractor develops its own implementation plan. Plans and procedures have been developed, limiting the number and types of hazardous materials used on the site.
Since the initiation of the waste minimization program, several steam-cleaning operations have been eliminated, and half of the hazardous solvents used at NTS have been replaced with nonhazardous solvents. Recycling and reclamation activities have been established to reuse lead, silver, lubricating oil, and trichlorotrifluoroethane. Automatic decontamination equipment, recycling fabrication tool coolant systems, and continuous oil change and reburn systems have been placed in service to reduce hazardous waste generation. Closed loop effluent recycling for steam cleaning has eliminated the production of 17.8 million L (4.7 million gal) of wastewater annually and has reduced hazardous waste generation by 90 percent. Two solvent waste stills recycle 85 percent of all solvents and thinners used. Nonhazardous aqueous solution parts cleaners have eliminated the need for parts cleaning solvents.
The procurement of all materials is also reviewed for the opportunity to reduce the purchase of hazardous materials for NTS operations. In addition, an education and training program for all site personnel and for the surrounding community is helping to increase awareness of best practices and lessons learned in waste reduction.
Transuranic Waste TRU and mixed TRU waste is stored at NTS on the TRU waste storage pad in Area 5. This waste was generated at LLNL and shipped to NTS between 1974 and 1990. All NTS TRU and mixed TRU waste is expected to be certified for disposal at WIPP in Carlsbad, NM, or another suitable repository should WIPP prove to be unsatisfactory. The Nevada Operations Office has the option to construct a TRU Waste Certification Building for breaching, sampling, and certifying containers of TRU waste to meet the WIPP Waste Acceptance Criteria which is expected to be finalized by June 1997 (NT DOE 1996b:4-61, 4-62). Other technologies, such as mobile characterization capabilities, are also being considered. This waste inventory consists of 612 m3 (800 yd3) of heterogeneous debris. The TRU waste is stored in the TRU Pad Cover Building on the TRU Waste Storage Pad to protect the containers from the environment. In addition, TRU and suspected TRU waste from weapons tests were emplaced in boreholes. Decisions to retrieve this waste or leave it in place will be based on performance assessments required by 40 CFR 191 and/or risk assessments required by CERCLA or RCRA. Table H.2.8-1 lists the mixed TRU waste storage units at NTS.
Low-Level Waste Contaminated soils, created from past atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, occur at various locations on NTS. Some of this surface contamination has been and is planned to be removed and disposed of as waste. Although the debris from underground weapons tests remain underground, samples of this debris are brought to the surface for analysis and then must be disposed of as waste. The majority of LLW generated at NTS is disposed of in subsidence craters in Area 3. This area also receives substantial quantities of containerized bulk waste from other offsite DOE facilities. Some waste disposal units are being closed in this area, while others are being readied for future use. Area 5 receives low-level radioactive waste from both onsite and offsite generators. New disposal capacity is planned for this area, and the offsite generators will be required to meet the NTS Waste Acceptance Criteria (which includes periodic reviews by the Nevada Operations Office) to permit them to ship LLW for disposal at NTS.
Historically, the volume of waste received from offsite is approximately equal to or slightly greater than the volume of waste generated onsite. Recently onsite waste generation (other than environmental restoration waste) has declined due to cessation of nuclear testing. Offsite receipts currently dominate waste disposal activities at NTS. Remediation activities at NTS will produce waste streams that will have to be treated, stored, and disposed of. Offsite waste shipments must meet NTS Waste Acceptance Criteria that require that the waste be approved for disposal at NTS. Fifteen generators currently ship LLW to NTS, and an additional nine are applying for or are awaiting approval (NT DOE 1996c:4-61, 4-62). The LLW disposal capacity in use or planned at NTS is listed in table H.2.8-2.
Mixed Low-Level Waste. Mixed LLW is generated by DP-related support activities, environmental restoration activities, and activities supporting TRU waste disposal at WIPP or another suitable repository should the WIPP prove to be unacceptable. Wastes were generated by the analytical activities supporting weapons tests and consisted of drilling muds and debris generated from tunnel reentry and rehabilitation. Additional wastes result from radiochemical analysis and decontamination of equipment and facilities used in sample extraction and analysis. NTS has received mixed wastes from other DOE sites and may receive additional waste in the future, pending the completion of the site treatment plans for all DOE sites and once proper permits are obtained. Mixed waste generated in the State of Nevada that meets the land disposal restrictions of RCRA can be disposed of in the Area 5 mixed waste disposal unit, Pit 3. Mixed waste not meeting land disposal restrictions can be stored on the TRU waste storage pad. A RCRA Part B permit application for a new mixed waste storage unit was submitted in January 1995.
Mixed LLW streams are being characterized to determine what technologies and capabilities are required for safe, environmentally sound, and compliant disposal. Construction of the Liquid Waste Treatment System, a central facility for treating liquid LLW and mixed LLW (contaminated effluents from environmental restoration and DP activities), has been funded and is being designed. Receiving/hold- ing and evaporation reservoirs and associated mixed waste processes will be RCRA-permitted.
Table H.2.8-2 lists mixed LLW storage and disposal facilities at NTS. Table H.2.8-3 lists the mixed LLW streams inventory and 5-year projected generation at NTS. The total volume is 296 m 3 (388 yd 3 ), including a 20,425-kg (45,000-lb) empty spent shipping cask. Table H.2.8-3 lists mixed LLW waste streams at NTS.
Hazardous Waste. Hazardous wastes are generated from ongoing operations at NTS. Wastes consist of solvents, lubricants, fuel, lead, metals, and acids. Hazardous wastes are accumulated at various sites around NTS while they await shipment offsite to a RCRA-permitted facility. Over the next 5 years, addi-tional satellite storage locations are planned. A separate accumulation site across the road from Area 5 is provided to avoid potential cross-contamination with radioactive waste. The generation of hazardous wastes at NTS is expected to decrease significantly because of the cessation of nuclear testing, the com-pletion of environmental restoration activities, and the impact of waste minimization activities. Hazardous waste is stored on a 279-m 2 (3,000-ft 2 ) covered pad in Area 5 (NT REECO 1995a:33).
Nonhazardous Waste.Nonhazardous sanitary wastes are expected to be generated at the current rates for several years into the future, then decline due to the cessation of nuclear weapons testing. Recycling of paper, metals, glass, plastics, and cardboard has already resulted in some decreases in waste quantities.
5 The quantities are estimates only.
6 The generation rate for lead solids may change significantly as the Lead Bank Program progresses.
7 A small amount may be generated at SNL (Livermore), and managed under the SNL Mixed Waste Site Treatment Plan at the Albuquerque location.
8 Because of the use of nonhazardous scintillation liquids, it is assumed that no organic liquid mixed waste will be generated in the next 5 years.
9 The generation rate of organic debris may greatly decrease because of the reduction of hazardous solvents.
10 It is assumed that the generation of inorganic debris will remain comparable to the current rate.
11 From the Environmental Restoration Program. GJPO - Grand Junction Projects Office, Colorado; MTU - Mobile Treatment Unit; TCLP - Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure. DOE 1995gg; SNL 1995c.
12 Schedules and capacities for facilities under design or construction are subject to changes based on the availability of funds and permit issuance. DOE 1994n; DOE 1995gg.
13 Schedules and capacities for facilities under design or construction are subject to changes based on the availability of funds, permit issuance, etc. DOE 1994n.
14 For those shipments in which only a mass quantity was provided, a volume estimate was made based on density factors of 500 kg/m3 for gases, 1,000 kg/m3 for liquids, and 1,500 kg/m3 for solids. n.o.s. - not otherwise specified. DOE 1995h.
15 For those facilities in use, this is a normal operating capacity; whereas, for facilities under design or construction this is a design capacity. Schedules and capacities for facilities under design or construction are subject to changes based on the availability of funds, results of treatability studies, and permit issuance. DOE 1994n.
16 Schedules and capacities for facilities under design or construction are subject to changes based on the availability of funds and permit issuance. DOE 1994n.