The 12th International Conference on Environmental ... - Events
The 12th International Conference on Environmental ... - Events
The 12th International Conference on Environmental ... - Events
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Abstracts Sessi<strong>on</strong> 30-31<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> MRWS programme is currently seeking expressi<strong>on</strong>s of interest from communities to host a GDF. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore, the study was<br />
required to c<strong>on</strong>sider a wide range of potential GDF host rocks and c<strong>on</strong>sistent, c<strong>on</strong>ceptual disposal system designs. Two example<br />
disposal c<strong>on</strong>cepts (i.e. combinati<strong>on</strong>s of host rock, GDF design including wasteform and layout, etc.) were carried forward for<br />
detailed assessment and a third for qualitative analysis.<br />
Dimensi<strong>on</strong>al and 1D analyses were used to identify the key interacti<strong>on</strong>s, and 3D models were used to investigate selected interacti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
in more detail. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> results of this study show that it is possible for ILW/LLW and HLW/SF modules to be collocated without<br />
compromising key safety functi<strong>on</strong>s of different barrier comp<strong>on</strong>ents, and this reflects internati<strong>on</strong>al precedents, e.g. the Andra<br />
and Nagra repository designs. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are two key technical issues that need to be managed in designing the geometry of the co-located<br />
GDF: (i) the heat flux from the HLW/SF module interacting with the ILW/LLW module, and (ii) the potential for development<br />
of an alkaline plume from the ILW/LLW module interacting with the HLW/SF module; particularly within fractured host rocks.<br />
3) THE ROLE OF THE SAVANNAH RIVER NATIONAL LABORATORY AS THE DOE ENVIRONMENTAL<br />
MANAGEMENT CORPORATE LABORATORY - 16175<br />
Samit Bhattacharyya, John Marra, Jeff Griffin, William Wilmarth, Savannah River Nati<strong>on</strong>al Laboratory (USA)<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> presentati<strong>on</strong> describes the critical role of the Savannah River Nati<strong>on</strong>al Laboratory (SRNL) in effecting progress in the<br />
m<strong>on</strong>umental multi-decade missi<strong>on</strong> of the Department of Energys Office of Envir<strong>on</strong>mental Management (DOE-EM). As the EM<br />
Corporate Laboratory, SRNL uses the full technical and management capabilities and resources of the nati<strong>on</strong>s principal applied<br />
technology laboratory to assist EM in the identificati<strong>on</strong>, development, and deployment of effective technological soluti<strong>on</strong>s to EM<br />
clean-up problems as well as to support emergent EM initiatives.<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> missi<strong>on</strong> of DOE-EM is to safeguard the health of people and the envir<strong>on</strong>ment by cleaning up nuclear waste, nuclear materials,<br />
c<strong>on</strong>taminated groundwater & soil, and facilities—involving two milli<strong>on</strong> acres of land located in thirty-five states—from fifty<br />
years of nuclear weap<strong>on</strong>s research and producti<strong>on</strong>. EM also seeks to find ways to reduce and reuse nuclear byproducts generated<br />
now and in the future.<br />
A rigorous EM management system is in place today and instituti<strong>on</strong>alized for c<strong>on</strong>tinuity across changes in political will. As<br />
the EM Corporate Laboratory, SRNL provides the corporate infrastructure to facilitate dynamic communicati<strong>on</strong> and collaborati<strong>on</strong><br />
across a virtual technical support community of nati<strong>on</strong>al laboratories, universities, federal agencies, and internati<strong>on</strong>al entities to<br />
achieve EMs goals effectively and efficiently.<br />
One of SRNLs critical efforts is to assist the DOE-EM technology development and deployment program and guide the implementati<strong>on</strong><br />
of the DOE-EM Engineering & Technology Roadmap, which was developed with SRNL support and formally issued in<br />
March 2008. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> EM Roadmap identifies five program areas that are central to site cleanup, the technical risks and uncertainties<br />
associated with each program area, and strategic initiatives to address each uncertainty. A Multi-Year Program Plan accompanies<br />
the Roadmap.<br />
4)EVOLUTION OF THE QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM FOR TRU WASTE REPOSITORY OPERATIONS,<br />
WASTE CHARACTERIZATION AND TRANSPORTATION AT THE WASTE ISOLATION PILOT PLANT - 16152<br />
Ava L. Holland, Department of Energy (USA)<br />
This paper explores the evoluti<strong>on</strong> of quality assurance as a c<strong>on</strong>cept and as a management system over the life of the Waste Isolati<strong>on</strong><br />
Pilot Plant, the first operati<strong>on</strong>al geologic repository for nuclear waste. Activities and approaches that have led to successes<br />
and failures and the resulting less<strong>on</strong>s learned will be explored from the perspective of Quality Assurance Organizati<strong>on</strong> management.<br />
Quality assurance has been an integral element of the processes involved in siting, design, c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong>, and operati<strong>on</strong> of the<br />
Waste Isolati<strong>on</strong> Pilot Plant. Over time, QA Program scope and basic c<strong>on</strong>cepts have grown and evolved due to influences related to<br />
project stage and political needs. Initially, the WIPP QA program was focused <strong>on</strong> development of computer models and collecti<strong>on</strong><br />
and use of data for repository performance assessment. This work was performed using QA Program c<strong>on</strong>trols provided by the<br />
Nati<strong>on</strong>al Laboratories involved in model development and data collecti<strong>on</strong> and analysis. Initial repository site c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> used a<br />
QA Program to provide the needed c<strong>on</strong>trols for design, welding, procurement, inspecti<strong>on</strong>, and other basic c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> quality<br />
needs. Multiple QA Programs were involved across the early WIPP activities, with no single programmatic blueprint for integrati<strong>on</strong><br />
across the broad range of activities.<br />
During WIPPs pre-operati<strong>on</strong>al phase, the need for a single, integrated QA Program became apparent. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> first program<br />
descripti<strong>on</strong> was scoped for waste characterizati<strong>on</strong> activities that were defined in 40 CFR 191 and 194, and basic repository c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong><br />
and operati<strong>on</strong>al needs. As the pre-operati<strong>on</strong>al phase progressed, additi<strong>on</strong>al needs for QA Program coverage were identified,<br />
particularly in the area of transportati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
SESSION 31 - ER SITE CHARACTERIZATION AND MONITORING - PART 1 OF 2<br />
1) A PRACTICAL APPROACH TO CHARACTERISE AND ASSESS A SITE DRAINAGE<br />
SYSTEM IN SUPPORT OF SITE RESTORATION - 16008<br />
Angela Bartlett, UKAEA Harwell (UK); Gavin Coppins, UKAEA (UK); Peter Burgess, Nuvia (UK)<br />
Part of the nuclear site restorati<strong>on</strong> and delicensing process involves the characterisati<strong>on</strong> and assessment of below-ground<br />
drainage systems. Site restorati<strong>on</strong> is currently underway at Harwell in Oxfordshire where there is a complex drainage system that<br />
has developed over more than 70 years. Drainage decommissi<strong>on</strong>ing involves visual inspecti<strong>on</strong>s, jet-washing and radiological surveys<br />
prior to final grouting. Prior to decommissi<strong>on</strong>ing, the structural and radiological c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong> of the network was unknown and<br />
now requires characterisati<strong>on</strong> and assessment against defined clean-up criteria before the land can be released for future use.<br />
This paper outlines the applicati<strong>on</strong> of an innovative Geographic Informati<strong>on</strong> System (GIS) and data management methodology<br />
to assess the structural and radiological c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong> of the drainage network at Harwell. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> approach dem<strong>on</strong>strates the importance<br />
of efficient data collecti<strong>on</strong> and storage, implemented using UKAEAs IMAGES land quality data management system. It also<br />
details several GIS techniques that can be utilised to accurately positi<strong>on</strong> below-ground surveys and record pipe material and diameter<br />
for surveyed drain secti<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
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