| Abstrakt: |
The Chemistry and Metallurgical Research (CMR) Facility is a nuclear facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) that became operational in 1952. Throughout its lifetime, the CMR facility has performed world-class science and demonstrated operational excellence in support of the U.S. Nuclear Weapons Program. However, the nuclear facility is aging and National Nuclear Security Agency (NNSA) has committed to shut the facility down as soon as a replacement facility is commissioned. Over more than 60 years of operations, CMR has collected a diverse inventory of nuclear materials resulting from ongoing and legacy projects. LANL's Material Recycle and Recovery (MR&R) Program is challenged with managing the disposition of CMR's nuclear material inventory according to a schedule that supports NNSA and LANL commitments. The multi-year program follows a flexible, but structured process. First, program owners of CMR nuclear material are required to define whether or not the material has a programmatic need. Second, if the nuclear material is needed for ongoing essential operations, then that item is placed into a deferred disposition bin which allows its use to continue until relocation to the replacement facility. If the nuclear material has a defined use, but not at CMR, then the MR&R Program negotiates a disposition schedule to transfer the material to another approved facility onsite or offsite, domestically or internationally. However, while some nuclear materials are packaged in forms that are ready-to-ship, others materials have unique characterization, processing and authorization requirements. In the next step, nuclear materials are grouped into Action Bins based on similar disposition requirements. For each Action Bin, a plan is developed which includes any requirements for processing, packaging and handling, characterization, transportation, and final destination acceptance criteria. The unique issues of high radiological dose materials, uranium materials, and plutonium materials associated with each of the Action Bins will be discussed. Finally, the items in each Action Bin are worked to successful disposition, out of CMR. In conclusion, this paper will address the impact of the management of CMR's nuclear material inventory over the next 5 years assessed in terms of the value to the NNSA Complex Consolidation effort, the recycle of materials to ongoing national security programs, and the disposition of materials in a safe, secure, and environmentally responsible manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
