HANFORD RADIOLOGICAL WASTE RECYCLE PROGRAM

Pangea was contracted by the Duratek Federal Services to determine the disposal path for Hanford legacy wastes that had been placed in interim storage for over 10 years. Many of the materials had inadequate characterization data and had either not been classified or they had been misclassified.

Included were large bulky items such as a 56,000-pound condenser and shielded “well cars,” each weighing 75 tons and measuring 14 feet tall, that were previously used to transport spent nuclear fuel between various facilities within the Hanford site.

Pangea was responsible for reviewing existing waste characterization data and determining the preferred methods of disposition. Prior to Pangea’s involvement, there was no path forward or recycle plan in place and the material contain incorrect classifications.

Pangea completed the reclassification for the materials and coordinated the transportation of the materials to a recycle facility located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Reclassification was necessary to comply with shipping and recycling requirements under various regulations including DOT, NRC, DOE, and EPA.

Material packaging was specifically designed to meet DOT Industrial Packaging 1 criteria and they were constructed to ship via rail. Special clearance permits were also obtained due to the height of the materials in the rail cars. Pangea coordinated the transportation effort with the Duratek Bear Creek Commercial Operations facility, and two other subcontractors.

Pictured below (contained inside red wrapping material) is the packaged 85-inch, 56,000-pound condenser. This item was listed as mixed waste with a high estimated radionuclide content and had been stored on-site for 11 years. Pangea was able to provide a recycle option that precluded the material from being handles as contaminated waste.