P.O. Box 2528, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83403-2528Telephone: (208) 533-7106
May 7, 1999
Dr. Chris Murphy
National Research Council 2101 Constitution Avenue Washington, DC 20418
Dear Chris:
As we discussed at the January 1999 Electrometallurgical review meeting, over the last two years Argonne's interactions with the Department of Energy (DOE) programs associated with the geological repository and waste form qualification have increased in order to better ensure that the high-level waste (HLW) generated from the electrometallurgical treatment (EMT) of sodium-bonded fuels are acceptable for disposal. These interactions have generally fallen into three categories: Yucca Mountain Repository Environmental Impact Statement, National Spent Nuclear Fuel Program, and Electrometallurgical Specific Meetings.
The first series of interactions (Attachment 1) concerns the preparation of the Yucca Mountain Repository Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). After discussions with the National Spent Nuclear Fuel Program (NSNFP), Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) and DOE Environmental Management personnel, the electrometallurgical wastes were included as high level waste streams. Argonne participated in the data call and review of this document. The formal data submittals for the EMT waste forms from treating 60 MTHM of sodium-bonded fuel were done through the INEEL HLW office and DOE-EM. The EMT waste streams are included in Appendix A of the Yucca Mountain Repository EIS.
Argonne also participates in regular meetings with personnel of the National Spent Nuclear Fuel Program and the INEEL Spent Nuclear Fuel Program. The purpose of the NSNFP is to determine the activities necessary to best integrate DOE-owned spent nuclear fuel into the repository. Issues addressed include disposal requirements, data needs, interfaces for standardized canisters, material shipments, and quality assurance programs. The INEEL Spent Nuclear Fuel Program is responsible for the activities for the specific DOE fuels that are stored at the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Environmental Center (INTEC). INTEC currently has 2.0 MT of Experimental Breeder Reactor-II (EBR-II) fuel stored and is the proposed location of the final packaging for
shipment of DOE stainless steel clad fuels and the EMT wastes to the repository. Argonne has regular interactions with both groups as detailed in Attachment 2. Many of these meetings also include DOE Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (RW) and DOE-EM personnel.
Through these earlier mentioned interactions, Argonne has now started more direct meetings with personnel working on the HLW programs within DOE-EM and with DOE-RW and contractors supporting the repository. These meetings (Attachment 3) are to help ensure that Argonne is generating the data and meeting the criteria required for disposal of the EMT HLW.
Through these meetings and interactions, we feel that we are keeping up to date with the waste acceptance criteria and performance assessment issues for the proposed geologic repository. As stated by Yucca Mountain Project personnel at the recent NSNFP strategy meeting, the waste criteria are well established and the future changes should primarily be a refinement of the requirements. Their opinion is the waste acceptance criteria are well enough established that waste producers should be able to proceed without major technical risks. If you need any additional information or have further questions, please call me at 208-533-7166.
Cordially,
Robert Benedict
Director,
Nuclear Technology Division
June 9, 1997 – DOE-EM (NSNFP)
Met with D. Fillmore to determine method of data submittal for Yucca Mountain Environmental Impact Study (EIS).
June 25, 1997 – DOE-EM (INEEL HLW personnel)
Met to coordinate HLW data submittal.
June 26, 1997 – DOE-EM (INEEL HLW personnel)
Met to coordinate HLW data submittal.
June 27, 1997 – DOE-EM (INEEL HLW personnel)
Met to coordinate HLW data submittal.
July 1, 1997 – DOE-EM
Met with HLW producers and DOE-EM to discuss data submittal for No-Action Alternative for Yucca Mountain EIS.
July 2, 1997 – DOE-EM (INEEL HLW personnel)
Met to coordinate HLW data submittal. Joint submittal letter signed and sent to T. Wichmann. Data eventually submitted to DOE-RW through DOE-EM (K. Picha).
August 19, 1997 – DOE-RW and DOE-EM
Video conference call to discuss data call for the No-Action Alternative.
August 20, 1997 – DOE-RW and DOE-EM
Conference call to discuss data call for the No-Action Alternative. Appointed to the Working Group to assess assumptions used in the EIS, especially in relationship to the No-Action Alternative.
After its appointment to the Working Group, ANL has become a participant in the bi-weekly teleconference for the Yucca Mountain EIS preparation. This meeting includes individuals from DOE-EM (HLW and NSNFP) and DOE-RW. We are still participating in these meetings.
September 18, 1997 – DOE-RW and DOE-EM
Conference call to discuss data call for the No-Action Alternative.
November 17, 1997 – DOE-EM (INEEL HLW personnel)
Data submittal for No-Action Alternative provided to INEEL HLW personnel. Forwarded to DOE-RW through DOE-EM.
December 15, 1997 – DOE-EM (INEEL HLW personnel)
Cost data submittal for No-Action Alternative provided to INEEL HLW personnel. Forwarded to DOE-RW through DOE-EM.
March 19, 1998 – DOE-RW and DOE-EM
Conference call to discuss the review of Yucca Mountain EIS Appendix A (Inventory).
March 1998
Reviewed Appendix A (Inventory) of the Yucca Mountain EIS. Comments submitted to DOE-RW through DOE-EM (HLW).
March 31, April 1-2, 1998 – DOE-RW and DOE-EM
EIS review meeting in Las Vegas.
April 15, 1998 – DOE-EM (INEEL HLW personnel)
Data revision submitted for Yucca Mountain EIS to INEEL HLW personnel. Forwarded to DOE-RW through DOE-EM.
May 20, 1998 – DOE-EM (INEEL HLW personnel)
Data revision submitted for Yucca Mountain EIS to INEEL HLW personnel. Forwarded to DOE-RW through DOE-EM.
November 1998
Reviewed Draft Yucca Mountain EIS. Comments submitted through INEEL HLW to EM (HLW) and then to RW. INEEL HLW and DOE-EM personnel represented us at a comment review meeting in December 1998.
May 9, 1997 – DOE-EM (NSNFP)
Reviewed issues associated with disposal of DOE SNF.
June 24-25, 1997 – DOE-EM (NSNFP)
Attended NSNFP strategy meeting.
January 8-9, 1998 – DOE-EM (NSNFP)
Attended NSNFP meeting on DOE-RW waste package internal components and High Integrity Canister.
January 12, 1998 – DOE-EM (NSNFP)
Attended NSNFP workshop on standardized canister.
January 13-14, 1998 – DOE-EM (NSNFP)
Attended NSNFP Strategy Meeting.
March 1998 to Present – DOE-EM (NSNFP)
We have regularly scheduled conference calls with individuals of the NSNFP to discuss issues associated with the electrometallurgical treatment of spent nuclear fuel.
June 2, 1998 – DOE-EM (NSNFP)
Attended NSNFP meeting on design basis events.
June 3, 1998 – DOE-EM (NSNFP)
Attended NSNFP meeting on repository criticality safety.
June 4, 1998 – DOE-EM (NSNFP)
Attended NSNFP meeting on total system performance assessment.
October 27-28, 1998 – DOE-EM (NSNFP)
Attended NSNFP strategy meeting.
November 17-18, 1998 – DOE-EM (NSNFP)
Participated in a meeting to discuss grouping of DOE SNF for disposal in a repository.
March 18, 1999 – DOE-EM (NSNFP)
Attended NSNFP planning meeting.
April 26-28, 1999 – DOE-EM (NSNFP)
Attended NSNFP strategy meeting.
May 5-6, 1999 – DOE-EM (NSNFP)
Attended NSNFP transportation workshop.
DOE-EM (NSNFP) Ongoing Review Work:
Viability Assessment Draft B
Standardized Canister Documentation
Waste Acceptance System Requirements Document Revision 2 and 3A
June 17, 1997 – Performance Assessment Modelers from Sandia
Met with PA personnel working for the NSNFP.
September 8, 1997 – DOE-EM and DOE-RW
Discussed Baseline Change Proposal with DOE-EM personnel assigned to Yucca Mountain (T. Gunter). Noted that change is probably not needed until after the demonstration.
January 12, 1998 – DOE-RW
Discussed ANL performance assessment models with Yucca Mountain Project personnel.
April 20, 1998 – Performance Assessment Modelers from Sandia
Met with PA personnel working for the NSNFP.
April 22, 1998 – DOE High-Level Waste Steering Committee
Hosted committee at ANL-West.
May 29, 1998 – Savannah River Personnel
Met with personnel of SRS to discuss waste form and process qualification issues.
June 10-11, 1998 – Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste (ACNW)
Attended ACNW meeting on waste form degradation modeling.
June 24, 1998 – Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board (NWTRB)
Attended NWTRB Summer meeting.
June 26-27, 1998 – DOE-RW
Discussed ANL performance assessment models with Yucca Mountain Project personnel.
July 14, 1998 – Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board
Hosted Dan Bullen and Carl Di Bella from the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board.
January 19, 1999 – DOE-EM and Sandia Personnel
Met to discuss documentation for next repository license application.
January 25, 1999 – NWTRB
Attended NWTRB Repository Panel Meeting.
January 26-27, 1999 – NWTRB
Attended NWTRB Panel Meeting on the Viability Assessment.
February 2-4 1999 – DOE-EM and DOE-RW
Attended Features, Events, and Processes (FEPs) workshop for PAs.
February 11, 1999 – DOE-RW and DOE-EM
Video conference call to discuss waste forms from electrometallurgical treatment of spent nuclear fuel.
April 14, 1999 – DOE-RW and DOE-EM
Conference call to discuss HLW quality assurance program, waste form qualification strategy including document preparation, and data submittal for repository license application.
