INTEGRATION OF DOE’S LLW/MLLW MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: PROGRESS TOWARD DISPOSAL

摘要

The Department of Energy (DOE) continues to face a legacy of wastes needing disposal. Duringrnmuch of the Department’s history, DOE did not dispose of its waste streams in a timely manner,rnallowing these wastes to accumulate in storage. In an ever-changing regulatory environment,rnunder unprecedented public scrutiny, and with the benefit of research and operational experience,rnthe DOE is taking responsible steps to lead its nuclear waste to permanent disposition: disposal –rnthe ultimate goal and end result of an effective waste management system.rn“Integration” is looking at the big picture under magnification; that is, identifying complex-widernand site-specific details that are necessary and useful in the decision-making process. A majorrnelement of the overall program to integrate DOE’s Environmental Management activitiesrninvolves the integration of the Department’s complex-wide low-level waste (LLW) and mixedrnlow-level waste (MLLW) disposal capabilities.rnThe manner in which the DOE proposes to accomplish integrated LLW and MLLW disposal isrnthe focus of this paper.