Offsite Source Recovery Project Update Annual NMMSS Users

Offsite Source Recovery Project Update Annual NMMSS Users Meeting May 19, 2010 J. Whitworth, L. Manzanares Los Alamos National Laboratory 1

Overview n Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI)/Offsite Source Recovery Project (OSRP) Mission and Performance n GTRI/OSRP Major Domestic Activities and Barriers Example of an Am. Be Source • • • n Website/Inventory Recovery Storage Disposal Container Development International GTRI/OSRP Material Accounting Example of a Co-60 Source (3, 540 Ci) U N C L A S S I F I E D, LA-UR 10 -03266 Operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC for NNSA 2

DOE Source Recovery History • Late 1970 s – 1999: LANL accepts old Pu-239 sources for potential reuse of the radioactive material (approximately 1, 100 sources) • 1992: NRC/DOE Agreement enables DOE to accept sources identified by NRC as a threat to public health and safety or loss of control. • 1999: DOE EM establishes the Off-site Source Recovery Project (OSRP) to recover and permanently dispose of excess, unwanted sealed sources. • 2003: OSRP is transferred to DOE NNSA • 2004: Scope expansion beyond four GTCC isotopes due to RDD concerns. Now includes 10 primary isotopes: Am-241, Cf 252, Cm-244, Co-60, Cs-137, Ir-192, Ra-226, Pu-238, Pu-239, Sr-90 U N C L A S S I F I E D, LA-UR 10 -03266 Operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC for NNSA 3

GTRI OSRP Mission • OSRP was moved to NNSA NA-21 Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) in 2003 • Current Mission: Remove disused radiological sources that present a risk to security, health, or safety (priority agreed between NNSA and U. S. NRC) U N C L A S S I F I E D, LA-UR 10 -03266 Operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC for NNSA 4

Why Recover Sources? n n Security concerns – information that al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations desire to acquire radioactive material for malicious use 3. 5 Ci Cs-137 Source Public health and safety 133 fatalities reported by IAEA among more than 3, 000 over-exposed individuals 5 Ci Ir-192 source in pocket Skin burns – Large Cs-137 Source U N C L A S S I F I E D, LA-UR 10 -03266 Operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC for NNSA 5

Performance Record • LANL team recovered more than 22, 000 sealed sources to date domestically at almost 800 different sites and disposed of more than 250 drums of TRU sources • Obtained Type A Fissile certification (COC and Co. CA) for S 300 container – can now be used internationally • Obtained approval to dispose of Am-241, Pu-238, and U. S. origin Pu-239 sealed sources (domestic or foreign-owned) at WIPP deep geologic repository • First repatriation of US-origin Pu-239 and Pu-238 sealed sources (cannot be transported by air) in December 2007 • Pu-239 Milestone: — By July 2006, the GTRI/OSRP had recovered and secured all non-governmental declared excess and unwanted Pu-239 radiological sources in the United States. U N C L A S S I F I E D, LA-UR 10 -03266 Operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC for NNSA 6

Performance Record, continued • Repatriated first foreign-owned sealed sources of U. S. origin from Africa in January 2006 and Australia in late 2006. • Initiated recovery of beta- and gamma-emitting sources (Cs-137, Co-60, Sr-90) in 2005 and recovered more than 200, 000 Ci to date • Worked with IAEA to design and implement a portable hot cell (SHARS facility). Successful hot functional testing in March 2007. • Developed and certified field-sealable (without welding) special form capsules for transportation of sources. U N C L A S S I F I E D, LA-UR 10 -03266 Operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC for NNSA 7

What GTRI OSRP Has Recovered Sources Recovered Curies Recovered To date, a total of more than 22, 000 sources and 750, 000 Ci have been recovered. U N C L A S S I F I E D, LA-UR 10 -03266 Operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC for NNSA 8

Unwanted Source Registration Website • OSRP webpage address: http: //osrp. lanl. gov • Complete registration form to register unwanted radioactive sealed sources with GTRI OSRP • Registrant receives an e-mail notice of acceptance. • Prior to the recovery of source(s), source owners will be notified and requested to provide documents needed for characterization. • Self-ships by qualified shippers are possible. U N C L A S S I F I E D, LA-UR 10 -03266 Operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC for NNSA 9

Recovery Steps • Recoveries planned according to prioritization scheme coordinated with NRC • OSRP writes work plan and packages sources for consolidation and/or disposal • Contamination control ensured • Self-ships by qualified owners • Document transfer of source ownership to DOE • Transportation to secure interim storage • Interim storage • Disposal U N C L A S S I F I E D, LA-UR 10 -03266 Operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC for NNSA 10

Storage • Storage on-site at LANL and off-site commercially • SNM storage at LANL in MBAs is required. After 2 IG audits, obtained a Cat III MBA for permanent non-rollup storage of up to 1999 grams Pu-239 at LANL and 800 g of dedicated storage at another DOE facility. • Termination of safeguards - Am-241 and Pu-238 safeguards are terminated as soon as material is placed in storage as waste. Pu-239 must be maintained under safeguards until on a vehicle to be shipped for disposal. • Safety Basis – Authorization Basis documentation required for storage and operational areas at LANL U N C L A S S I F I E D, LA-UR 10 -03266 Operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC for NNSA 11

Sealed Source Disposal n Transuranic Waste (TRU) • Includes Pu-238, Pu-239, and Am-241 isotopes • TRU waste exceeds 100 n. Ci/g of alpha-emitting radionuclides with atomic number exceeding that of U and half lives greater than 20 years. • TRU waste sources have no commercial disposal pathway n Low-level Waste • Lack of disposal in 36 states for waste sealed sources – major problem area • Primarily affects Cs-137, Co-60, and Sr-90 sources • OSRP is supporting DOE-EM on Greater-than-Class-C EIS n Commercial Disposal • Requires an exemption from DOE-EM under Order 435. 1 U N C L A S S I F I E D, LA-UR 10 -03266 Operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC for NNSA 12

LLW Sealed Source Commercial Disposal US Ecology Barnwell Legend: States within the US Ecology Compact: States within the Barnwell Compact: • Only 2 commercial LLW sites covering only 14 states are licensed for sealed source disposal • No sites can dispose of large sources U N C L A S S I F I E D, LA-UR 10 -03266 Operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC for NNSA 13

Containers/Transportation How does OSRP move sealed sources? • S 300 pipe overpack container (Type A fissile) and other pipe overpacks for most actinide sources • Formerly 6 M replaced by 9977 Type B for non-special form sources • Formerly 20 WC (large Type B) for large devices – replacements in development • Field-sealable special form capsules • Other shielded Type A and B containers such as Hopewell Type A’s for smaller beta-gamma sources • Shielding inserts if needed U N C L A S S I F I E D, LA-UR 10 -03266 Operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC for NNSA 14

Major International Recovery Work • To date, recovered 800 sources from 18 sites in 12 countries on 5 continents • November 2007 - obtained defense determination foreign origin sources currently in LANL possession • FY 10 – Completed recoveries from Israel and Chile, expecting sources from Peru, packaging efforts in Germany and Brazil • Special recovery and training projects in China, following up after major project to remove materials in advance of Beijing Olympics. • Source recovery training for colleagues in Ghana, Georgia, Egypt • Support for joint IAEA/State Department NDF fund removal project in Uruguay, plus other IAEA support in consultancies U N C L A S S I F I E D, LA-UR 10 -03266 Operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC for NNSA 15

How OSRP Transfers Ownership of Recovered Sources • Ownership of sources is accomplished using a LANL and DOE/NNSA approved form called an ATRO (Authorization to Transfer/Relinquishment of Ownership/Custody). • ATRO contains the former owner information, where the material is being shipped to (i. e. off-site consolidation facility or direct to LANL). • Other information includes the Isotope, Mfr/Model, Serial# and Activity (usually decayed). • Once all approvals and receipts are made a copy of the ATRO and formal letter are sent to the former owner and their regulatory authority. • The material at this point will be consolidated with other material or sent directly to the disposal repository. U N C L A S S I F I E D, LA-UR 10 -03266 Operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC for NNSA 16

Transfers Ownership of Recovered Sources U N C L A S S I F I E D, LA-UR 10 -03266 Operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC for NNSA 17

OSRP Tracking of Recovered Sources in NMMSS • Previously when material was transferred, OSRP would notify NMMSS who would check the database and prepare the 741 for the transferring site. • Eventually the transferring source owner was left with the task of preparing the 741. • Some commercial sites are unfamiliar with the process or do not know it exists. • LANL’s material accounting team is the most familiar with the 741 process, however, can only complete the form for LANL material. • Simplified 741 forms are needed to streamline this process. (i. e. 741 EZ) U N C L A S S I F I E D, LA-UR 10 -03266 Operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC for NNSA 18

Sources Defined as SNM in DOE but not in Commercial Space • SNM accountability differs in U. S. NRC and DOE space. • NRC uses the Code of Federal Regulations while LANL uses the DOE orders for accountability guidance. • This difference causes LANL to add material to their account until disposal. (i. e. Am-241 accounted to the gram level but not in U. S. NRC space) • Addition of material to the LANL account has caused our offsite consolidation facility to have a negative balance in their account. • These differences in accountability guidance need to be considered when material is transferring from Commercial to DOE space. U N C L A S S I F I E D, LA-UR 10 -03266 Operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC for NNSA 19

Conclusions • Disused, unwanted sources should be registered with OSRP if recovery is desired. • OSRP webpage address: http: //osrp. lanl. gov • The process for completing the 741 transfer needs to be made more user friendly. • Possible acceptance of the ATRO at NMMSS could help the process and prevent negative balances. • How do we capture the sites that are unfamiliar with the process. U N C L A S S I F I E D, LA-UR 10 -03266 Operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC for NNSA 20