Government-Owned Nuclear Material at Non-Departmental Sites Peter Dessaules.

Government-Owned Nuclear Material at Non-Departmental Sites

Peter Dessaules

Background

Since the 1950’s, the DOE and its predecessor agencies have provided nuclear materials to academic institutions, commercial facilities and other government agencies.

As the material owner, DOE is responsible for the control, accounting, and final disposition of these materials.

Previous audits by oversight bodies indicated that many of these inventories were highly erroneous.

2

Background

In 2009, NMMSS was tasked to reconcile annually the inventories of all Department-owned nuclear material provided to academic institutions, commercial facilities and other government agencies.

Reconciliation occurred in conjunction with NRC rulemaking which requires licensees to reconcile annually.

Reconciliation included confirming whether these materials were still needed or could be returned to DOE.

3

Results of the 2010 Reconciliation

Of the 399 NRC or Agreement State licensed facilities that were required to reconcile in 2009, about 25% (107 facilities) possessed at least some government-owned nuclear materials.

Materials were located in 35 States and the District of Columbia.

The types of facilities varied greatly. For ease the 107 facilities were grouped into 7 general categories.

4

Types of Facilities that Possess Government–Owned Materials

Facility Type Total

Manufacturing 8

Laboratory 10

Medical 5

Non-Power Reactor 38Storage 4

University 33

Waste Processing 9

Total 107

5

Government-Owned Special Nuclear Materials

Material Quantity UnitsEnriched Uranium 155.0 MTPlutonium-239 164.2 KgUranium-233 823.0 KgPlutonium-238 3.5 Kg

6

Government-Owned Source Materials

Material Quantity Units

Depleted Uranium 27.8 MTNormal Uranium 68.7 MTThorium 13.9 MT

7

Government-Owned Other Materials

Material Quantity Units

Americum-241 80 GmCurium 64 GmCalifornium-252 <0.1 GmEnriched lithium 3 KgNeptunium-237 35 GmDeuterium 10.5 MTTritium 2 Gm

8

Material in Long Term Storage or Held for Disposition

Much of the government-owned nuclear material is located at NRC licensed facilities engaged in either:• Long term storage of materials for which there is no

defined disposition path (i.e., spent nuclear fuel) or

• Actively consolidating and repackaging material for permanent disposition at a low level radioactive waste disposal site.

9

Special Nuclear Material in Long Term Storage or Held for Disposition

Material % Enriched Uranium 53Plutonium-239 97Uranium-233 100Plutonium-238 100

10

Source Materials in Long Term Storage or Held for Disposition

Material %

Depleted Uranium 92Normal Uranium 12Thorium 100

11

Other Materials in Long Term Storage or Held for Disposition

Material %

Americum-241 99Curium 100Neptunium-237 47Deuterium 2

12

Materials Identified for Return to DOE

During the 2009 annual reconciliation process, seven facilities identified nuclear materials for which there is no longer a continuing programmatic need.

Facilities were either actively working directly with a DOE program office for return of the unneeded material or had requested that NMMSS provide contact information for return of this unwanted material.

13

Materials Identified for Return to DOE

Composition Enriched Uranium (Kg)

Plutonium-239 (Gm)

Normal Uranium (MT)

Neutron source <0.1 19Critical assembly rod 1.8Laboratory materials <0.1Two sealed sources 48Al rods & pellets 2390.3 160 10.2Irradiated reactor fuel 24.4Unirrad. Triga Fuel 70.4

14

Summary

The annual NMMSS reconciliation is a tool used to:• Enhance the oversight and management of nuclear

materials provided to domestic licensees; and

• Ensure that unwanted or unused materials held by non-Departmental sites are either disposed of as waste or, if possible, reutilized in support of Departmental missions.

15