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An Alternative Disposal Method for Activated PCB Capacitors

An Alternative Disposal Method for Activated PCB Capacitors. N.M. Brachmann F.R. Brumwell S.W. Butala S.Y. Chen J.-J. Cheng. Presented at the DOE Accelerator Safety Workshop – SLAC August 18, 2010. IPNS Facility . 450 GeV protons on uranium target  neutron beams

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An Alternative Disposal Method for Activated PCB Capacitors

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  1. An Alternative Disposal Method for Activated PCB Capacitors N.M. Brachmann F.R. Brumwell S.W. Butala S.Y. Chen J.-J. Cheng Presented at the DOE Accelerator Safety Workshop – SLAC August 18, 2010

  2. IPNS Facility • 450 GeV protons on uranium target  neutron beams • Operated from 1981 to 2007 • DOE ordered facility shutdown in December 2007 • Subsequent activities focused on putting into safe condition • Priority for disposal of PCB materials

  3. PCB Electrical Capacitors • Poly-chlorinated biphenyl oil impregnated = hazardous • Capacitor inventory: Bld 391 (RCS) - 344, each weigh 126 lbs (57.2 kg) Bld 361 (linac) - 40, each weigh 140 lbs (63.5 kg) - 32, miscellaneous sizes (605 kg) • Building 391 and 361 capacitors located in radiological areas

  4. Disposal Options • Mixed Waste Facility – EnergySolutions - Clive, Utah - NRC licensed to accept low-level radioactive waste - Awaiting EPA approval for capacitor waste treatment • Hazardous Waste Facility – Clean Harbors - Deer Park, TX - EPA approved for TSCA regulated waste - Must meet TX licensing requirements for radioactivity - Requires DOE authorization to be treated and disposed of at a commercial facility

  5. Evaluation of Capacitor Activation – Bld 391 • Bld. 391 capacitors initially evaluated with portable monitors • All results were background levels • Steel and brass hardware removed for gamma spectroscopy • Identified Mn-54, Co-57, Co-60, and Cs-137 • Specific activity ~ 0.4 pCi/g • Gamma spectroscopy done for two bulk capacitors that had been located in highest neutron fluence • Identified Na-22, K-40, Mn-54, and Cs-137 • Specific activities = 0.9 pCi/g and 1.9 pCi/g • Specific activities of Na-22, Mn-54 ~ 10% that of K-40, Cs-137 Total estimated activation products activity: < 1.87 microCi

  6. Evaluation of Capacitor Activation – Bld 361 • Bld. 361 capacitors initially evaluated with portable monitors • All results were background levels • Steel and brass hardware removed for gamma spectroscopy • Identified no radioactive isotopes • Specific activity ~ 0.4 pCi/g • Gamma spectroscopy done for two bulk capacitors that had been located closest to 50 MeVlinac beam loss point • Identified K-40 and Cs-137, only. • Specific activities = 0.4 pCi/g and 1.4 pCi/g, respectively • Used gamma spec system MDA to estimate Mn-54 and Na-22 Total estimated activation product activity: < 0.38 microCi

  7. Texas Department of Health Regulatory Limits Exemption limits

  8. Approval Process for Disposal in Texas • Argonne submitted a report that evaluated the induced radioactivity in PCB capacitors (S. Butala and F. Brumwell) • Clean Harbors anticipated they could accept the capacitors, and forwarded request and report to Texas Department of Health • State concurred that proposed shipments would contain radioactivity below the exemption limits • Clean Harbors submitted a price quote to Argonne which provided basis for significant cost savings

  9. ALARA Analysis • RESRAD analysis for both disposal options done by J.-J. Cheng and S.Y. Chen of Argonne • Evaluated landfill disposal of metals following incineration (Clean Harbors) or heat treatment (EnergySolutions) • Worst-case scenario: subsistence farming 30 years post-burial • Maximum individual dose: 0.021 mrem/year • Estimated collective dose to workers and public: 4E-4 person-rem

  10. Requirements for DOE Authorized Release • Per DOE Order 5400.5, release of property with residual radioactivity must: • Be evaluated, characterized, and if appropriate, decontaminated • Residual radioactivity must be as near background as practical • Releases be certified, verified, documented, and reported • Release of waste to a non-LLRW disposal facility must: • Meet authorized limits that assure public doses << 25 mrem/year • Have authorized release limits approved by DOE • Have protocols for survey and review of clearance • Authorized clearance limits should be coordinated with NRC or Agreement State reps

  11. Additional Requirements for RCRA or TSCA Material Authorized limits must: - Be assessed via ALARA process to optimize risk and benefits - Ensure groundwater is protected - Ensure the TSDF not require future remediation - Be acceptable to TSDF authority and applicable State reps

  12. Conclusions • First ever authorized release project at Argonne • DOE approved the proposed disposal plan • Successfully working with stakeholders • Capacitors were shipped to Clean Harbors • Following incineration, residues buried in RCRA licensed landfill owned/operated by Clean Harbors • Cost savings versus disposal at mixed waste facility: $950k

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