Retrievable storage of transuranium-contaminated wastes

Surface or near-surface storage is being used at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) to store retrievable, transuranium-contaminated wastes generated in national defense activities at facilities operated by the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA). Earth-covered asphalt pad storage is used for transuranium-contaminated wastes containing low levels of gamma radiaton. Below-grade storage in steel vaults is utilized to store wastes that in addition require shielding due to the presence of significant gamma radiation. The packaging and storage techniques now in use at the INEL for these wastes meet ERDA's requirements that the waste containers will remain in a readily retrievable, contamination-free condition for 20 years. These storage methods can be readily adapted to use with commercial wastes