The National Remote-Handled Transuranic Waste Program

Since the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) opened for nonmixed contact-handled (CH) transuranic (TRU) waste receipt on March 26, 1999, planning for the receipt of remote-handled (RH) TRU waste has been revitalized. WIPP is scheduled to begin receiving RH TRU waste in January 2002. Before the first receipt of RH waste at WIPP, the disposal of RH TRU waste must be coordinated with the waste management plans at the TRU waste sites, the packaging and transportation system must be in place and operational, and the WIPP RH must be operational. Successful implementation of the National RH TRU Waste Program will require that a commitment to sustained funding and full support of the entire DOE TRU waste complex be maintained. Implementation will also require effective application of capital assets, human resources, and a continued effort to identify and resolve programmatic and technical issues. Involvement of regulatory agencies, stakeholders, and affected tribal nations in decision-making processes will have a positive impact on successful implementation