Initial drum retrieval. Interim report, July 1974--September 1976

Since initiation of the retrieval operations in September 1974, a total of 4539 waste drums had been retrieved by September 1976. A maximum monthly retrieval rate of 785 drums was accomplished during March 1976. The operation demonstrated that retrieval of the recently buried waste drums can be accomplished safely without release of contamination to the environment. Overpack containers for the 208-liter (55-gallon) retrieved drums were 314-liter (83-gallon) drums. The cost of these 314-liter drums was $52.00. During the first years of retrieval, the average monthly rate of retrieval was 154 drums in 1974 and 230 drums in 1975. In February 1976, overpack cargo containers were introduced. Each of these containers can hold 72 retrieved drums. The first order of this larger container reduced the overpack material cost to $48.83 per retrieved drum. A subsequent order further reduced the cost to $28.51 per retrieved drum. For the months in 1976 in which retrieval operations were performed, the average monthly retrieval rate reached 505 drums. The efficiency of the retrieval effort from 1975 to end of the reporting period has increased 220% in retrieval rate, (directly related to labor cost); 182% savings was effected in overpack container cost