Source-term development for commercial low-level radioactive waste

Generic source terms base don historical data have been developed for commerical low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) from fuel-cycle and non-fuel-cycle facilities. These source terms are used in DOE's Integrated Data Base (IDB) Program to estimate historical and projected volumes, radioactivity, and thermal power (from radioactive decay) of LLRW to the year 2020. Periodically, the source terms are updated as new waste is generated and as information on older waste is reviewed, redefined, and upgraded by the generator. Other segments of the nuclear industry also use source terms in planning for waste treatment, transportation, and storage systems. Several uses of source terms are illustrated. For example, the reported volume and radioactivity of LLRW added annually to commerical burial sites are compared with the calculated annual values obtained by summing contributions based on source terms for each generator. Likewise, accumulative radioactivity and thermal power of buried LLRW obtained by using an average source term and a synthesis of individual source terms are compared. 6 refs., 8 figs, 5 tabs