Comparative risk evaluation for siting a waste analysis laboratory

With the US Department of Energy (DOE) focus on environmental restoration and waste management at DOE nuclear waste sites, a significant increase is forecast in the quantity of transuranic (TRU) mixed waste samples that require detailed environmental analysis. Under the direction of the laboratory management branch (EM-532), Westinghouse Hanford Company (Westinghouse Hanford) was commissioned to lead the preparation of an engineering study for site selection of the proposed $300-million DOE Waste Analysis Laboratory (WAL). This assessment provides the DOE with important comparative risk information and data in the site selection process. The six DOE sites under consideration are Hanford Site (HANF), Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Savannah River Site (SRS), Rocky Flats Plant (RFP), and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The study evaluates relative risk contributions from transportation in terms of severe transportation accidents per year and from external events in terms of respective frequency of exceedance. Detailed calculations and relevant information are documented in report WHC-SD-WM-ES-190. This comparative risk assessment provides an objective engineering study that HANF is the most desirable location for the proposed WAL. The favorable safety data for the HANF can be translated to less risk for identical construction or less cost for achieving the same level of safety