Treatment of metallic wastes by smelting

A program designed to promote the constructive reuse of metal scrap slightly contaminated with radioactive nuclides is described. This program is being conducted by the Oak Ridge Operations Office of the U.S. Department of Energy. Its primary impetus was the generation of large quantities of potentially valuable metal scrap by an extensive renovation and improvement of the three U.S. gaseous diffusion enrichment plants. The program comprises efforts to characterize the type and quantity of scrap being generated, to develop techniques for decontamination of the scrap to insignificant levels of radioactivity, and to obtain amendments to current federal regulations which would permit commercial sale and use of the decontaminated metal