Operating performance of the New waste Calcining Facility (NWCF)

Reprocessing nuclear fuels at the Idaho Chemical Processing Plant (ICPP) to recover the unspent fissile material results in the generation of significant quantities of radioactive liquid wastes. Handling, treatment, and storage of these wastes are areas that have received considerable attention from the entire nuclear industry. Although no decision concerning ''permanent'' disposition of these wastes has yet been reached, a new facility built by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) at the ICPP near Idaho Falls, Idaho, is providing the capability to solidify the liquid wastes and safely store them in underground bins. The recently constructed facility is the New Waste Calcining Facility (NCWF) which was built at the Idaho Chemical Processing Plant to replace a pilot plant demonstration facility that began operation in the early 1960's. In summary, the NWCF has been an unqualified success and the objectives established for the new facility have been met and and in most cases exceeded. We believe that for the ICPP, the unique blend of remote/direct maintenance being implemented is a good solution to existing problems