RMI decommissioning project

The RMI Titanium Company (RMI) Extrusion Plant, owned and operated by RMI is contaminated with both radiological and hazardous materials resulting from previous operations for the US Department of Energy (DOE). The primary function of RMI, since 1962, has been the extrusion and closed-die forging of metallic depleted, natural, and slightly enriched uranium (U) used in the production of nuclear fuel elements for defense production reactors, extrusion operations for other government agencies, and the private sector. Extrusion of uranium ended in September 1988 and other extrusion operations ceased n October 1990. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has identified the RMI Plant as one of 46 existing inactive nuclear material processing facilities required to implement accelerated site clean-up pursuant to its Site Decommissioning Management Plan (SDMP). The US Environmental Protect Agency (USEPA) has issued RMI a Resource Conservation existing Corrective Action Management Unit (CAMU). DOE's Office of Environmental Restoration and removing all radiological and hazardous contaminants to levels which permit the facility and adjacent areas to be released for unrestricted use. This action will allow termination of RMI licenses and closure of the CAMU located on and adjacent to RMI's property. This paper will provide an overview of the project and preparations for conducting the physical decommissioning activities including: (1) Radiological and hazardous material characterization of the site; (2) Waste minimization and volume reduction alternatives considered; (3) Waste disposal alternatives considered; (4) NEPA compliance requirements; (5) EPA compliance requirements [Correctives Measures Study]; (6) NRC compliance requirements [Decommissioning Plan]. The paper will also discuss the project organization and the regulatory interfaces required for the project