Nondestructie Assay Measurements in Support of Facility Downgrades at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant

From 1954 through 1992, the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS)enriched the concentration of the isotope U from its natural abuundance of approximatly 0.7% by weight of 97%. In 1992, Congress passed the Energy Policy act which created the United States Enrichments Corporation (USEC). The production efforts production of low enriched uranium(LEU) for commericial nuclear powers plants. In addition, HEU stored at the facility is being either disposed of, or transferred to, other Dartment of Energy(DOE) facilities around the country. As a result, security aspoect for all buildings are being evaluated and downgraded as appropriate. THis reduces the costs to DOE and improves production efficiency for USEC.