Storage and Disposition of Excess Plutonium in the United States

The Savannah River Site (SRS) has been identified as the preferred site for conversion of plutonium puts, fabrication of mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel and immobilization of excess plutonium. The U.S. Department of Energy has set the goal ofclosing the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site by 2006. The Record of Decision (ROD) for the storage and Disposition of Weapons-Usable Fissile Materials, as amended in August 1998 [1,2], specifies that excess plutonium in storage at Hanford and Rocky Flats is to be shipped to SRS for storage anddisposition of SRS is selected as the site for immobilization. Site selections are to be made in the Surplus Plutonium Disposition ROD, which is expected to be issued in late August 1999. U.S. policy is to maximize the amount of this excess material submitted for International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA) inspection. This paper describes the storage and disposition options and schedules under consideratin for excess U.S. Plutonium, together with expectations for making this material available for IAEA inspection.