ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF RISK FOR ON-SITE TRANSPORTATION/HANDLING AND STORAGE OF CYLINDERS CONTAINING DEPLETED URANIUM HEXAFLOURIDE AT DOE SITES

The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB), an executive branch government agency, is required by law to review and evaluate the content and implementation of safety standards at Department of Energy (DOE) defense nuclear facilities and to make recommendations to DOE to ensure adequate protection of the public including site workers. Donald Owen and other members of the DNFSB staff have worked with DOE and their contractor in applying DNFSB recommendations to assess and manage risks associated with on-site transportation/handling and storage of DOE=s vast inventory of cylinders containing depleted uranium hexaflouride (UF6). Derived from a set of system requirements, the assessments have ranged from full safety analyses of these operations, including major accident scenarios, to detailed corrosion studies. These assessments have resulted in upgraded safety controls, and improved training, maintenance and operational practices. Cylinder recoating efforts are underway to slow cylinder corrosion. Analysis of the fire accident scenario during cylinder handling resulted in cylinder handler equipment changes and other controls to manage the risk of this dominant accident scenario. This effort illustrates upgraded assessment and management of risk resulting from cooperation among DNFSB, DOE, and contractor organizations and has provided for improved DOE stewardship of this vast inventory of depleted UF6 until final disposition.