Fissile Material Minimization through Packaging & Removal of Weapons Usable Plutonium Fuel Materials

The pace of fuel cycle research with plutonium materials worldwide has decreased significantly over the last two decades and a number of research reactors using plutonium-bearing fuels have been shut down, resulting in weapons-usable plutonium materials at civilian research facilities. The United States, along with its international partners, has highlighted the need for a global commitment to minimize weapons-usable separated plutonium inventories.In 2016, the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) worked collaboratively to remove plutonium fuel from the Fast Critical Assembly (FCA) reactor in Tokai-mura, Japan, which was shut down in 2011. DOE/NNSA and JAEA developed and implemented plans to characterize the fuel plates and rods using In Situ Object Counting System (ISOCS), package the materials in 9975 Type B nuclear material shipping packages, and transport the fuel to a receipt facility for ultimate disposition. This joint campaign culminated in the world’s largest removal of weapons-usable plutonium from a civilian research reactor site and was recognized as a major nonproliferation accomplishment by the global community.This paper will describe the characteristics of the plutonium material and the technical activities related to characterization, packaging, and transport of the weapons usable plutonium fuel inventory. Specifically, it will describe in detail the isotopic characterization process of the plutonium materials, development of the packaging process flow sheets, design and development of the necessary containers for packaging operations, procedure development, and training of personnel. In addition, this paper will highlight the 9975 shipping package certificate validation process with the relevant regulators and review the material accountability and control and safeguards protocols practiced in the plutonium packaging, storage, and transport activities.