Year
1998
Abstract
At Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site (RFETS), nondestructive assay (NDA) of fissile material holdup is being performed to meet numerous technically changing requirements. During the last several years complete characterization of facility holdup has been an essential part of evaluating areas for compliance with Department of Energy (DOE) requirements for material control and accountability. Holdup measurement results are used to determine Nuclear Materials Safeguards categorizations and attractiveness levels. For two facilities, these evaluations have provided justification for the removal of material access areas (MAAs). Quantification of holdup at RFETS has been focused on the assay of areas suspected of having high amounts of holdup. Glovebox and equipment locations were selected using several criteria; (1) Previous attribute scan results, (2) Consultations with knowledgeable site personnel, and (3) Video characterization of the Building 707 chainveyor system. This campaign to measure potentially high holdup locations, which was completed June 30, 1998 doubled the site holdup inventory. Several lessons have been learned from this activity. The regulatory driver for these holdup measurements is Department of Energy (DOE) Order 5633.38, Section 11-3, Physical Inventories. The results of the thousands of individual measurements required to assay areas suspected of having high amounts of holdup and the results of varied special requests for measurements have significantly increased the inventory of holdup at RFETS. This paper reports the status of an ongoing holdup quantitative process that will measure at the site wherever feasible.