MATERIAL CONTROL AND ACCOUNTABILITY PROCEDURES FOR A PROSPECTIVE NUCLEAR WASTE REPOSITORY AT THE NEVADA TEST SITE

We developed preliminary material control and accountability (MC&A) procedures for the prospective Nevada Nuclear Waste Storage Investigations Project (NNWSI) geologic repository. Preliminary safeguards studies for repositories have been completed in the past, but specific MC&A guidance has yet to be developed for these facilities.(D> (2) We therefore consulted Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Department of Energy (DOE), and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) guidance and practices for nuclear facilities that are most similar in size and mission. In general, existing material control and accountability procedures are readily transferable and reasonable in a geologic repository setting. The only exception is the physical inventory of nuclear material. We suggest that permanent seals be placed over waste emplacement borehole locations and used in lieu of physical inventories.