© 2016 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

Karen KimSr. Technical Leader, kkim@epri.comEPRI International Low Level Waste

Conference and Exhibit ShowJune 21-23, 2016

EPRI Radiation Safety Program

Low Level Waste Research

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Radiation Safety Research Focus Areas

ALARA Strategies and Technologies•Combines source term reduction technologies with typical dose reduction tools and work planning improvements to provide a comprehensive strategy for reducing dose to workers.

Radioactivity Generation and Control (Source Term Reduction) – Joint w/Chem.•Understanding radioactivity and radiation field generation and transport processes and tools/technologies to improve control of radioactivity.

Radiation Safety Guidance•Development and maintenance of guidelines, guides and sourcebooks for radiation protection, source term reduction, radiological environmental protection (which includes groundwater), and low level waste.

Radiation Measurements and Dosimetry for Workers and Public•Investigates advanced radiation detection and monitoring technologies for site and environmental monitoring purposes. In addition, more accurate dose calculation methodologies will be investigated to improve the quantification of the dose to workers and the public

Effluent and Radwaste Minimization•Investigates effluent (gaseous, liquid), groundwater remediation, and radwaste minimization technologies and management strategies. Also evaluates the impact to effluent and radwaste programs from changes in plant design or operational factors.

Optimization of Industrial and Radiological Safety (currently unfunded)•Includes research related to the development of technologies and strategies that better meet the needs for an integrated approach to worker protection – radiological and industrial hazards.

Benchmarking and Trending (Fundamental)*•Maintenance of databases for the Standard Radiation Monitoring Programs (SRMP/BRAC) and the industry low level waste benchmarking database, RadBench™.

Low Dose Radiation Health Effects* •Investigates health effects from exposure to ionizing radiation to inform the development of radiation safety standards, radiation protection practices, and communication of risks to workers and the public.

Decommissioning Technology and Strategy*•Investigates technologies and strategies to facilitate the development and execution of a safe, efficient, and cost-effective decommissioning program.

* Not prioritized

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2015-2018 Radiation Safety Projects by Research Focus Area

Radiation Safety Guidance

BTP on Concentration Averaging and Encapsulation Implementation

Guide (2015-2016)

Revision of Interim On-Site Storage Guidelines (2015-2016)

Review of Radiation Safety Guidelines for Revision (2016-2018)

Radiation Measurement and

Dosimetry for Workers and Public

Scaling Factors for I-129 and Tc-99 in Radwaste (2013-2015)

Hard to Measure Radionuclides in Effluents (2014-2016)

Effluent and Radwaste

Minimization

Impacts to Effluents and Radwastefrom Radionuclides and Chemicals Generated from Non-Design Basis

Materials (2017-2019)

Tritium Removal and Reduction Technologies (2018-2019)

Effect of KOH-based pH Program on Radiation Fields, Effluents, and

Radwaste in Western PWRs (2018-2019)

Impact of Fuel Material Changes on Radwaste and Corrosion Behavior

(2018-2019)

Fundamental: Benchmarking and

Trending

RadBench™ Maintenance (ongoing)

Funded Work *New Proposal

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Scaling Factors for Tc-99 and I-129 in LLW Objective:

– Develop generic scaling factors for estimating the concentration of Tc-99 and I-129 in low and intermediate level waste (LILW).

Scope:– Validate Pacific Northwest National Laboratory datasets for Tc-99 and I-129 for use in development of

generic scaling factors.– Develop generic scaling factors.– Validate generic scaling factors using calculations and/or other independent data.

Benefits & Applicability:– More accurate estimation of Tc-99 and I-129 in LILW and radwaste disposal sites.– In the U.S., guidance for implementing an indirect method to estimate Tc-99 and I-129

consistent with NRC Regulatory Information Summary 2015-02 “Reporting of H-3, C-14, Tc-99, and I-129 on the Uniform Waste Manifest”

– May be useful for international nuclear power plants wastes where generic scaling factors are commonly used.

Published EPRI Report 3002005564.

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Scaling Factor Conclusion

The PNNL mass spec datasets for 99Tc and 129I in LILW:– Provide a reasonable basis for generic scaling

factors, the data fits well and has been verified using independent calculation methods

Proposed Indirect Method (RIS 2015-02*)– Perform analysis for 99Tc and 129I in waste to

required sensitivity (1% 61.55 Table 1 a-priori at a minimum)

– When 99Tc and/or 129I results are not positive use a scaling factor from this research to calculate a value as applicable and treat as a positive measurement.

International members should review data and results provided in this report for applicability to their LILW.

Hard-to-Detect

Condition Easy-to-Detect

Scaling Factor

129I When 137Cs is detected

Should be scaled to 137Cs

2.00E-07

129I When 137Cs is not detected

Should be scaled to 60Co

3.20E-08

99Tc When the 137Cs/ 60Co <10

Should be scaled to 60Co

1.30E-06

99Tc When the 137Cs/ 60Co >10

Should be scaled to 137Cs

2.50E-08

*U.S. NRC Regulatory Information Summary 2015-02 “Reporting of H-3, C-14, Tc-99, and I-129 on the Uniform Waste Manifest”

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Low Level Waste Technical Strategy Group Membership and Offerings

Types of Assessments• On Site Storage• Liquid LLW and Effluent Reduction• High Activity Wet Waste Reduction (B/C** and ILW***)• Site specific media testing• Solid LLW Reduction• Part 61 (Waste) Sample Programs• Others coordinated through project manager

Activities• 4 Webcasts/year• Access to LLW TSG* Collaboration site.• LLW TSG Research• One assessment for each member (over three year membership period.)

2016 MEMBERS

Ameren CFEDuke Energy ElectronuclearExelon LuminantOPPD SouthernSTP TalenTVA

*Low Level Waste (LLW) Technical Strategy Group (TSG)

**Class B and C per United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission radwaste classification

***Intermediate Level Waste

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2016-2017 LLW TSG Research Projects

Low Level Waste Related Knowledge TransferManagement of Hard-to-Detect Radionuclides in Liquid

Radwaste/EffluentsLow Level Waste Sampling and Characterization Guidance

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Low Level Waste Related Knowledge Transfer Background:

– Many new radwaste and low level waste managers entering industry; thus knowledge transfer is needed.

Actions Planned:– Develop a living “Radwaste Knowledge Transfer Document” available on EPRI LLW

TSG Collaboration Site: Focus on the types of knowledge that are not documented in any other (OE)

databases but needs to be passed on. Work with LLW TSG members to define the topical areas. EPRI team to collect information from assessments, industry meetings, LLW TSG

Webcasts, knowledge transfer sessions to populate/update the Document. Also, option to publish as LLW TSG Report periodically.

– Continue to hold Knowledge Transfer discussions during TSG Webcasts and EPRI Low Level Waste Conferences

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Hard-to-Detect Radionuclides in Liquid EffluentsBackground:

– Nuclear power plants are reporting hard-to-detect (HTD) such as Ni-63 and Fe-55 in liquid effluents.

– There exists gaps in knowledge regarding current industry best practices and techniques associated to liquid radwaste HTD analysis and removal.

Objective:– Collate and summarize industry experiences, best practices, and

technologies for HTD analysis and removal from liquid radwastestreams.

– Identify any technical gaps associated to HTD analysis and removal and develop research strategies for closing gaps, as needed.

– Project will focus on Fe-55 and Ni-63 but will remain open to consider other HTDs as identified through EPRI base research.

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Low Level Waste Sampling and Characterization Guidance

Background:– The Low Level Waste Characterization Guidelines (EPRI TR-107201, 1996) has not been updated in 19

years. The industry has, and continues to, implement the use of new media types and configurations and new waste handling and packaging technologies and techniques. Additionally, the industry as a whole has a strong focus on personnel exposure reduction and in general is experiencing strains on station financial and staffing resources.

Objective: – Update the existing document to reflect current characterization options that take into consideration

typical media types, handling and packaging strategies and industry Operating Experience. The technically justified guidance in the update should also reflect industry ALARA standards and/or expectations, and consider the impact the recommended approach(es) would have on site resources.

Expected Benefits:– Characterization guidance that is aligned with today’s equipment, media and practices– More efficient sampling process– Lower personnel exposure

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Issue: Impacts to Radiation Safety from Cycling Power

• Material corrosion behavior

• Primary chemistry• Fuel crud behavior

• Material corrosion behavior

• Primary chemistry• Fuel crud behavior

Corrosion Product Behavior

• Inventory and mobility of activated corrosion products radiation field generation

• Inventory and mobility of activated corrosion products radiation field generation

Radiological Source Term • Increased liquid

radwaste volumes solid radwaste

• Release of effluents to environment

• Increased liquid radwaste volumes solid radwaste

• Release of effluents to environment

Effluents and Radwaste

• Increased monitoring

• Increased exposure

• Increased monitoring

• Increased exposure

RP and Occupational

Exposure

Cycling reactor power may introduce changes that could impact radiation safety programs

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Phase 2: Assess Impact of Load Following on Effluents (Gaseous, Liquid) and Radwaste (2017- 2018)Assess impacts to gaseous and liquid effluents by

collecting data and OE:– Generation of gaseous radwaste– Volume, activity concentration, isotopic composition of

radwaste generated– Capacity of gaseous and liquid radwaste systems– Frequency and volume of releases (continuous or batch)Assess impacts on amount and characteristics of

wet solid waste generation, packaging, transport, and disposal

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EPRI Low Level Waste Research Key Takeaways

Documenting radwaste operating experience for Knowledge TransferContinuing to support current radwaste operations at nuclear

power plants – focusing on enhancements.Looking forward to addressing potential future technical

challenges.

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EPRI Low Level Waste Research Key Takeaways

Past

Document radwasteoperating experience for Knowledge Transfer.

Present

Continue to support radwaste operations at nuclear power plants –enhancements and technical challenges.

Future

Look forward to addressing potential future technical challenges.

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Together…Shaping the Future of Electricity