SOLID RADIOACTIVE WASTE TREATMENT INITIATIVES FOR NUCLEAR SUBMARINE DECOMMISSIONING WASTES UNDER THE AMEC PROGRAM

• Main Authors: Andrew Griffith, Thor Engøy, Alexander Diashev, Paul Krumrine, Steinar Backe, Steve Gorin, Barry Spargo
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arctic; Kola Peninsula; Severodvinsk; kola peninsula
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.523.1386; http://www.wmsym.org/archives/2001/44/44-3.pdf

The volume of solid radioactive waste (SRW) generated from decommissioning Russia’s nuclear submarines far exceeds existing SRW management capabilities of the Russian Northern Fleet. Inadequate management of this waste poses a substantial threat for pollution of the fragile Arctic environment. The Arctic Military Environmental Cooperation (AMEC) Project 1.3 has assessed waste treatment options, selected technologies, and is now designing and constructing a comprehensive SRW pretreatment system to meet this problem (1). The chosen approach is to design, construct and deploy a novel Mobile SRW Pretreatment Facility (MPF). A key feature of the concept is the mobility aspect, which allows the system to be readily transported between the various shipyards and intermediate SRW storage sites on Russia’s Kola Peninsula and in Severodvinsk. These sites either currently store or will generate the majority of the SRW in the region. Much of the existing waste storage is in poor condition. Based on consideration of potential accidents and resulting spread of pollution, it is often safer to bring the pretreatment facility to the waste source rather than transport the waste to the pretreatment facility. The proposed MPF can be set up in close proximity to the waste source and