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Summary of EM International Activites - June 1996
Summary of EM International Activites EM International Highlights is a brief summary of on-going international projects within the Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management (DOE/EM). We encourage you to direct any comments or questions to the appropriate point-of-contact listed for each activity. The Department of Energy (DOE) is in the process of preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposed nuclear weapons nonproliferation policy for the Management of Foreign Research Reactor (FRR) Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF). The preparation of this EIS is a key element of U.S. nonproliferation policy to reduce international civil commerce in highly enriched uranium. The Department of State is a cooperating agency for this action. The FRRs considered in this EIS are located in 41 countries. The SNF covered by this EIS consists of up to approximately 22,700 elements, all containing uranium enriched in the United States. The SNF proposed to be accepted is in storage at the FRRs, and that which will be generated over a 10 year period. The EIS includes the analyses of the following alternatives:
Contact: C.R. Head, EM-6, 586-9441 EM is actively participating with the interagency Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC) and its multi-agency initiatives to consolidate and streamline United States Government (USG) trade promotion and export of environmental goods and services. The TPCC has developed a strategic framework for building a new level of partnership within government and industry to facilitate environmental technology transfer, commercialization, and export. Trade promotion is becoming an important component of EM's efforts to transfer new and competitive technologies to the commercial sector. Currently, EM is participating in four of the seven working group clusters that are implementing the TPCC strategic framework: Public-Private Partnerships; Technology Development, Commercialization, and Standards; Overseas Demonstrations; and Regional Strategies. Contact: L. O'Malley, EM-50, (202) 586-0175 II. Activites with Western Europe France With the resolution of the intellectual property rights impasse between the U.S. and French governments, DOE/EM is working to reestablish the expired agreement on radioactive waste with the Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) and initiate a new agreement with ANDRA. Contact: EM-30 Westinghouse Hanford Company implemented a Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA) with NUMATEC, which represents a number of French nuclear companies in the U.S. Through NUMATEC, Hanford has access to the broad spectrum of French nuclear related technologies. The BOA provides a means for NUMATEC to supply technical support to the Hanford remediation program in several areas, including low-level to high-level waste chemistry and waste minimization. Most recently, NUMATEC/SGN provided technical support to the development of a pretreatment flow sheet for the Tank Waste Remediation System. Contact: D. Wynne, EM-38, 3-4967 Gemany The German Federal Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Technology (BMBF) have reached agreement with the Richland Operations Office of DOE for the termination and closeout of all previous agreements concerning 32 isotopic heat sources (vitrified glass canisters) constructed by DOE for BMBF as part of the ASSE Salt Mine Repository project. In 1992, the BMBF Federal Ministry was compelled to cancel the project because it was not possible to obtain the formal licensing required to carry out in-situ heat and radiation experiments in the German research mine, ASSE. Likewise, the planned shipments to Germany of 32 isotopic heat sources produced by Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) at Hanford, Washington, were canceled. From the December 1995 Closeout Agreement, DOE retains ownership of the 32 isotopic heat sources currently in storage in cell 'A' of building 324 at Hanford. BMBF shall provide six Castor-GSF-5 storage casks, two GNS-12 modified casks, special tools and equipment necessary for lifting and transporting of the casks, and complete sets of lid seals. These shielded casks should be adequate to move the 32 isotopic heat sources from the 300 Area of Hanford to the 200 Area and provide storage for the canisters until a final repository for vitrified radioisotopes is established. By 1990, PNL had previously received two GNS-12 shipping casks, which will bring the total to four casks that contain provisions to store and ship three vitrified glass canisters. Castor-GSF-5 casks have provisions for five canisters. Delivery of the special tools, equipment, and casks are expected in 1996, Free On Board (FOB) Hanford Site. Contact: Lydia W. Chang, EM-38, 3-7136 EM-53 has completed a single bore hole test of a Montan wax formulation developed in Germany. The results of the test are still being evaluated but the grout looks promising. A multiple bore hole test is being planned. This project is a cooperative effort between Golder Associates and MIBRAG, the German licensee. Problem sites at Hanford, Oak Ridge, Savannah River, Fernald, and Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) could potentially benefit from this innovative technology. Contact: J. Walker, EM-53, 3-7966 III. Activites in Eastern Europe Regional EM co-sponsored the Second International Symposium and Exhibition on Environmental Contamination in Central and Eastern Europe in Budapest, Hungary. This symposium was held September 20-23, 1994 and focused on problems related to hazardous waste and toxic substances, including radioactive and mixed waste in the context of contaminated air, water, and land. Planning is well underway for the Third International Symposium, which will be held in Warsaw, Poland, September 10-13, 1996. In addition to the waste management and technology development themes addressed at the first and second symposia, the third meeting will feature a special session to highlight the EM cooperative project and demonstrations with the Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas in Katowice, Poland. Contact: E. O'Malley, EM-50, (202) 586-0175 Central European country profiles currently exist on the environmental characteristics and requirements of Hungary, Poland, and the Czech and Slovak Republics. Country studies also examine the roles of government and non-government environmental organizations, their programs and priorities, the universities and research centers involved in environmental research and education, and contacts for more information. Contact: E. O'Malley, EM54, (202) 586-0175 EM co-sponsored an International Symposium and Trade Fair on the Clean-up of Manufactured Gas Plants (MGP), held in Prague, the Czech Republic on September 19-21, 1995. The symposium focused on environmental restoration needs at MGP sites, which are contaminated by oils, coal tars, sludges, ashes, ammonia and lime wastes. Contact: J. Mathur, EM-53, 3-7922 EM staff continue to explore cooperative programs with the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC), located in Budapest, Hungary. Contact: E. O'Malley, EM-50, (202) 586-0175 Czech and Slovak Republics EM has established a project with the Czech Technical University to perform a laboratory evaluation of the radioactive and chemical stability of Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) as a binder material for use with inorganic ion-exchangers in the separation of radionuclides in a variety of acidic, neutral, and alkaline liquid radioactive waste forms. This evaluation will also address the compatibility of the PAN binder with a select number of absorbers that are currently applicable to the ongoing DOE waste separations programs. Under a contract with EM, the Czech Nuclear Research Institute is conducting a Review of Advanced Separations Technologies in the Czech Republic project. The review covers technologies in use or under development that deal with solvent extraction, ion exchange and adsorption. Contact: K. Gerdes, EM-53, 37289 Senior EM officials met in Washington in June 1995 with representatives of the Czech National Property Fund (NPF) to discuss shared interests in remediation of large scale facilities contaminated with hazardous wastes. NPF and EM are considering establishing a Memorandum of Cooperation to facilitate collaboration. Contact: E. O'Malley, EM-50, (202) 586-0175 Hungary EM has contracted with the Technical University of Budapest (TUB) to perform a Review of Mixed Waste Disposal Technologies in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). TUB has employed a literature review to identify mixed waste projects that can serve as candidates for a potential pilot study. The report will include a review of the nature and extent of mixed waste problems on a country-by-country basis. The project will also address the status of technologies, the capability to demonstrate them, and comparability with DOE technical needs. The review will include a discussion of regulations and practice in each country. Contact: E. O'Malley, EM-50, (202) 586-0175 Poland Characterization and soil decontamination remediation technology demonstrations, collaboration on risk assessment, and other activities will be conducted under a Memorandum of Cooperation between DOE/EM and the Institute of Ecology of Industrial Areas (IETU) in Katowice, Poland. DOE's primary objectives for the project are to advance research and development (R&D) of EM technologies for use at DOE facilities in the U.S. and to promote commercial development between U.S. and Polish environmental technology firms. Demonstration of Expedited Site Characterization (ESC) technologies is scheduled for spring 1996, with remediation technology demonstrations slated for summer 1996. Contact: J. Walker, EM-53, 3-7966 DOE/EM's principal partner for cooperative research and demonstration projects in the Central/East European region, the Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas (IETU), is establishing a Risk Abatement Center for East and Central Europe (RACE). The new center will be open in September in Katowice on the eve of the Third International Symposium and Exhibition on Environmental Contamination in Central and Eastern Europe, WARSAW '96. RACE is a response to the critical need for comprehensive, cost effective, environmental risk assessment and reduction strategies in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). RACE is an international environmental policy development, education, and know-how transfer center utilizing risk based tools for prioritizing problems and managing the environment with regard to social, legal, economic, and political considerations. RACE is also a response to the call for more independent regional environmental centers as outlined in the October 1995, UN ECE Declaration of Ministers in Sofia. RACE is a not for profit, non-governmental, international, cooperative research, education and implementation center focusing on regional environmental needs. RACE will initially be located within IETU and will provide a forum for implementing significant policy changes, technology transfer and increasing public awareness. Scientific-research work aimed at development of methods and procedures of risk assessment and abatement technologies is extremely important and demand advanced and broad knowledge, creativeness, talent, cooperation, and time. Combining both a detailed knowledge of existing conditions and past practices in the CEE countries with development and implementation of modern, innovative risk assessment and abatement strategies pioneered by Western Europe and the United States, RACE shall provide the means for developing efficient solutions. The establishment of close international cooperation in developing new risk assessment methods and innovative strategies will provide an indispensable forum for information and experience exchange. DOE/EM anticipates conducting joint projects together with the new RACE in the areas of risk assessment and biomarkers research. Contact: J. Walker, EM-53, 3-7966 Croatia EM senior staff have conducted discussions with the Croatian Agency for Hazardous Waste Management (APO) to advance planning for a DOE/EM-APO Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) that will provide for personnel exchange and potential technology demonstrations. The APO is a Croatian government body established in 1993 to organize and perform activities related to hazardous waste management in the Republic of Croatia, and to assist the government in implementing environmental policy. Two APO staff members plan to visit the U.S. in 1996 to begin a cooperative program that is designed to prepare the way for one or more demonstrations of EM technologies in Croatia. Contact: E. O'Malley, EM-50, (202) 586-0175 IV. Activites with the Former Soviet Union Background Activities with the former Soviet Union (FSU) are conducted under the auspices of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) in the fields of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management between the DOE and the Ministry of Atomic Energy for the Russian Federation (MINATOM). The MOC was signed in 1990 and remains in effect between DOE and MINATOM. A Joint Coordinating Committee for Environmental Restoration and Waste Management (JCCEM) was established as the managing body for the MOC and is responsible for selecting specific joint project activities. The JCCEM outlines nine specific areas of cooperation: Separations Technologies, Low-Level and Mixed Waste Processing/Vitrification, Contaminant Transport/Site Characterization, High Level Waste (HLW) Tank Remediation, Decontamination and Decommissioning (D&D), Scientist Exchanges, Risk Assessment, TRU Stabilization and Solidification. The 7th JCCEM meeting will be held in Moscow, Russia in the Spring of 1997. Contact: E. O'Malley, EM-50, (202) 586-0175 Projects Under the JCCEM Separations: Over the past four years, the Khlopin Radium Institute (KRI) has been under contract to EM to perform an "Experimental Research Program on Applicability of the Russian Separation Technology to Processing of Defense HLW." The cobalt dicarbollide technology underwent the third testing at INEL in the Spring of 1996. Final results are pending, but look promising. Patent discussions are underway between the KRI and DOE. Contact: K. Gerdes, EM-53, 3-7289 In FY 95, a technology development project was initiated with the Institute of Chemical Technology in the area of "Crown Ethers for Chemical Separation of Radioactive Wastes". The project studied the use of crown ethers for removing radionuclides and toxic metals from Low Level Waste (LLW) and HLW, as well as the potential of crown ethers to control of chemical (redox potential) conditions in alkaline waste and process solutions. This project was expanded in FY 96 to address the "Application of Extraction Technology Using Crown Ethers for Removal of Cesium from HLW on the Acid Side." Contact: K. Gerdes, EM 53, 3-7289 In FY 95, the following technology development projects were initiated with the Institute of Physical Chemistry in the area of separations technologies. "Recovery of Cesium 137 from Actual INEL High-Level Waste by Sorption Technique with Copper Ferrocyanide, Institute of Physical Chemistry; "Investigation on the Application of Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Catalysis for Alkaline Waste Treatment", Institute of Physical Chemistry; "Investigation on the Removal of TRU from Alkaline Waste Solutions on Carriers Obtained by the Method of Appearing Reagents", Institute of Physical Chemistry. A patent application has been filed on behalf of the Russian inventor; "Investigation on Disproportion of Plutonium (V) in Alkaline Media of Various Composition in Liquids and Model Sludges", Institute of Physical Chemistry; "Investigation on Isolation of Technetium from Alkaline Solutions", Institute of Physical Chemistry. Contact: K. Gerdes, EM-53, 3-7289 In FY 95 a technology development project was initiated with the Institute of Physical Chemistry in the area of "Recovery of Cesium 137 from High-Level Waste by Sorption Technique with Copper Ferrocyanide". This technology will be tested on actual waste at INEL in July 1996. Contact: K. Gerdes, EM-53, 3-7289 In FY 96, the following additional project was initiated in the Separations area: "Evaluation of Russian Liquid Extraction Techniques Using Crown Ethers for Decontamination of Low- and High-Level Radioactive Wastes from Long-Lived Radionuclides and Toxic Metals", Institute of Chemical Technology. Contact: K. Gerdes, EM-53, 3-7289 LLW & Mixed Waste Processing/Vitrification: In FY 95, EM tasked the Institute of Chemical Technology with constructing the "Pilot Scale Apparatus for Treatment of Solid Mixed Radioactive Wastes: Plasmatron with Induction Cold Crucible Melter (PICCM)". The unit was constructed and Beta tests in Russia were completed successfully. A patent application has been filed on behalf of the Russian inventors. The unit is being leased and installed at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. The Russian inventor has entered into commercialization discussions with U.S. counterparts. Contact: G. Ordaz, EM-53, 3-7440 Additionally, in FY 95, the following projects were initiated with the Institute of Chemical Technology (Final Reports are available upon request): "Technology and Apparatus for Solidification of Radwaste by the Method of High Temperature Adsorption of Metals on Inorganic Matrices (silico-gel)". In FY 96 this project was transferred to the Tanks Focus Area (See description below); and, "Recovery of Noble Metals from Complex Concentrates by means of Continuous Countercurrent Metal Extraction in Induction Furnaces". Contact G. Ordaz, EM-53, 3-7440 In FY 96 the following projects have been initiated in support of the Mixed Waste Focus Area: "Pilot Scale Apparatus for Treatment of Solid Mixed Radioactive Wastes: Plasmatron with Induction Cold Crucible Melter (PICCM)", Institute of Chemical Technology; "Experimental Investigation of Cold Crucible Technology Applications to Converting Mixed Low Level Wastes into Stable Low Volume Glassy Slags", Khlopin Radium Institute; "Assessment of Russian Waste Treatment Technologies and Their Applicability to US DOE Mixed Waste Focus Area Needs", Khlopin Radium Institute; "Development of Mixed Waste Technologies Monitoring and Demo Capabilities, Khlopin Radium Institute; and, "Experimental Investigation of Low Temperature Iron-Phosphate Ceramic for Solidification on Mixed Waste LLW, Khlopin Radium Institute. Contact: G. Ordaz, EM-53, 3-7440 Contaminant Transport/Site Characterization: In FY 94, a team of DOE/EM scientists and engineers participated in a two week field sampling at the Mayak Site in Chelyabinsk, Russia. The following three jointly authored articles have been prepared for submission to technical and scientific journals: "Joint Russian - U.S. Radiometric and Surface Water Chemistry Measurements within Lake Karachi - Mishelyak River System, Southern Urals, Russia"; "Joint Russian - American Hydrogeological-Geochemical Studies on the Karachi-Mishelyak System, Southern Urals, Russia"; "Resistivity and Induced Polarization Survey at a Russian Nuclear Waste Site." As a result of FY 94 field work, a second expedi tion will take place in September, 1996. The objective of the tr ip is to conduct field experiments of plume migration in fractured rock using multi- packer tests, to conduct research on modeling the migration of the Mayak territory, and conduct field experiments to investigate the capacity of the Mishelyak River to "self-cleanse", and to collect comparative radiometric measurements. Contact: C. Purdy, EM-53, 3-7672 EM supported the DOE/Naval Research Laboratory Russian Joint Environmental Expedition to Characterize the Chemical and Nuclear Source Terms in Siberian Facilities and Rivers in the Summer of 1995. The objective of the task was to investigate and measure both the chemical and radionuclide source terms and potential pathways from land based sources in the Siberian watersheds of the Ob and Yenesei Rivers which discharge into the Kara Sea. A technical journal article has been prepared for submittal to Nature Magazine. Contact: C. Purdy, EM-53, 3-7672 High-Level Waste Tank Retrieval: In FY 95, a project was initiated with the Integrated Mining Chemical Combine to "Develop Equipment for Extraction of Radioactive Pulps and Cakes from Storage Facilities in Krasnoyarsk-26 and Hanford". A Final Report is currently under preparation. A technology development workshop was held in January 1996 in Savannah River to discuss progress and to determine the next steps of the project. Contact: D. Geiser, EM-53, 3-7640 At the 6th JCCEM meeting it was agreed to begin the following projects in support of the Tanks Focus Area: "Technology and Apparatus for Solidification of Radwaste by the Method of High Temperature Adsorption of Metals on Inorganic Matrices (silico-gel)", Institute of Chemical Technology. A patent application has been filed on behalf of the Russian inventor; "Radioactive Sludge Storage Modeling", Mining and Chemical Enterprise (Krasnoyarsk-26)"; "Solid Liquid Phase Separation of HLW using U.S. and Russian technology, Mining and Chemical Enterprise (Krasnoyarsk-26); "Russian Retrieval Equipment Demo" (Krasnoyarsk-26); "U.S./Russian Joint Retrieval Users/Development Working Group", Khlopin Radium Institute. Contact: D. Geiser, EM-53, 3-7640 Decontamination and Decommissioning: At the 5th JCCEM meeting in Berlin, it was mutually agreed to add D&D as a new area of cooperation. Based on the proposals submitted by MINATOM, the following three proposals were selected for FY 96 funding: "Cryogenic Technology and Development of Equipment for the Production of Granulated Materials", Institute for Chemical Technology; "Biotechnological Decontamination of Open Ponds Contaminated by LLW", Khlopin Radium Institute; and, "Use of Supercritical Fluid Extraction for Transplutonium Element Decontamination of Solid Materials", Khlopin Radium Institute. Contact: P. Hart, METC, 305-285-4358 Additionally, at the 5th JCCEM it was agreed that a technology development workshop in the area of D&D technologies would be held in the Summer of 1996 to further define possible areas of collaboration. Contact: P. Hart, METC, 304-285-4358 Scientist Exchanges: The 3rd Environmental Remediation Course was held in June 1995 in Washington, D.C., Savannah River, and Oak Ridge for a group of Russian scientists and engineers. The course consisted of EM overview presentations by Headquarters (HQ) personnel; a site visit and overviews of technology development programs at Oak Ridge; and observation of U.S. technology demonstrations at Savannah River in the areas of Mixed Waste and Characterization technologies. Contact E. O'Malley, EM-50, (202) 586-0175 The National Academy of Sciences is administering an EM sponsored program which provides grants of $16,000-$30,000 to support Russian scientists at U.S. national laboratories. This program hosts Russian students and scientists to conduct research at national labs and universities. Eight exchanges have been conducted to date and six more are planned. Contact E. O'Malley, EM-50, (202) 586-0175 Four Russian graduate students from the Chelyabinsk region are employed as EM research assistants at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. The students are enrolled at the Idaho State University during the academic year and work in the environmental management areas at DOE laboratories and private companies during the summer. Contact: E. O'Malley, EM-50, (202) 586-0175 Four Russian scientists visited Pacific Northwest Laboratories in August 1995 to work cooperatively on contaminant transport modeling projects. A second visit is planned for July 1996 to continue modeling on the Chelyabinsk area. Contact: C. Purdy, EM-53, 3-7672 EM is sponsoring a Russian post-doc at the Seaborg Institute in Berkeley, California to perform research in the area of separations technologies. Contact: K. Gerdes, EM-53, 3-7289 With continuing support from DOE, there is enhanced collaboration between the Tulane-Xavier Center for Bioenvironmental Research and the Institute of Radioecological Problems of the Academy of Sciences, Minsk, Belarus (IRPB). Research involves two-Chernobyl-related modeling projects: 1) the transport of radionuclides in marsh and forest fires and 2) the Iput River, which flows through the "Bryansk Cesium Spot," one of the most heavily contaminated regions. Two graduate students from Minsk are currently enrolled in Ph.D. programs in the Tulane University School of Engineering, and are analyzing data using computer simulations to see if they apply to the situation in Belarus. Contact: J. Bennett, Tulane University, 504-865-5546 Other Projects with FSU DOE, in cooperation with Russian scientists, is exploring the use of electrokinetic technology to remediate soil and groundwater contaminated with heavy metals. Russian scientists are applying this technology to uranium contaminated sites and driving the contamination deeper into the soil where interaction (adsorption) takes place in the subsurface clay layers. Teams of Russian electrokinetics experts travel periodically to the K-25 Site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee to work with their U.S. counterparts on samples of uranium contaminated soil. Contact: S. Chamberlain, EM-53, 3-7248 An Environmental Management Project Office has been established in Moscow and is staffed by one full-time support person and a part-time administrative support person. The purpose of the EM Project Office is to coordinate work conducted at Russian institutes on behalf of EM. The Russian EM program manager is responsible for the coordination of proposal solicitations, general program management, workshop logistics, communication interface with Russian institutes and ministries, and the management of an EM technical literature repository. EM Project Office personnel will coordinate activities through direct interaction with EM headquarters program managers. Contact: E. O'Malley, EM 54, 903-7955 V. Activites With Asia and the Pacific Rim China An EM scientist visited seven Chinese environmental research institutions in October, 1994. This was followed by the visit of a Chinese delegation, led by the China Institute for Radiation Protection, to meet with EM representatives in July, 1995. Surveys are currently underway of U.S. environmental technology firms and institutions with experience in China, as well as Chinese environmental institutes and technologies with potential applications to EM's domestic cleanup mission. Contact: G. Economides, EM-54, 3-7249 Japan In October 1993, EM negotiated and signed a renewal of the DOE/Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute Bilateral Agreement on Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities. The objective of the Agreement is to further the development and verification of decommissioning technologies and techniques through an exchange of information, equipment, and personnel. Some of the areas of cooperation covered by this agreement are: review of decommissioning management practices, activities, and systems; dismantling techniques and procedures; and control of radiation exposure to workers, the public, and the environment. Staff engineers from Japan worked with U.S. engineers on the decommissioning of the Experimental Boiling Water Reactor in Chicago. The lessons learned by the Japanese engineers were then applied to their decommissioning program and specifically to their similar reactor, the Japan Power Demonstration Reactor. U.S. engineers have benefited through information exchanged at workshops held under the Agreement. Contact: J. Lilly, EM-42,3-7218 Work is continuing under two annexes to the DOE/Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation (DOE/PNC) Agreement on Radioactive Waste Management. The Annex on Mass Transport: Characterization and Predictive Technologies enables Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory to perform contract work for PNC on contaminant transport modeling to improve the understanding of fundamental physics and chemistry and to develop characterization and predictive technologies in this area. The Annex on the Development of Fundamental Thermochemical and Adsorption Data allows the Pacific Northwest Laboratory to perform contract work for PNC on fundamental thermodynamic data for radionuclide transport in the environment. Contact: L. O'Malley, EM-50, (202) 586-0175 An EM-led delegation visited Japan in June 1995, to discuss possible joint development/demonstration projects in the area of decommissioning and decontamination with the PNC. This meeting was followed by the visit of a delegation from Japan's PNC to EM in November, 1995. Contact: J. Hyde, EM-54, 3-7914 The Office of Environmental Management, Office of Science and Technology (OST) has sponsored four delegations to Japan to meet with the PNC. The four OST trips were in the fields of: vitrification, decontamination and decommissioning, robotics, and separations. Contact: E. O'Malley, EM-50, (202) 586-0175 South Korea South Korea (ROK) continues to express interest in the U.S.'s experience with sighting commercial LLW disposal facilities. ROK has encountered considerable difficulty in past attempts to site a LLW disposal facility. EM-35 held discussions with the ROK Ministry of Science and Technology and the Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute during the annual meeting of the Joint Standing Committee on Nuclear and Other Energy Technologies held January 24-28, 1994. The U.S. side of the discussion focused on the status of LLW facility siting experience in the U.S. Due to limited fossil fuel resources, ROK has been left dependent on nuclear energy to keep pace with rapidly expanding industries. As a result, they have a very aggressive nuclear power development program and are beginning to export nuclear technology. Contact: T. Plummer, EM-35, 3-7176 Taiwan Under the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT)/Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) Joint Standing Agreement on Civil Nuclear Cooperation, EM has developed and implemented a collaborative Research and Development Program with Taiwan's Institute of Nuclear Energy Research (INER), Radwaste Administration, and the Taiwan Power Company. The program is focused around environmental management, spent fuel storage, and low-level waste handling activities. At the October 1995 Joint Standing Committee meeting, 27 potential joint projects were discussed. Seventeen were continuing activities, six were complete, one canceled, and three were new projects. Specific joint work plans have been prepared for four of the projects: contaminated metal recycle, plasma treatment, soil decontamination, and long-range spent fuel storage siting. Sharing of information and personnel is underway with these projects. The other projects primarily involve the exchange of information. During FY 1995 and FY 1996, three scientists from INER participated in the metal recycle, soil decontamination, and analytical methods projects. Contact: S. Lien, EM-53, 3-7911 Australia The Maralinga Nuclear Test Range in South Australia contains plutonium and uranium contaminated soil and debris resulting from British nuclear weapons tests conducted in the 1950's and 1960's. The Commonwealth Government of Australia has selected the in-situ vitrification (ISV) technology to remediate a series of burial pits at Maralinga. Geosafe Corporation is the commercial licensee for the DOE-developed ISV technology. Geosafe is under contract with the Commonwealth to conduct several on-site tests over the next year to obtain site-specific ISV performance data. Contact: EM-50 VI. Activites With South America The Office of Environmental Management and the Argentine National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) signed the "Implementing Arrangement Between the Department of Energy of the United States of America and the National Atomic Energy Commission of the Argentine Republic for Technical Exchange and Cooperation in the Area of Radioactive and Mixed Waste Management" (The Agreement) on May 29, 1996. This Agreement brings together high-level officials of DOE's Office of Science and Technology and the Argentine CNEA to promote the cooperative development, implementation, and transfer of environmental technologies between both countries. The first efforts undertaken through this Agreement will be workshops to share technical expertise in the fields of: 1) decontamination and decommissioning, and 2) waste separations and immobilization. In addition, a scientific information exchange in the area of uranium mill tailings management will be conducted. Finally, DOE and CNEA will share stakeholder involvement experience. The long term objective of the Agreement is to open new markets and opportunities for U.S. and Argentine environmental technology companies. Contact: E. O'Malley, EM-50, (202) 586-0175 EM, through Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), is conducting an international technical assessment of Chile's Environmental Market; soil and groundwater problems related to technology development activities in EM are currently under review. The purpose of this task is to identify specific sites suitable for overseas demonstrations of environmental management technologies. Contact: E. O'Malley, EM-50, (202) 586-0175 VII. Activites With North America Mexico A U.S./Mexico North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) collaboration has been initiated between Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and El Instituto Mexicano del Petroleo, Mexico City, to share in the development of new technologies and the modification of existing technologies for the remediation of hazardous waste sites. This project is specifically working to address dense nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) which require remediation. The soils used in this study were near surface soils (30-50 cm) collected from the south of Mexico (Minatitlan/ Veracruz, Mexico) with a contaminant level of 10-60% weathered hydrocarbons. Laboratory experiments are designed to determine the potential for biologically degrading the weathered crude oil found in contaminated soil. This initial joint venture establishes a foundation for future bi-directional cooperation and technology transfer. Contact: D. Biancosino, EM-53, 3-7961 Scientists from Mexico are adapting an EM technology being developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory to treat thousands of barrels of hazardous waste containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), highly toxic organic materials used in high-voltage insulating oil. Preliminary discussions are underway on cost-sharing a full-scale joint demonstration of a truck-mounted version of the Packed-Bed/Silent Discharge Plasma System in Mexico in 1996. This system could bring relief to the burgeoning pollution problem associated with industrialization along the U.S.-Mexico border. Contact: G. Economides, EM-54, 3-7249 Planning is underway to initiate Technical Cooperation with Mexico through mutually-beneficial technology development, demonstration, and exchanges in areas of environmental management. U.S.-Mexico collaborations may include: co-development of technologies that address common environmental management needs throughout Mexico and the border region; demonstrations and implementation of environmental technologies that supports the needs of US and Mexican industry and government as well as other world-wide markets; sponsorship of information and staff exchanges; and facilitiation of partnerships between DOE, U.S. industry, and Mexican entities to meet the stated purpose of the initiative. Currently, the emphasis of these collaborations/exchanges is site characterization, bioremediation, plumes and landfill technologies, and robotics. Contact G. Economides, EM-54, 3-7249 EM is working to enhance the interaction between the U.S.-Mexico Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC), U.S. industry, DOE laboratories, border region governments and other U.S. and Mexican organizations, and to facilitate the formation of partnerships focused on joint implementation of EM or jointly-developed technology that can be applied throughout the DOE weapons complex and at sites along the U.S.-Mexico border. Contact: G. Economides, EM-54, 3-7249 Canada Oak Ridge National Laboratory, in cooperation with the American Petroleum Institute/BP America and a research consortium organized by the University of Waterloo, Canada, is testing and evaluating in-situ remediation technologies for source control and mass removal of Dense-Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids (DNAPL) compounds in low permeability media. Controlled contaminant releases and pilot scale testing will be conducted in Sarnia, Ontario. Subsequent testing and evaluation is planned for long-term contaminated sites such as Portsmouth, Ohio. Contact: D. Biancosino, EM-53, 3-7961 Under the Tanks Focus Area, Westinghouse Hanford Company is leading a multi-laboratory and industry effort to develop and demonstrate a Light Duty Utility Arm System (LDUA) for remediation of large underground storage tanks at Hanford, Idaho Falls, and Oak Ridge. Four LDUAs will be delivered by Spar Aerospace Limited of Canada in FY 96. The LDUA deploys end-effectors that perform safety, characterization, and retrieval activities inside radioactive waste tanks. Contact: D. Geiser, EM-53, 903-7640 EM is exploring an integrated approach being developed by Atomic Energy of Canada. The approach uses in-situ and ex-situ soil treatment technology that includes several innovative techniques. The development of the soil-treatment technology is scheduled to be completed within a period of 24 months. Presently, the technology is at Maturity Level II. By applying the process principles to specific contaminated soils through bench-scale, pilot-scale, and selected field tests, underway in the current study, the technology will advance to a completed Maturity Level III. Contact: G. Economides, EM-54, 3-7249 VIII. International Organization EM provides the U.S. representative to the International Waste Advisory Committee of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). EM also provides approximately 15 technical consultants per year in support of IAEA activities regarding radioactive waste management and transportation. Contact: D. Huizenga, EM-30, 6-0370 Under the auspices of the IAEA sponsored program, EM is hosting a scientist from the Croatian Waste Management Agency to participate in applied research activities on hazardous waste management problems shared by Croatia and the U.S. Contact: G. Economides, EM-54, 3-7249 EM has requested participation as a full member of the IAEA Coordinated Research Program on "Safety Assessment of Near-Surface Radioactive Waste Disposal Facilities." The purpose of this effort is to improve understanding and confidence in performance assessments through comparative analysis of low-level waste disposal facility long-term performance assessment modeling methodologies. EM has participated as an observer in the first three Research Coordination Meetings. Contact: G. Duggan, EM-332, 3-7140 EM-50 continues to participate in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization/Committee on Challenges of Modern Society (NATO/CCMS) Pilot Study on the "Environmental Aspects of Reusing Former Military Lands," with the last meeting held in Germany in October 1994. The study will facilitate the transfer of information based on the experiences of NATO and non-NATO member countries. It will also develop approaches to enable European countries to deal with environmental considerations that factor into the conversion and reuse of U.S. military bases abroad. The next meeting is scheduled to be held in Garmish-Partenkirchen, Germany in May 1995. This next meeting will explore opportunities to interact with private industry. Contact: G. Coyle, EM-50, 6-6382 EM-40 and EM-50 representatives attended a NATO/CCMS meeting in Oxford, England, in September 1994, to address issues related to the treatment of contaminated land and groundwater. This year EM-50 will be updating the status of the project accepted at the Quebec City meeting entitled, "In Situ Microbial Filters." Two new EM-50 technologies will also be presented at this meeting. Contact: E. Lightner, EM-53, 3-7935, G. Westerbeck, EM-40, 69393 EM is participating in the series of NATO Advanced Research Workshops on the cleanup of former Soviet military bases. At the last workshop held June 21-23, 1994, EM delivered a technical presentation entitled "Environmental Problems at Former Weapons Production Facilities at U.S. DOE Sites." In addition to 35 invited experts, representatives from NATO and regional Participating Countries were present. Contact: C. Purdy, EM-53, 3-7672 The National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council is sponsoring an IAEA fellowship at Sandia National Laboratories. The recipient of the training fellowship, Ahmed Ali Mohamed Hasan, is from the Hot Laboratory and Waste Management Center, Atomic Energy Authority, Calubia, Egypt. The training is basically focused in two general areas: 1) performance assessment approaches that include cost and risk considerations, and 2) geostatistical approaches for sample optimization. Ahmed Ali has been evaluating field technologies for the characterization of uranium in soils for the Fernald Uranium in Soil Integrated Demonstration (USID). Contact: G. Economides, EM-54, 3-7249 EM participated in the 6th Steering Committee of the Nuclear Science Committee in June, 1995. EM's involvement includes the preparation of a report summarizing U.S. work in the area of actinide separation chemistry. Contact: K. Gerdes, EM-53, 3-7289 |
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