DNFSB: ?Significant Flaws? Found at Los Alamos TRU Waste Facility

The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety board has uncovered “significant flaws” in the hazard and accident analyses at Los Alamos National Laboratory’s facility for loading transuranic waste. LANL’s Radioassay and Nondestructive Testing Shipping Facility is used to load the waste for shipment, and in 2013 contractor Los Alamos National Security submitted a Documented Safety Analysis to the Department of Energy for approval.

 

While DOE’s Los Alamos Field Office reviewed the safety basis and came out with two conditions of approval and two directed actions, the DNFSB uncovered additional issues. “The staff review team identified significant flaws in the hazard and accident analyses, resulting in inadequate identification and implementation of safety controls required by 10 CFR 830 and DOE Standard 3009,” states a Dec. 9 DNFSB staff report. “These issues were not identified and addressed during the LAFO safety basis review.”  It also noted: “The review revealed inadequate identification and implementation of safety controls to protect the public and worker.”