An as Low as Reasonably Achievable J Cost Benefit (Optimization) Analysis for the Shield Design Criterion at the Hanford Waste Vitrification Plant

The Hanford Waste Vitrification Plant (HWVP) is undergoing design and will be constructed at the Hanford Site in Richland, Washington. This facility will vitrify pretreated, Hanford defense, liquid high-level and transuranic wastes into borosilicate glass. Shielding is required in certain process and storage areas of the HWVP to limit exposure of personnel from external sources of radiation. Optimization of the radiation shielding was employed to balance the increased cost of shielding above the reference baseline of 5.0 μSv/h with the reduction in detriment to operating personnel during the lifetime of the facility. The purpose of this paper is to provide an ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) basis for the shield design criterion for use in the HWVP. Estimates are provided for the increased construction costs to implement the ALARA shield design criterion as well as the cumulative reduction in personnel exposure during the life of the HWVP.