1. For Twelve years the US Department of Energy has been transporting weapons-
related transuranic (TRU) waste to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) near
Carlsbad, New Mexico. "Transuranic" (TRU) refers to atoms of man-made elements
that are heavier (higher in atomic number) than uranium. The most prominent element
in most TRU waste is plutonium. Some TRU waste consists of items such as rags,
tools, and laboratory equipment contaminated with radioactive materials.
2. This report is on TRUPACT II operations at Advanced
Mixed Waste Treatment Plant (AMWTP) and packaging
process supported by CH Packaging Operations Manual
WIPP/DOE 3184 rev.11.
The Radioactive Waste Management Complex (RWMC)
and AMWTP are run by the DOE. DOE has used the RWMC
and AMWTP to manage, store, and dispose of radioactive
waste generated in national defense and research
programs. Some of the waste historically buried at the
RWMC and stored at AMWTP poses risk to human health
or environment that must be managed.
AMWTP and RWMC are located at the Idaho Nuclear
Laboratory (INL) 34 miles north west of Idaho Falls Idaho.
TRUPACT II operations consist of a trailer and up to
three TRUPACT II’s or HalfPACT’s.
Building 618 at AMWTP has the capacity to disassemble
and re-assemble two trailers with up six TRUPACT II’s or
HalfPACT’s at a time.
All Tools, equipment, and spare parts are quality
inspected before and after use.
The TRUPACT II’s and HalfPACT’s are Helium leak tested
to insure that no radioactive material is exposited to the
public.
3. (2) Set-up trailer in Building 618
(1) Move Trailer from Parking
lot to Building 618.
