The Department of Energy, the State of Idaho, and the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) saved the taxpayers over $140 million in the recent closure of the Waste Calcining Facility at the INEEL. The closure to landfill standards demonstrated that radioactive and hazardous mixed constituents can be safely, practically, and cost-effectively disposed. When the Waste Calcining Facility (WCF) was slated for closure, DOE had two options: clean closure and landfill closure. Clean closure would have required excavation, removal, and long term storage of the structure and all the process equipment, created large amounts of radioactive waste, exposed workers to high levels of radiation, and cost over $150 million. DOE, EPA, and the State of Idaho agreed upon landfill closure because it could meet the RCRA requirements, would reduce waste over ten-fold, would maintain workers exposure to radiation below ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) standards, and cost an estimated $10 million. All of these goals were achieved. The biggest cost and schedule savings resulted by minimizing waste handling and leaving the WCF in-place: clean closure removal was estimated to take 19 years, whereas landfill closure actually was completed in less than three years. The WCF in-place closure cost a total of $11.3M, wastes were reduced by 13,000 cubic feet (see Table I, Generated Waste Savings), and worker radiation exposure reduced by over 230 person-rem.

The Department of Energy, the State of Idaho, and the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) saved the taxpayers over $140 million in the recent closure of the Waste Calcining Facility at the INEEL. The closure to landfill standards demonstrated that radioactive and hazardous mixed constituents can be safely, practically, and cost-effectively disposed. When the Waste Calcining Facility (WCF) was slated for closure, DOE had two options: clean closure and landfill closure. Clean closure would have required excavation, removal, and long term storage of the structure and all the process equipment, created large amounts of radioactive waste, exposed workers to high levels of radiation, and cost over $150 million. DOE, EPA, and the State of Idaho agreed upon landfill closure because it could meet the RCRA requirements, would reduce waste over ten-fold, would maintain workers exposure to radiation below ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) standards, and cost an estimated $10 million. All of these goals were achieved. The biggest cost and schedule savings resulted by minimizing waste handling and leaving the WCF in-place: clean closure removal was estimated to take 19 years, whereas landfill closure actually was completed in less than three years. The WCF in-place closure cost a total of $11.3M, wastes were reduced by 13,000 cubic feet (see Table I, Generated Waste Savings), and worker radiation exposure reduced by over 230 person-rem.

The Waste Calcining Facility (WCF), located at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL), operated from 1959 to 1980 solidifying highly radioactive liquid waste until the New Waste Calcining Facility (NWCF) began operation. This process used a fluidized bed calciner with in-bed combustion. The WCF was “dusted” out using fluidizing air and transport air, and partially flushed with some heels remaining as operations were discontinued. The WCF remained shutdown, without maintenance, until about 1993. At that time asbestos removal was completed and it was scheduled for closure. A innovative method of closing a RCRA facility with mixed waste liabilities is described in this paper. Typical closures of highly radioactive process facilities involve great expense and hazardous removal and remediation of large volumes of waste. Advantages of landfill closure of the WCF are examined in time, personnel exposure and expense along with the lessons learned about the closure process and the physical manipulations of placing grout. Landfill closure is explained, along with the processes of preparing the source term and risk assessment, obtaining state acceptance and permits, preparing the facility for deactivation and the actual process of placing grout in the WCF for closure.

The Waste Calcining Facility (WCF), located at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL), operated from 1959 to 1980 solidifying highly radioactive liquid waste until the New Waste Calcining Facility (NWCF) began operation. This process used a fluidized bed calciner with in-bed combustion. The WCF was "dusted" out using fluidizing air and transport air, and partially flushed with some heels remaining as operations were discontinued. The WCF remained shutdown, without maintenance, until about 1993. At that time asbestos removal was completed and it was scheduled for closure. A innovative method of closing a RCRA facility with mixed waste liabilities is described in this paper. Typical closures of highly radioactive process facilities involve great expense and hazardous removal and remediation of large volumes of waste. Advantages of landfill closure of the WCF are examined in time, personnel exposure and expense along with the lessons learned about the closure process and the physical manipulations of placing grout. Landfill closure is explained, along with the processes of preparing the source term and risk assessment, obtaining state acceptance and permits, preparing the facility for deactivation and the actual process of placing grout in the WCF for closure.