Decommissioning and
Final Status Survey of a University Radioactive and Hazardous
Waste Handling Facility/Waste Management Services
Work Description
– General:
Chase Environmental Group
(Chase) was contracted to perform decommissioning and final
status survey activities at a major California university’s
central radioactive and hazardous waste handling facility.
The university was operating on a strict schedule so Chase
conducted the project in two phases so that the critical
path items would be completed by the deadline. Chase developed
the Final Status Survey Plan and the accompanying health
and safety plans to expedite the work safely. The containerized
waste storage yard and Waste Handling Facility were surveyed
according to MARSSIM protocols and individual storage containers
were surveyed for free release. The final status survey
and decommissioning report prepared by Chase was received
and approved by the regulatory agency with no comments.
The first phase of the project was completed on time allowing
the university to proceed with the campus development plan.
The second phase involved meeting another rigid scheduling
deadline during the weeks before the Christmas holiday.
Chase mobilized its crew who surveyed and released almost
120 cubic yards of recyclables, scrap, and debris over a
two-week period. Chase also surveyed and released several
storage containers and mobile offices. These mobile office
facilities were then removed and sent to various locations
for disposition, including demolition at an offsite facility.
Chase was responsible for disposition of all other items
once they were surveyed and determined to meet the university
radiological release criteria. The fixed price project was
completed within the requisite timetable and within budget.
Chase also performed contracted radioactive waste management
services for the University in March 2002 where our personnel
sorted, surveyed, and dispositioned nearly 12,000 cubic
feet of waste in various forms including animal carcasses,
drummed wastes, cardboard boxes containing laboratory trash,
and metal equipment components.
Location:
Irvine, California
Regulatory Basis:
MARSSIM, California DECON-1, RCRA
Contaminants: Chemical: Organics, lead based paint,
lead Radiological (including isotopes and assay):
H-3, C-14, P-32, S-35, I-125, Co-60, Cs-137, U-Nat,
Th-Nat
