PNNL

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) selected Parsons as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) Contractor to design, construct, commission, and operate for one year the Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF) at the DOE Savannah River Site (SRS). The SWPF is intended to remove and concentrate the radioactive strontium (Sr), actinides, and cesium (Cs) from the bulk salt waste solutions in the SRS high-level waste tanks. The sludge and strip effluent from the SWPF that contain concentrated Sr, actinide, and Cs wastes will be sent to the SRS Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF), where they will be vitrified. The decontaminated salt solution (DSS) that is left after removal of the highly radioactive constituents will be sent to the SRS Saltstone Production Facility for immobilization in a grout mixture and disposal in grout vaults. The EPC provided the 35% design package to DOE for review in September 2006, and subsequently completed the remaining design products and documents for the Preliminary Design. DOE chartered an Independent Technical Review (ITR) Team to review the Preliminary Design of the SWPF, with a focus on evaluating the technical sufficiency of design to support development of a baseline cost and schedule (Critical Decision-2 [CD-2]) per DOE Order 413.3A. The ITR Team concluded that the SWPF project is ready to move into final design.