Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental Impact Report for Continued Operation of Lawrence

A.3 SNL, LIVERMORE

SNL, Livermore is one of three laboratories of the Sandia National Laboratories operated by the Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of AT&T, for DOE. It applies its engineering and scientific capabilities to areas of national importance, including nuclear weapons, energy research, and other programs. Figure A-13 shows the general locations of the various programs at SNL, Livermore.

Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Livermore, is located next to and south of the LLNL Livermore site. SNL, Livermore occupies 0.64 sq mi (413 acres) of the north half of section 13 of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Altamont Quadrangle. Figures 2-1 and 2-2 show the regional location of SNL, Livermore and its location with respect to the City of Livermore. Land to the north is occupied by LLNL.

A.3.1 SNL, Livermore Programs

SNL, Livermore applies its scientific, technical, and engineering capabilities to meet its primary national security mission with principal emphasis on the development and engineering of non-nuclear systems and components associated with nuclear weapons. This includes generating new weapons designs, developing new weapons systems, and designing and implementing manufacturing and assembly procedures for these new weapons systems. SNL, Livermore has evolved into a multiprogram laboratory undertaking multidisciplinary fundamental and applied research and development activities in the fields of science and technology. In doing so, it interacts closely with scientists and engineers in universities, industry, and other laboratories.

More specifically, in fulfilling its mission, SNL, Livermore performs:

Engineering research and development for all levels and phases of the nuclear-weapons life cycle;
Tasks related to national security, including nuclear materials safeguards and security, treaty verification and control, intelligence on foreign technologies and weapons systems, waste management, and programs in support of the Department of Defense;
Basic and applied research and development for national energy programs;
Development and application of laser diagnostic techniques to study fundamental physics and chemistry of combustion that support more applied work including: research in fundamental Otto and diesel engine combustion processes, investigation of pulse combustion phenomena, experiments in technology toxic disposal, coal combustion studies related to fouling and slagging and char characterization;
Magetic-confinement fusion energy, mainly on plasma/material interactions, and
Fundamental and applied research related to materials and geosciences.

A.3.1.1 Weapons Programs

These programs conduct research, development, and engineering associated with the nuclear weapons. Activities include the evaluation of new weapon concepts, component research and development, and design definition; nuclear safety, command and control, and survivability; testing and weapons effects simulation; nuclear directed-energy weapon concepts; and production support and stockpile surveillance.

A.3.1.2 Other DOE Defense Programs

These programs include the development of verification and control technologies to support arms reduction agreements and to provide intelligence on foreign technologies and weapon systems and concepts and systems for nuclear materials safeguards and security.

A.3.1.3 Energy Research and Development

SNL, Livermore studies conservation and renewable energy sources, basic energy sciences, fossil fuel technologies, magnetic fusion energy, and waste management issues. In addition, there is a research program into the fundamental chemistry and physics of combustion including interactions between combustion products and the atmosphere. Energy research programs are conducted with universities through a visiting scientist and postdoctoral fellowship program, and with industry throughout the world.

A.3.2 SNL, Livermore Scientific and Institutional Support

Scientific, engineering, and technical support organizations assist various programs in the laboratory. They include physics, engineering, computations, and chemistry and materials.

Institutional support organizations provide all the services needed to operate a research and development facility, such as plant maintenance and construction and technical information. They also provide security, medical services, employee and occupational safety services, and monitor and assess SNL, Livermore operations to minimize the impacts on the environment and the public.

A.3.3 Existing Infrastructure

Infrastructure that supports the SNL, Livermore site's operation includes drainage, parking, pathways, lighting, as well as the utilities and circulation system. SNL, Livermore will continue to maintain, expand, and upgrade this infrastructure under the proposed action and the no action alternative described in Section 3 of this document. Figures A-14 and Figures A-15 illustrate SNL, Livermore's site plan and major roadways, respectively. Utilities that support SNL, Livermore's operations include water, natural gas, telephone, electrical, sewer and storm drains. These utilities are described below (SNL, Livermore, 1991bt):

LLNL operates a water system that is shared with SNL, Livermore (see section A.1.3), while SNL, Livermore maintains its own branch distribution piping. Water use at SNL, Livermore is 65.6 million gal per year.
Natural gas is supplied by Pacific Gas and Electric Company. Fuel oil is used for backup when natural gas service is interrupted. Natural gas is supplied at the rate of 60.493 million cu ft per year.
Telephone and data communications systems serving SNL, Livermore include a new network of underground ductbanks and cabling, and the latest digital technology.
The existing electrical distribution is underground. SNL, Livermore receives its power from an LLNL substation at 13.8 kilovolts. The sources of electric power are the Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the Western Area Power Administration. SNL, Livermore has line item funding to install a new 115/13.8 kV substation as well as to rebuild the 13.8 kV distribution system.
SNL, Livermore sewer lines discharge to the LLNL Livermore site sewer lines, and the combined sewerage is discharged into City of Livermore's sewer system for treatment at the City of Livermore Water Reclamation Plant. A liquid effluent control system is installed at SNL, Livermore to prevent accidental discharge of hazardous materials into the city's sewerage system. In addition, as described in Appendix B (B.3.2.2), SNL, Livermore continuously monitors its wastewater discharges before they leave the site. LLNL constructed a central monitoring station that monitors discharge from both the LLNL Livermore site and SNL, Livermore.
Storm water runoff is drained by the Arroyo Seco and by culverts which parallel the south side of East Avenue.

A.3.4 Existing Facilities

The facilities located at the SNL, Livermore site are shown in Figure A-14. The description of operations is limited to "select facilities." The facilities associated with waste management security, health services, and emergency response are also briefly described. Facilities were selected because of their potentially hazardous operations or inventories. An overview of all other facilities is included in Table A-11.

TABLE A-10

TABLE A-11

The selected facilities at the SNL, Livermore site are described in sections A.3.4.1 through A.3.4.21, and are listed in Table A-10 with information on area, use, and the principal types of hazards present (SNL, Livermore, 1991bx). Hazards are indicated as radiological, chemical, or other. Examples of radiological hazards include low-level ionizing radiation, which could cause cancer, genetic defects, and/or noninheritable birth defects. Examples of chemical hazards include chemicals that may be toxic, corrosive, flammable, poisonous, and/or carcinogenic. Examples of "other" hazards include the use of high explosives, nonionizing radiation, the storage and handling of compressed gas cylinders, and electrical hazards. Figure A-16 highlights the select facilities. All other facilities not selected are summarized in Table A-11.

Each selected facility is described with location, square footage, and operations; hazards assessment; and generated wastes and effluents. The discussion on generated wastes and effluents is kept to a minimum. For a more detailed discussion on waste generation and waste management, please refer to Appendix B.

A.3.4.1 Combustion Research Facility Complex

The Combustion Research Facility is located in the northern section of SNL, Livermore. It is one of four buildings in the complex and contains 22 laboratories, including three special facility laser systems. The complex is composed of an office building (Building 905), an auditorium (Building 904), a mechanical support building (Building 907), and the laboratory building (Building 906). The total area is 74,914 sq ft.

The Combustion Research Facility serves the needs of the resident staff, visiting scientists, and the nationwide combustion research community. Experimental operations in this facility include (SNL, Livermore, 1991bv, 1990i, 1991bo):

Major experimental and analytical studies of laminar and turbulent flame processes.
Detailed investigation of combustion processes in engines and power systems.
Studies of combustion characteristics of pulverized coal, energetic materials, and toxic compounds.
Development and use of advanced laser-based diagnostic methods.
Related studies in scientific and technological areas.
Supercritical Water Experiment.

In 1988, a major construction project called the Combustion Research Facility, Phase II was initiated. This project includes the addition of new laboratory space at the south end of the Combustion Research Facility building.

Hazards Assessment

A variety of equipment is used in the Combustion Research Facility for both experimental and support activities. The potential hazards associated with the activities include chemicals, compressed gases, flammables, propellants, toxic gases and liquids, microwave equipment, vacuum and pressure vessels, and lasers.

The laboratory building ventilation system has been designed to protect personnel from hazards associated with combustible and toxic gases used during experiments. The Combustion Research Facility is equipped with special-purpose facility laser systems for combustion diagnostics. The facility laser beams can be directed to any laboratory through a system of periscopes and ducts that enclose the beam. Interruptible electric power is interlocked with the access to the laser high-voltage system and the beam interrupt system is interlocked with the laser room doors, beam duct ports, and laboratory hallway doors. Each laser has a warning system which displays its status on a panel located at the hallway entrance to all experiment laboratories. These entrances are equipped with intercom systems and interlock defeat systems (SNL, Livermore, 1990i, 1991bv).

A safety control system is installed in each laboratory room. The system monitors flammable and/or toxic gases, ventilation rates, fuel gas flows, and laser operation. The safety control system senses certain unsafe conditions. The system will automatically take corrective measures to adjust the ventilation rate, initiate audible alarms, or terminate power and fuel gas flow. The safety control system undergoes an annual inspection and testing.

Generated Wastes and Effluents

Liquid wastes generated include small quantities of acids, solvents, oils, laser dye, chlorinated hydrocarbons, alcohol, and analytical solutions. Solid wastes include contaminated rags, empty oil containers, and coal. The wastes from the Supercritical Water Experiment include liquid chemical wastes and gaseous emissions which contain products from the oxidation of the organic compounds being studied. The volume of the liquid effluents can be as high as 200 gal per month and contains organic chemicals at concentrations of no more than a few percent dissolved or suspended in water. An effluent collection subsystem is designed to collect all liquid effluents (SNL, Livermore, 1991bo, 1990e, 1990c, 1990g, 1991y).

A.3.4.2 Building 910

The Weapons Laboratory Facility, Building 910, is located in the northern section of SNL, Livermore. The 3-story structure is 86,540 sq ft and is composed of the following laboratories (SNL, Livermore, 1991j, 1990e, 1990c, 1990g, 1991y):

Printed Wiring Board Development Laboratory, which is used to test and perform failure analysis on printed wiring boards and board assemblies.
Electronics Prototype Facility, which consists of two interactive laboratory functions. These are the Printed Wiring Laboratory and the Electronics Prototype Fabrication Laboratory. The Printed Wiring Laboratory is used to manufacture prototype multilayer printed wiring boards, targets, foil gages and switches, flex circuitry, and rigid-flex multilayer boards. The laboratory shares several machine room operations with the Electronics Prototype Fabrication Laboratory. The Electronics Prototype Fabrication Laboratory is used to provide high-reliability prototype assembly and fabrication of electronic equipment. The work primarily includes prototype fabrication of electronic assemblies, repair and rework capabilities, and strain gauge application technologies.
Electronics Laboratory, which is used to design, assemble, test, and repair various types of electronic equipment. This equipment includes analog and digital circuitry, microprocessor and microcomputer systems, and various computer-controlled instrumentation systems.
Neutron Detection Facility, which is used to design, assemble, test, calibrate, and repair neutron detectors.
Telemetry Systems Facility, which is used to design, assemble, and test circuits for prototype and development flight test.
RF Testing Facility for the Telemetry Systems, which is used to test, assemble, and repair electronic equipment, especially those at or associated with radio frequencies.
Sensor Electronics and Optics Facility, which is used to develop and test sensor electronics and opto-electronic devices used in the monitoring of detonators during JTA flight tests. The optical systems consist of analog and digital circuitry, fiber optic cables, and laser diode light source systems.
Hybrid Microelectronics Laboratory, which is used for procuring components, directing drafting efforts, and building hybrids. The operations involve the use of photographic film processing, lasers, electronic testing, and chemical cleaning processes.

Hazards Assessment

The hazards associated with the laboratories in Building 910 involve work with machines and small quantities of strong caustics, acids, solvents, and carcinogens. Physical hazards include combustible liquids, compressed gases, flammable liquids, and oxidizers. Health hazards include carcinogens (such as formaldehyde and dichloromethylene) and corrosives (such as hydrofluoric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, Niklad solution, nitric acid, potassium hydroxide, and sodium hydroxide) (SNL, Livermore, 1991g). All chemicals are properly labeled and the employees are properly trained to transport, use, procure, and store these chemicals (SNL, Livermore, 1991y, 1991j).

The safety features in Building 910 include (SNL, Livermore, 1990e):

Drainage, including process and floor drains, goes to holding tanks. Effluent is monitored and verified for dissolved metal content, then pumped into a 5000-gal Liquid Effluent Control System tank. The Environmental Protection Department verifies that the collected effluent meets discharge standards and then pumps the Liquid Effluent Control System tank into the sewer system. If the collected effluent cannot meet discharge standards, it is handled as a hazardous waste and hauled to a proper disposal site.
The wet chemistry line consists of six modules, each with its own containment sump. Additionally, the floor in this room is chemical resistant and drains directly to the effluent collection holding tanks.
All process heaters are computer controlled and monitored.
All rinse overflow and spray rinses are manifolded to the liquid effluent collection tanks.
The ventilation system, which is designed to prevent a buildup of fumes and corrosion in the rooms, is connected to the emergency power supply.

All equipment involving suspected carcinogens and hazardous fumes in these facilities is vented through HEPA filters. The ventilation system keeps a slight negative pressure in the laboratories relative to the hallway and the outside of the building. In addition, the printed circuit board laboratory operates three areas at three graduating pressures, with the drilling area at a lower pressure than the layup area. The drilling and grinding operation also have an individual work station vacuum system to remove particulate from the area. Exhaust from these operations is directed to the roof vents.

Generated Wastes and Effluents

The laboratories in Building 910 produce wastes that include contaminated wipes, pieces of solder/tin, batteries, caustics, solvents, acids, oils, carcinogens, photoresists, epoxies, adhesives, and rinse waters (SNL, Livermore, 1991g). The rinse waters from this laboratory drain directly to the wastewater storage tanks, the Liquid Effluent Control System (SNL, Livermore, 1991j).

All spent chemicals from the wet chemistry areas are barreled and are either recycled back to the manufacturer or sent for treatment and disposal offsite. Solvents used in the cleaning of parts and boards are kept in covered tanks. The tanks are set up to allow distillation of the solvent to keep it clean and minimize the hazardous wastes that are produced. All of the cleaning stations have the required air permits.

A.3.4.3 Building 913

The Model Shop and Test Assembly Laboratory, Building 913, is located in the northern section of SNL, Livermore. This 85,840 sq ft facility consists of the following (SNL, Livermore, 1991m, 1991l, 1990j, 1990k, 1991au, 1991d, 1991as, 1991an, 1991bk, 1991bc, 1991bj, 1991ba, 1991v, 1991w):

Polymer Physics Laboratory, which is used for materials and components analysis, and for electrical testing.
General Chemistry Laboratory, as well as the Polymer Chemistry and Physics Laboratory, which are used for materials preparation and analysis.
General Chemistry Storage Areas, which store many different categories of chemicals that support the general chemistry laboratories. These areas also store small amounts of laboratory equipment.
Electroplating Research Laboratory, which conducts two basic activities: acid solution electroplating and cyanide-solution electroplating.
Plastics Laboratory, which is used to develop, specify, implement, and test polymer materials. Stereolithography, the method of producing prototype hardware directly from an electronic database, is one of the processes at this laboratory. It uses ultraviolet light to expose a specific pattern on a liquid polymer (SNL, Livermore, 1992).
Telemetry Systems Facilities, which include the Telemetry Systems Laboratory and the Light Electronics Laboratory. The Telemetry Systems Laboratory is used to evaluate various types of batteries used in telemetry flight systems and ground support systems. The Light Electronics Laboratory is used to evaluate and calibrate the various types of transducers and associated apparatus used in telemetry flight systems.
Test Assembly Area, which is used to assemble, test, and modify hardware for weapons test assemblies.
Mechanical Test Activity Areas, which are two restricted access rooms used to mechanically test materials.
Photographic Laboratory, which uses chemical film and print processors, and provides photographic support for SNL, Livermore projects and personnel.
Machine Shop area, which is used for the machining of classified and prototype parts in support of all ongoing projects at the laboratory.
Joining Laboratory, which is used for the welding and brazing process development.
Sheet Metal Shop, which is used for fabrication of sheet metal parts.
Oil Shed, which is used for the storage and dispensing of flammable and combustible materials required for use in the machine shop area.
Electron Optics Facility, which is used to study the microstructure of inorganic materials via scanning transmission electron microscopy.
Metallography Laboratory, which is used for preparation and metallographic examination of materials.
Composites Laboratory, which fabricates, tests, and assembles composite materials.
Composites Mechanical Testing Laboratory, which is used to conduct mechanical testing of composite and metallic materials.

Hazards Assessment

The hazards within the laboratories in Building 913 are associated with the variety of hazardous and toxic chemicals, plating and cleaning solutions consisting of strong acid and base, carcinogens, polymers, liquid resins, curing agents, catalysts, metal salts, and fillers. The inventory includes over 700 chemicals in small quantities for use in the various experiments.

The general chemistry storage areas consists of several chemical storage sheds where all chemicals are stored. These sheds are locked at all times except when moving chemicals into or out of the shed. In case of a spill, the floor is perforated and spillage is contained in a large liner in the bottom of the building. The storage shed has its own explosion-proof lighting and ventilation which can be manually switched on from the outside.

Physical hazards are associated with the use of the Scanning Electron icroscopes, power supplies, high temperature oven, flammable liquids, lasers, fragmentation of samples during test, pinching and crushing of hands and objects by mechanical equipment, hydraulic hose, and cable movement.

Safety features in the laboratories include ventilation systems, fume hoods, splash shields, door interlocks, vacuum pump exhausts, spill containment, and a sprinkler system. Incompatible chemicals are isolated from each other, and flammables are stored in flammable cabinets. Personnel are required to wear safety glasses and gloves when working around materials, and are required to follow the SNL, Livermore safe operating procedures.

Generated Wastes and Effluents

Wastes produced from Building 913 laboratories include used solvents, spent chemicals, chemically contaminated wipes, vacuum oils, batteries, machining particles, contaminated water soluble coolant, contaminated rags, contaminated oil wastes, and solvent and waste cold parts cleaner (SNL, Livermore, 1991bc, 1991g). The Photographic Laboratory generates rinsewaters which are collected in liquid effluent control tanks.

All process areas in this building are designed with secondary containment for spill prevention, and water saving systems are used to minimize the volume of water used on a daily basis (SNL, Livermore, 1991d).

A.3.4.4 Building 914

The Test Laboratories Facility, Building 914, is located in the northern section of SNL, Livermore. This 24,510 sq ft building is composed of the following laboratories:

Visual Laboratory, which is used to perform visual inspections to determine acceptability of components (SNL, Livermore, 1991p).
Dye Penetrant and Magnetic Particle Laboratory, which is used to perform penetrant inspections on materials, components, or hardware to look for surface cracks or flaws (SNL, Livermore, 1991o).
Ultrasonics Testing Facility, which is used to nondestructively evaluate and characterize materials and components. Ultrasonics Laboratory also houses a microdensitometer system. This computer-controlled film digitizing unit acquires digital images which are then computer processed (SNL, Livermore, 1991bq).
Ultrasonics Preparation Room, which is used to support the Ultrasonics Laboratory. This room is used for sample modifications and fixturing of materials. It is also used for repair, fabrication, or modification of ultrasonic and related equipment (SNL, Livermore, 1991bb).
Mechanics of Materials Laboratory, which is used to perform mechanical tests on various test samples, and performs a wide variety of tests on the structural systems and mechanical assemblies. Some of the tests are destructive in nature and can occasionally result in a sudden release of energy and some ejected parts (SNL, Livermore, 1991av).
Gauging Laboratory, which performs radiography to inspect materials, components, and hardware; radiation gauging methods to characterize materials; analysis of radiographs of materials or components and of videotapes of real-time radiographed components; and x-ray fluorescence spectrometry procedures to characterize materials (SNL, Livermore, 1991n).
Holography and Interferometric Diagnostics Laboratories, which are used to perform diagnostic tests on material samples and structural components using a variety of optical and interferometric techniques (SNL, Livermore, 1991aj).
Force, Mass, and Torque Laboratory, which is used to calibrate working standards and other instruments for laboratories within SNL, Livermore. The major artifacts calibrated include mass working standards, force working standards, and torque working standards. This laboratory also provides traceability to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (SNL, Livermore, 1991ac).

Hazards Assessment

The hazards in Building 914 are associated with the use of high-intensity lights, sealed isotope sources in beta back-scatter gauging equipment, high voltages, high force- and high- temperature producing equipment, x-ray machines, and lasers. Other hazards include injury to personnel from the improper lifting or dropping of weights and power tools.

Safety features within this building include the use of fume hoods, safety interlocks, cages to prevent gravity hazards from falling objects, and personnel requirements to wear protective equipment. The radiation sources are handled by properly trained personnel, and safe operating procedures are prepared and followed for each experimental work area.

Generated Wastes and Effluents

The wastes from the laboratories in Building 914 are generated in small quantities. These wastes include spent cleaning solvents, contaminated wipes, hydraulic oils, adhesives, batteries, solder, and lubricants (SNL, Livermore, 1991p, 1991o, 1991bq, 1991bb, 1991av).

A.3.4.5 Building 916

Building 9l6 is located in the central section of SNL, Livermore. This 40,530 sq ft facility houses a number of light laboratories and offices (SNL, Livermore, 1991aq, 1991ah, 1991ai, 1991bh, 1991ap, 1991ay, 1991az, 1991be, 1991bd, 1991bp, 1991z, 1991ar, 1991ao, 1991s, 1991al, 1991am, 1991aw, 1991at, 1991bf, 1991bm):

Laser Plasma Source Laboratory, which is used to perform spectroscopic and lithographic experiments using a laser-based plasma source of extreme ultraviolet radiation.
High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy Laboratory, which is used to study the atomic structure of crystalline materials and the defects they contain.
Lab Sample Preparation Room, which is used for preparation of the transmission electron microscope specimens. This involves specimen grinding, polishing, sawing, chemical etching, electropolishing, and ion beam thinning.
Reactive Ion Etching Laboratory, which is used to dry etch thin films of germanium and organic polymers that have been deposited onto silicon substrates.
Nonlinear Optics Laboratory, which is used to perform nonlinear spectroscopy experiments. These experiments are performed on various gas samples which may be combusting or otherwise reacting, and which may originate from an open burner or be contained within a pressure or vacuum chamber.
Nonlinear Optics Technician Work Area, which is used to design, assemble, test, and repair various types of electronic equipment. This equipment includes analog and digital circuitry, microprocessor and microcomputer systems, and various computer- controlled instrumentation systems.
Optical Spectroscopy of Solid Samples Laboratory, which is used to perform laser-based spectroscopy of solids. Solids are heated in furnaces, cooled with cryogenic liquids, and exposed to various gaseous environments. Laser beams are focused on the samples and scattered light is collected and analyzed by electronic modules interfaced to or integrated within microcomputers.
Optical Spectroscopy of Gaseous and Solid Samples Laboratory, which is used to perform laser-based studies of molecular reactivity and spectroscopy. Lasers are utilized to effect and probe chemical change, and the reactant gases are exhausted by vacuum pumping system.
Ultrafast Spectroscopy of Condensed Media Laboratory, which is used to perform laser-based studies of photophysics and spectroscopy on semiconductors and other solid and liquid samples.
Excited State Spectroscopy Laboratory, which is used to develop new laser-based techniques for combustion studies.
Laser Spectroscopy of Interfaces Laboratory, which is used to perform laser-based studies of chemical reactions at interfaces.
Laser Chemistry Laboratory, which is used to perform laser-based studies of molecular reactivity and spectroscopy.
Cluster Chemistry Laboratory, which is used to perform laser-based studies of cluster reactivity and spectroscopy.
Ion Beam Analysis Laboratory, which is used for research into the characterization of materials by ion-beam analysis.
Metal Hydride Laboratory, which is used to explore the capability of selected metals to store hydrogen gas in solid form. The operations in the etal Hydride Laboratory fall into two categories. The first category is the maintenance of the equipment and construction of specialized apparatus for specific experimental tasks. The second category of the operation is concerned with sample preparation and the execution of the experiments.
Materials Synthesis and Analysis Laboratory, also known as the General Chemistry Laboratory, which is used for materials preparation and analysis.
Powder Materials Facility, which is used for the production, handling, characterization, and processing of powders under inert conditions. The facility is equipped with an atomization laboratory for making rapidly solidified powders, and a characterization laboratory for powders.
Special Materials and Special Handling Laboratory, which provides an area for the safe and efficient handling of toxic and/or pyrophoric materials and also provides for the characterization of powder materials.

Hazards Assessment

Routine hazards in Building 916 laboratories are associated with lasers, chemicals, microwave radiation, flames, extreme ultraviolet radiation, furnaces, vacuum chambers, compressed gasses, and ionizing radiation from accelerators. Other hazards are with the use of high voltages, the use of power and hand tools, and the use of electronic equipment.

Safety features within the laboratories include extreme ultraviolet radiation shielded in a vacuum enclosure, power supply interlocks, flow and thermal-switch interlocks, blast shields, flammable gas detectors, safety shower and/or eye wash stations, ventilation hoods, and relief valves and burst disks for high pressure tanks. Personnel training and adherence to established safety procedures is a requirement.

Generated Wastes and Effluents

The generated wastes from Building 916 laboratories includes spent chemicals (alcohols, solvents, acids, bases, photoresists, laser dyes), compressed gases, metals, oxides, ablation targets, substrates, small amounts of airborne halogenated and nonhalogenated solvents, spent oils, corrosive liquids, and batteries (SNL, Livermore, 1991g).

A.3.4.6 Building 923

The Radiography Facility, Building 923, is located in the north central section of SNL, Livermore. This 3880 sq ft building is used for radiography operations and contains four shielded radiography cells, a darkroom, a film reading room, an office, a laboratory/darkroom, and a hallway that acts both as a staging area for the radiography operation and the x-ray machine control room.

The radiography cells are shielded with thick concrete or lead walls and ceilings to permit the safe operation of a wide variety of radiation producing devices, which include x-ray machines, gamma ray sources, neutron sources, and many alpha, beta, and gamma ray sources. In addition, these cells have shielded entryways that are interlocked with the radiation-producing devices (SNL, Livermore, 1991bg).

The radiation sources are primarily used for the radiography (film radioscopy and electron imaging) of weapon and non-weapon components. The components radiographed are either non-hazardous or hazardous, and may contain explosives (SNL, Livermore, 1991bg).

The radiation sources include the radiation-producing machines with energies up to 420,000 volts; the 100 curie iridium-192 and cobalt-60 radiographic isotopes; sealed californium-252 spontaneous fission neutron source located inside a massive neutron source shield; and many other smaller sealed neutron, alpha, beta, and gamma ray isotopes sources of low activity (one micro-curie to five hundred milli-curies) stored safely in a shielded radiography cell. These radiation sources are used infrequently for material characterization studies involving technologies such as radiation transmission gauging, back-scatter measurements, x-ray fluorescence studies, and neutron activation analysis (SNL, Livermore, 1991bg).

Hazards Assessment

The hazards within this building are associated with the use of various radiation sources; high voltages from the x-ray machines; occasional handling of hazardous chemicals, heavy metals such as lead and uranium, and pressurized gases; the radiography of pyrotechnic devices; and the use of laboratory operational equipment such as cranes, forklifts, and ladders (SNL, Livermore, 1991bg).

The radiography laboratory is a "Radiological Controlled Area," which acts as a limited access area to protect individuals from the exposure to radiation and radioactive materials. Within the radiological controlled area there are designated "Radiation Areas," "High Radiation Areas," and "Very High Radiation Areas." Entry to any of these areas requires the radiation producing equipment to be shut down or the radioisotope source locked in its shielded camera. A radiation survey is performed to assure the nonexistence of any radiation. In addition flashing red lights and high radiation area warning lights alert personnel to keep out of the hazardous areas (SNL, Livermore, 1991bg).

Other safety procedures are described below (SNL, Livermore, 1991bg):

A lockout tagout procedure is followed to avoid serious injury from the high voltage equipment.
The explosives quantity is limited to 10 g, which are handled in a safe and approved manner. The operational personnel are kept to a minimum when radiographing explosives components.
Flammable liquids are kept to a minimum and handled safely with all ignition sources removed.
All pressurized systems associated with compressed gases have the required safety devices such as regulators, burst disks, relief valves, and certified hardware to preclude a high gas pressure incident.
Sulfur hexafluoride, an asphyxiate, is used as an electrical insulating gas in several of the x-ray machine transformers, and can cause suffocation if accidently released. The rooms are well ventilated.
Personnel follow the safe operating procedures for handling toxic materials.
The x-ray machines are located in shielded cells and the facility is continually monitored for radiation. The machines have several built-in safety systems (interlocks) that protect the personnel.

Generated Wastes and Effluents

The wastes generated during the radiography operations are bagged, sealed, labeled, and disposed. These wastes may consist of expended photoprocessing chemicals and small quantities of solvents or solvent-contaminated rags, oily rags, dead batteries, and lead foils (SNL, Livermore, 1991g). Film processing washwaters containing trace amounts of silver are also generated (SNL, Livermore, 1991g).

A.3.4.7 Building 924

The Heat Treatment Facility, Building 924, is located in the north central section of SNL, Livermore. This 800 sq ft facility is used to conduct heat treatments and assemble test equipment. The laboratory equipment includes a programmable vacuum furnace, a tube furnace, a salt pot furnace, two muffle furnaces, and two ovens (SNL, Livermore, 1991ad).

Hazards Assessment

The hazards in this facility are from fire, electrical energy, gas pressure, and specimens at elevated temperature. Overtemperature protection is built into all of the heating units, and an overtemperature setpoint is established before testing begins. If temperatures exceed this value, the equipment is shut down automatically (SNL, Livermore, 1991ad).

Generated Wastes and Effluents

Wastes generated include contaminated wipes, helium, and vacuum oils. This facility is used primarily for testing of materials and there are no other wastes generated (SNL, Livermore, 1991ad).

A.3.4.8 Defense Engineering Laboratory

The Defense Engineering Laboratory is located in the northwestern section of SNL, Livermore. This single story complex is 86,900 sq ft, and is composed of an office building, Building 940, two laboratory buildings, Buildings 941 and 942, and a mechanical/electrical support building, Building 943.

The Defense Engineering Laboratory contains the following primary functional areas:

Chemical and material sciences
Nondestructive evaluation
Laser physics
Environmental testing and evaluation

Building 941 contains chemistry and material science laboratories, and nondestructive evaluation areas. Building 942 contains strategic defense initiative area, laser physics area, and the portions of testing not contained in the mechanical/electrical building. Building 943 is a combined mechanical and electrical support building, and also contains the acoustics and shock/vibration testing to separate these functions from the main laboratories for vibration isolation. The laboratory buildings contain supporting shop areas, such as machines shops and assembly areas, among others.

Hazards Assessment

The hazards within the Defense Engineering Laboratory are associated with a variety of chemicals, plating and cleaning solutions, materials and nondestructive evaluation equipment, lasers, acoustics equipment, and shock and vibration equipment.

Safety features within this modern facility include ventilation systems, fume hoods, door interlocks, and a sprinkler system. The acoustics and shock/vibration testing are performed remotely in Building 943 for vibration isolation.

Generated Wastes and Effluents

Hazardous waste may contain spent oils, cleaning solutions, laser dyes, and a variety of hazardous or toxic chemicals. These wastes are transferred to the waste management facilities. Wastewater flows via gravity to two 5000-gal fiberglass tanks within a concrete pit. The wastewater is tested for contaminants prior to release to the sanitary sewer system or transfer to the waste management facilities.

A.3.4.9 Building 955/956

The Environmental Test Facility, Building 955, and the Vibration Test Laboratory, Building 956, are located in the southern section of SNL, Livermore. These 6407 sq ft and 2570 sq ft buildings are utilized to conduct environmental and vibration tests on assemblies that may contain small quantities of explosives under controlled conditions with minimal risk to personnel and equipment (SNL, Livermore, 1989a, 1991br).

Building 956 houses vibration testing equipment located in Rooms 102, 103, and 104. The operations center for the vibration experiments is located in Building 955 Room 106. The vibration equipment includes the vibration shaker systems, data acquisition/reduction systems, computers for vibration control, various electronic equipment, and video monitor equipment. Routine testing involves the operation of the electrodynamic shakers which have safety interlocks for shutdown in case of unusual occurrence. These interlocks provide personnel and equipment protection (SNL, Livermore, 1991br). The test cells in this facility are reinforced with concrete and are rated for one pound of explosives or equivalent (SNL, Livermore, 1989a).

Building 955 contains environment test chambers which are used to test components in simulated climatic conditions such as vacuum for altitudes, temperature and moisture extremes, corrosive environments, and leak testing (SNL, Livermore, 1990d).

Hazards Assessment

The hazards associated with the Environmental Test Facility are radiation from the radioactive components being tested, and personnel hazard when a malfunction occurs. Pre-testing evaluations are made to identify the hazards. Safe operating procedures are prepared and followed during the test operations (SNL, Livermore, 1990d).

The Environmental Test Facility uses a small amount of cleaning agents and other chemicals to accommodate (service or supply) the various devices that are tested or located here. These include salts for the corrosive chamber, refrigerants for compressors, and helium for leak testing. Appropriate material safety data sheets are available for each chemical (SNL, Livermore, 1990d).

A safe operating procedure has been established for testing items containing high explosives (SNL, Livermore, 1989a).

Generated Wastes and Effluents

These facilities are used primarily for the testing of assemblies, and so there is very little waste generated. The wastes include oils, salty water overflow, batteries, and contaminated rags.

A.3.4.10 Building 966

The High-Pressure Test Facility, Building 966, is located in the central section of SNL, Livermore. This 7750 sq ft building houses the following two major experimental areas:

·High-Pressure Facility. This facility contains several high-pressure cells, the high-pressure compressors, and the control room where the test operations are conducted. The test cells use systems for pressurizing gases to high pressures. The pressure systems consist of 12 stations that are capable of producing up to 30,000 lb per square inch pressure and one system using two 100,000 lb per square inch intensifier compressors (SNL, Livermore, 1991af, 1991ae, 1990b).

One cell within the High-pressure Facility contains an elevated temperature hydrogen charging station. The testing area within this cell includes a complete hydrogen distribution manifold, primary and secondary containment vessels, and a circulating-air oven (SNL, Livermore, 1991ak).

·Explosive Component Loading and Testing. This facility consists of explosive storage, assembly and handling, and is used for the testing of explosive components. The testing is performed on gas transfer systems in high-pressure cells. The assembly and handling of explosive components and devices are limited to 250 milligrams of explosive and pyrotechnic material (SNL, Livermore, 1991bu). SNL approved current-limited testers are used for measuring all bridgewires.

Hazards Assessment

All explosives used in Building 966 are already loaded in components such as explosive actuators and are regarded as having the potential of being inadvertently initiated through unexpected events such as electrostatic discharge or faulty electrical equipment such as a fireset. Hazards associated with the high-pressure systems are from inert or hydrogen gas escaping from leaking pressure vessels, and rupture of vessels and hardware, potentially resulting in fire, explosion, shrapnel, noise, and overpressure. Approved safe operating procedures are prepared and followed.

Generated Wastes and Effluents

The wastes from the explosive component loading area consist of expended actuators and beryllium copper (SNL, Livermore, 1991aa). The wastes from the high-pressure facility include contaminated rags, batteries, and empty containers (SNL, Livermore, 1991ae). The wastes from the test cells include vacuum pump oils, hydraulic oils, and ethylene glycol (SNL, Livermore, 1991af).

A.3.4.11 Building 968

The Tritium Research Laboratory, Building 968, is located in the southern section of SNL, Livermore. This 15,760 sq ft research and development facility uses tritium compounds in a variety of research and development activities. Operations vary according to programmatic requirements, but general goals are (SNL, Livermore, 1989b, 1983, 1991by):

Research with tritium and its compounds to study their physical and chemical behavior.
Research on the behavior of hydrogen isotopes and helium in metals to understand both transport and structural properties.

This facility includes a materials characterization lab, decontamination systems, monitoring room, nuclear magnetic resonance and tritium plasma studies laboratory, pressure systems laboratory, analysis and assay laboratory, permeation laboratory, component development laboratory, microscope laboratory, and assay station.

Hazards Assessment

Tritium is handled at this facility in the form of a gas. The administrative maximum limit has been set by the SNL, Livermore management at 50 g of tritium onsite at SNL, Livermore.

The use of gram amounts of tritium poses a radiological hazard, and therefore requires containment during its use in experiments. The containment of tritium material is a function of the quantity of material at risk:

Very small quantities (less than 0.005 g) are handled in the facility with single containment.
Quantities 0.005 g to 0.1 g must be enclosed in high velocity air hoods.
Quantities greater than 0.1 g must be secondarily contained in gloveboxes.

If the tritium is released into a secondary container the facility clean-up equipment is used to remove or recover the tritium. The clean-up equipment (the decontamination systems) consists of a gas purification system, a vacuum effluent recovery system, and a water recovery system.

The gas purification system is a 200 cu ft per minute recirculating system capable of reducing tritium concentration in a glovebox atmosphere to the parts-per-billion level. The gases recirculating through the gas purification system are heated to 1000·F and oxidized on a precious-metal catalyst, and the resulting tritiated water is cooled to room temperature and collected on molecular sieve dryers. Gloveboxes in the laboratory are connected to the gas purification system through a central manifold.

Gases contaminated with tritium are collected in the vacuum effluent recovery system. These gases are first stored temporarily in holding tanks. When the holding tank is filled, its contents are processed through the vacuum effluent recovery system. In the vacuum effluent recovery system, gases are processed through a hot catalyst to oxidize the tritium. The tritium is collected as tritium water vapors, then passed through a molecular sieve material to collect tritium from the gas stream. The remaining gas is then released to the environment.

Safety features in the facility include a high flow ventilation system and several tritium monitoring systems for room air, gloveboxes, stack, and process.

The facility is equipped with a diesel-driven emergency power generator. A control system starts the diesel engine and switches facility emergency power supported loads to the emergency power source within 30 seconds of a power failure. The ventilation system, tritium monitors, vacuum effluent recovery system, gas purification system, and gloveboxes are powered by the emergency power system.

Generated Wastes and Effluents

Tritium is the primary pollution concern.

Gaseous Effluents. Tritium releases to the gloveboxes are contained and collected by the gas purification system. Other gaseous effluents are processed in the decontamination system, consisting of the vacuum effluent recovery system and the gas purification system.
Liquid Effluents. Wastewaters from the laboratory sinks, floor drains, and restroom showers flow into two 2500 gal holding tanks. Samples are obtained from the tanks and tritium levels are determined prior to discharge into the sewer system (SNL, Livermore, 1991bz). If the wastewater is determined to be contaminated with tritium in concentrations greater than that permitted by DOE orders, it is pumped to the EPA-permitted wastewater evaporator system.
Solid Waste. Tritium-contaminated wastes generated at the laboratory are segregated into three categories: compactible, noncompactible, and mixed wastes. The compactible wastes consist of disposable protective clothing items such as lab coats, gloves, absorbent paper, and plastic products. These materials are sent to the waste handling area where they are compacted and prepared for disposal. Noncompactible and mixed wastes are stored in Building 961 (see Appendix B for more details).

A.3.4.12 Building 972

The Centrifuge and Mechanical Shock Test Laboratory, Building 972, is located in the southern section of SNL, Livermore. This 10,376 sq ft facility houses a 16-ft centrifuge and two bungee-assisted drop test machines for shock testing of equipment and assemblies (SNL, Livermore, 1991bl).

The centrifuge is driven by a hydraulic motor capable of turning up to 235 revolutions per minute. This centrifuge is located in Room 100, in a pit 8 ft deep by 24 ft in diameter. The power supply to the motor is located in the northeast equipment room (103). The operating hydraulic pressure of the system can be as high as 4000 lb per square inch (SNL, Livermore, 1991r).

The shock laboratory is located in Rooms 110, 110B, and 110C. This facility consists of two bungee-assisted drop test machines for performing classical shock and pulse tests and a hammer-excited shock beam for performing oscillatory shock tests.

The drop tests in the shock laboratory are accomplished by either of the following:

Direct free-fall drop onto a target.
Hammer impact into a frequency tunable bar.
Free fall or bungee-accelerated drop tables on machines designed for these purposes.

The type of shock can be controlled by using various setup techniques (SNL, Livermore, 1991bl).

Hazards Assessment

The routine hazards in Building 972 are associated with the use of mechanical equipment in the drop tests and centrifuge. The normal activities at the centrifuge involve lifting and mounting assemblies onto the fixture plate of the centrifuge arm. Use of the crane and hand tools is common as is working around and in the open centrifuge pit. High voltages are found within the cabinets of the centrifuge controls and within some of the peripheral equipment.

To prevent any accidents the safety features include encoded interlock interrogation, the microprocessor contains displacement gauges as an independent check, and operators are trained for the routine operations of the laboratory (SNL, Livermore, 1991bl).

Generated Wastes and Effluents

The centrifuge generates approximately 200 wipes annually that are contaminated with oil solvents from cleaning operations. The wastes generated by the drop assembly include acetone, isopropylalcohol, refrigerant, contaminated wipes, and empty containers (SNL, Livermore, 1991r, 1991bl).

A.3.4.13 Buildings 973 and 974

The Firing Facility, Building 973, and the Explosives Assembly Facility, Building 974, are located in the southern section of SNL, Livermore. These 6190 sq ft and 130 sq ft facilities are used to assemble and test a variety of explosive components.

The Building 973/974 Complex firing facilities are divided into three test areas: TA-1, TA-2, and TA-3. Building 973 houses the main operations center, the camera room, and a spinner room (TA-3). Building 974 is the area's explosive storage and assembly facility. The test areas TA-1 and TA-2 are located between Buildings 973 and 974, and contain firing chambers (SNL, Livermore, 1991bi).

The firing chambers are basically cylindrical pressure vessels constructed of 1-inch-thick steel, 9 ft in diameter and approximately 22 ft in length. This size of the chambers permits the internal pressure waves generated at the point of an explosive detonation to expand wholly within the chamber, and the net increase of internal pressure is bled into the atmosphere through a vent pipe and side ports (SNL, Livermore, 1991bi).

The firing chambers are fitted with camera and instrumentation ports, a ventilation system for exhausting gases after an explosive test, and hydraulically operated doors. The operations center contains two separate firing control systems, including firing circuitry, power supplies, relays, digitizers, interlocks, and safety warning lights for operation of each firing chamber (SNL, Livermore, 1991bi).

The Explosive Assembly and Storage Facility, Building 974, is a reinforced concrete structure divided into two separate sections. Each section contains an explosives assembly room and temporary explosives storage areas (in six concrete magazettes) for detonators, high explosives, and assembled test charges. Each section supports its respective firing chamber (SNL, Livermore, 1991bi).

Hazards Assessment

The hazards within this complex are associated with personnel working with explosives. Personnel are also involved with radioactive material and ionizing radiation-producing equipment (SNL, Livermore, 1991bi).

Personnel safety and operational safety procedures are in place and operating. Personnel are required to obtain proper safety, hazard communication, and waste generator training.

Generated Wastes and Effluents

Wastes generated from this complex include small quantities of adhesives, high explosives, oils, and contaminated wipes. The gaseous emissions from the two firing chambers and the centrifuge chamber are exhausted through vent pipes and side ports. Explosive operations at this facility have been declared exempt from permitting by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District so long as no more than 10,000 g of explosives is detonated in any consecutive twelve month period.

A.3.4.14 Building 976

The Gas Applications and Systems Facility, Building 976, is located in the southern section of SNL, Livermore. This 3530 sq ft building contains the following facilities (SNL, Livermore, 1991au, 1991ax, 1991ag):

Material Test System Facility, which is located in test Cell 2 and is used for testing of various materials in a variety of tensile and compression configurations. In addition, a number of different fatigue conditions are generated by the Material Test System control system for experimenters.
Neutron Radiography System Facility, which is located in test Cell 3 and is used for real-time neutron radiography experiments.
High-Pressure Hydrogen Test Facility, which includes Cell 5, Cell 5 roof area, and the control room tenant space. This facility is used to assemble high-pressure test equipment and to test the effects of hydrogen on metal specimens.

Hazards Assessment

The hazards within the Material Test System Facility are fragmentation of samples during test and the pinching and crushing of hands and objects by mechanical linkage, hydraulic hose, and cable movement. The hazards are controlled by locating the test system in a controlled entry test cell in a restricted access area. Within the test cell, the test frame is isolated from the manned area control console with protective shields during tests. The control system is equipped with easily accessible emergency stop buttons for rapid test cessation. It also has interlock switches and error detection to shut down operation if predetermined conditions set by the operator are exceeded (SNL, Livermore, 1991au).

The hazards within the Neutron Radiography System Facility are high-pressure combustible gas hazard (2500 lb per square inch maximum of hydrogen or deuterium), explosive hazard (explosive actuator valves), and low temperature hazard (components inside the vacuum envelope are cooled to approximately minus 40·C). The system is self-contained so that no hydrogen gas escapes during function testing. Safe operating procedures are prepared according to SNL, Livermore guidelines and followed (SNL, Livermore, 1991ax).

The hazards within the High-Pressure Hydrogen Test Facility are fire, explosion, and shrapnel resulting from hydrogen leakage or rupture of vessels and associated hardware. The high-pressure pump and all air-operated valves are controlled remotely at the control room during high-pressure operation. Building access is strictly controlled. All high-pressure pumping above 10,000 lb per square inch pressure is carried out remotely from the control room console. The pressure vessels, piping, valves, and fittings are rated for high pressures and have been hydrotested at 130 percent of maximum pressure indication. An audible hydrogen alarm is activated when one percent (a total of 69 grams) of the cell volume is occupied by hydrogen gas. In the event of an alarm, all personnel are required to leave the test cells and hallway and meet in the control room (SNL, Livermore, 1991ag).

Generated Wastes and Effluents

Wastes generated from the Building 976 facilities include oil-contaminated wipes, palladium scrap, Fluorinert brand electronic liquid, and air emissions of hydrogen and helium. The palladium is returned as scrap precious metal for recovery. The hydrogen and helium effluent is vented to the atmosphere, and does not require an environmental permit (SNL, Livermore, 1991ag, 1991ax, 1991au).

A.3.4.15 Building 978

The Mass Properties Facility, Building 978, is located in the southern section of SNL, Livermore. This 3280 sq ft facility is used to provide geodynamic mass properties measurement capability to support SNL, Livermore.

Building 978 consists of a Dynamic Aerospace and Mass Properties Facility and a High Speed Spin Laboratory. The dynamic aerospace and mass properties measurements involve the use of lifting, moving, installing, and measuring assemblies. These assemblies can range from 0.25 lb to 6000 lb and can possess both contained and noncontained hazards. This steel-reinforced concrete building is designed to safely handle test items containing up to one pound of high explosives. The test are performed remotely from an adjoining operations center (SNL, Livermore, 1991bs, 1991q).

The High Speed Spin Laboratory is used for limited assembly and testing of various test units. This laboratory consists of two turbine rooms and an operations center. The variety of equipment used in this facility includes electronic laboratory equipment, hand and power tools, overhead crane, hydraulic lift mechanisms, freon cooling equipment, oil lubricating systems, and vacuum systems (SNL, Livermore, 1991bn).

Hazards Assessment

There are no radiation hazards generated by the facility or its associated parts. There are no explosive hazards generated by the facility, although the facility is rated to test items containing up to one pound of high explosives and is designed to contain all shrapnel. All mass properties measurement and high speed spin test operations are performed remotely from the appropriate operations centers.

Generated Wastes and Effluents

This building is used primarily for testing of components, and so there are few wastes generated. These wastes include contaminated wipes, empty containers, spent lubricants, and cleaning solvents (SNL, Livermore, 1991q, 1991bn).

A.3.4.16 Building 979

The Component Development Laboratory, Building 979, is located outside the southern high security area of SNL, Livermore. This 4700 sq ft facility has an office area, a test cell for explosive and high pressure experiments, a room with three decommissioned gloveboxes, a room for data acquisition system, and a chemistry laboratory. The building is used for the design, assembly, and testing of gas transfer systems and other related systems (SNL, Livermore, 1991u, 1991t).

Hazards Assessment

The hazards in this facility are associated with the unintentional escape of hydrogen gases due to leakage, thus causing a fire and explosive condition. Other hazards are shrapnel, noise, overpressure, lack of life-supporting oxygen, and electrocution due to the presence of high voltage power supplies (SNL, Livermore, 1990h). The chemical hazards include flammables, toxics, corrosives, and respirable dusts.

Safety is ensured by performing all experiments above 15 lb per sq pressure remotely in test cells. All burst testing is done in a secondary container that is adequate to contain any shrapnel and brittle material. Hydrogen gas detectors are provided in the test cell and in rooms, with the associated alarms (SNL, Livermore, 1990h).

Generated Wastes and Effluents

Various amounts of waste are generated in Building 979 during the course of experiments. Liquid wastes include oils, epoxies, cutting fluids, lubricants, acids, caustics, and various other toxic and carcinogenic materials. Solid wastes include batteries, depleted aerosol cans, contaminated rags, and various metal and toxic materials.

The gloveboxes, exhaust hoods, and oxidation station are contaminated by radionuclides. This equipment is no longer in service and will be decommissioned in the near future.

A.3.4.17 Building 983

The Flight Test Assembly Facility, Building 983, is located in the southern section of SNL, Livermore. This 1670 sq ft facility is used for the mechanical assembly of test units and installation of explosives on component assemblies (SNL, Livermore, 1991ab). The building contains two assembly test cells, Cells 1 and 2, a central tool room, and small equipment room.

Hazards Assessment

The routine hazards within this facility are the use of mechanical equipment, handling assemblies containing explosives, and the application of chemicals. The inventory of chemicals within this facility includes small amounts of solvents and adhesives used for cleaning and bonding various types of instrumentation to their assemblies. Other chemicals include small amount of solders and mechanical equipment lubricants. Beryllium and depleted uranium are also used in this facility.

Generated Wastes and Effluents

The generated waste includes small quantities of spent solvents, high explosives, oils, adhesives, and waste wipes. The waste wipes are contaminated with either radioactivity or solvents (SNL, Livermore, 1991ab).

A.3.4.18 Explosives Storage Magazine

The Explosives Storage Facility, Building 982, Rooms 100 and 101, is located in the southern section of SNL, Livermore. This facility consists of eight earth-covered explosives storage magazines. These have been designed to Department of Defense ammunition and safety standards (SNL, Livermore, 1991i).

The maximum explosives storage weight of the six largest magazines are 100 lb of TNT equivalent each. The two smaller magazines are rated at 50 lb of TNT equivalent each.

Hazards Assessment

Only explosives are stored at this facility; there are no chemicals or formulations. The hazards are associated with an accidental initiation of the explosives and fire in the magazine area. (SNL, Livermore, 1991i).

The accident hazards are avoided by adequate and appropriate training of the personnel. Only the trained and qualified personnel are allowed in this area, and are subject to strict adherence to safety rules and appropriate equipment. Since fire is a real possibility, strict personnel controls are adhered to.

All explosives magazines are locked and monitored by the security organization. The explosives inventory is kept current to ensure that the facility is never overloaded and that there are no items missing (SNL, Livermore, 1991i).

Generated Wastes and Effluents

This facility is used primarily for the storage of explosives; only solid packaging materials are generated. These materials include cardboard, wood, and other types of packaging materials. These packaging materials are nonhazardous and are discarded along with other solid refuse (SNL, Livermore, 1991i).

A.3.4.19 Incinerator

The Incinerator is located in the southern section of SNL, Livermore. The unit consists of a primary chamber, approximately 30×30×60 inches, a secondary chamber, a steel-refractory-lined stack, and a side mounted retort. The unit is approximately 200 ft from the nearest property line (SNL, Livermore, 1991a, 1992a).

From the 1960s through October 1989 the onsite incinerator was used to dispose of energetic waste and classified documents and film. No energetic wastes were burned after October 1989. Classified documents, film, and small quantities of biomedical waste were burned in the incinerator until December 1991. A Part B permit with a subpart O exemption was submitted to Federal EPA and Cal-EPA in September 1991. This permit will allow SNL, Livermore to use the incinerator for treating energetic wastes. No other hazardous wastes will be allowed in the incinerator. Classified documents, film, and biomedical waste from the small onsite medical facility will also be incinerated. Federal EPA has reviewed the Part B application and requested additional information. SNL, Livermore submitted the additional information in April 1992. Cal-EPA has not reviewed the Part B application yet. SNL, Livermore is waiting for a response from Cal-EPA. The incinerator is currently permitted by BAAQMD and the Alameda County Department of Environmental Health.

Hazards Assessment

The hazards at the Incinerator include personnel exposure to flashback through open chamber doors during burning operations, exposure to hot surfaces of the Incinerator, and exposure to incinerator ash which may contain cadmium concentrations of 5 ppm or more.

The Incinerator is operated with secured doors until the burn cycle is complete, the burners have shut down, and chambers have cooled to ambient temperature. When the burners are in operation, personnel avoid contact with the Incinerator and leave the area. A red warning light warns personnel of burning activities. Personnel are required to wear protective equipment when handling ash.

Generated Wastes and Effluents

The film contains small amounts of cadmium concentrated in the ash. This ash is removed and placed in a designated hazardous waste container after each use of the Incinerator. No more than 50 gal of ash may be stored at the Incinerator.

A.3.4.20 Waste Management Facilities

The SNL, Livermore Hazardous Waste Management facilities are as follows (these facilities are described in detail in Appendix B):

Building 961 Area. The Radioactive and Mixed Waste Storage Facility, Building 961, is located near the center of SNL, Livermore. This 3600 sq ft facility houses low-level radioactive and mixed waste storage, along with decontamination and compaction operations.

Building 962-2. This facility is located near the center of SNL, Livermore, directly west of Building 961, and houses the staging and storage of small quantities of compatible hazardous materials to be labpacked for disposal. The building size is approximately 580 sq ft.

The Building 962-2 area consists of nine storage bays located directly west of Building 961. Seven of these storage bays are used to separate chemical wastes according to their chemical compatibility, and two bays are used for storage of spill control equipment. Each storage bay has a separate secondary containment system. For more information see Appendix B.

A.3.4.21 Security, Medical, and Emergency Response Facility

The medical facilities are currently located in Building 911. The medical group includes a physician and staff of nurses to provide health services. The services provided include evaluation and initial treatment of medical emergencies, limited medical and x-ray studies, physical/occupational therapy, and health education promotion activities. All services are to comply with state and federal laws and accepted standards of medical and nursing practice. In 1992 construction will begin on a 5000 sq ft building that will consist of an office space, examination and treatment rooms, and training rooms.

A.3.5 Program Projections, SNL, Livermore

This section describes the projects and program projections under the proposed action for SNL, Livermore. Projects required to maintain the existing infrastructure (such as building maintenance, minor modification to buildings, general landscaping, road maintenance, and similar support activities) under the no action alternative are also described here. These projects are described in sections A.3.5.1, A.3.5.2, and A.3.5.3, respectively. These projects are also summarized in Table A-12 (New Facilities) and TableA-13 (Upgrades, Operational, and Maintenance Projects).

TABLE A-12

TABLE A-13

Figure A-17 Program Projections, SNL,Livermore shows the locations of these projects.

A.3.5.1 Funded Construction Projects, SNL, Livermore

The fiscal year (FY) next to the project name is defined as the year funding starts or started for project design. It is reasonable to expect that these projects would be funded in the fiscal year cited for each project.

Main Electric Service and Switchgear, Fiscal Year 1991

A new main electrical service and associated switchgear must be installed at SNL, Livermore to replace the existing system that is not adequate to supply SNL, Livermore power requirements beyond 1992 (SNL, Livermore, 1991h).

The existing primary feeder system between the LLNL South Main Substation and the SNL, Livermore Main Switchgear is insufficient to supply the anticipated SNL, Livermore 1993 demand for power. The conduit size in the duct bank must be increased to six inches to facilitate the 13.8 kV primary feeder cables.

The Main Electric Service and Switchgear project will provide for the installation of 13.8 kV feeders in an associated underground duct-bank system a 13.8 kV vacuum circuit breaker assembly for a dual-source, separate-direction electrical service to SNL, Livermore. The project will replace the existing main service and associated switchgear as well as provide a new interface with the existing electrical distribution system.

A.3.5.2 Budgeted Construction Projects, SNL, Livermore

None.

A.3.5.3 Proposed Construction Projects, SNL, Livermore

The following construction projects are proposed but not yet funded. It is reasonable to expect that these projects would be funded in the fiscal year cited for each project.

Tritium Research Laboratory Tritium Limits, Building 968, Fiscal Year 1993 (pending); Decommissioning Tritium Research Laboratory, Fiscal Year 1994 (pending)

The proposed Tritium Research Laboratory Tritium Limits operational modification project decreases the tritium administrative limits to 0 g as part of the programmatic changes in Building 968.

The decommissioning activities would decontaminate and decommission the Tritium Research Laboratory, Building 968, to a non-nuclear facility. After decommissioning, this non-nuclear facility will continue to be managed by SNL, Livermore. The future mission of the facility, when defined, would receive appropriate environmental review.

The decommissioning activities will be completed in accordance with the appropriate DOE Orders and federal and state of California laws and guidelines. The decommissioning activities are expected to begin in 1994, contingent upon successful establishment of necessary experiment capabilities at other locations. Once decontamination and decommissioning begins, it is expected to take 3 years to complete.

The decommissioning activities would generate low-level and mixed wastes. The generated low-level wastes are estimated for the 3-year period to be 100,000 lb of equipment and scrap materials contaminated with residual tritium, conservatively estimated at 5000 to 10,000 Ci. These tritium-contaminated scrap materials and equipment would include 13 gloveboxes, 4 cabinets, 8 air hoods, 2000 ft of piping, and various small items such as pumps, tools, electrical equipment, optical equipment, and molecular sieve beds. These materials will be properly packaged and surveyed according to DOT regulations before shipment to offsite licensed disposal facilities in DOE- and DOT-approved containers.

The generated mixed wastes are estimated to be 310 gal of pump oils, Beckman scintillation cocktail fluids, and decontamination cleaning solvent (isopropyl alcohol) for the 3-year period. These pump oils and cleaning solvent wastes would be stored in Building 961 until DOE- approved disposal options are available. Scintillation cocktails would be shipped to a permitted facility in Florida for incineration.

During the decontamination activities, tritium air emissions (outgassing) may increase due to more instances of glovebox and piping openings in preparation for shipment to licensed disposal facilities. Tritium outgassing is estimated to be 2500 Ci. This averages an estimated 800 Ci per year for the 3-year decommissioning operations. The decontamination team would fully utilize the existing Tritium Research Laboratory safety features such as the vacuum effluent recovery system, the gas purification system, and the water recovery system. For larger piping and equipment to be dismantled, temporary restraining curtains would be utilized. Safety features such as the high flow ventilation system and the tritium monitoring system would also be utilized.

The exposures of the decontamination team would be minimized by pre-cleanup, extensive training and practice, rigorous planning, and the use of protective snorkels and bubble suits when applicable. The total radiation dose of the 10-worker decontamination team for the 3 years of this project is conservatively estimated to be 6 to 10 person-rem. Two full-time health physics staff would be assigned to the project. Workers would be regularly monitored for radiation exposure by urine sample analysis and portable radiation monitors. Experience of other DOE sites in decommissioning projects is being reviewed for applicability to this project.

In order to reduce the number of shipments, the total volume of this waste generation would be minimized by using contaminated gloveboxes as initial containers for smaller equipment and waste materials. The remaining unused volume in the gloveboxes would be filled in place with either rigid foam or other processes being developed to tie down all pieces of loose solid materials. Shipping containers would be DOE- and DOT-approved and would be properly packaged and surveyed according to DOT regulations before shipment. The number of shipments is conservatively estimated to be between 15 and 20 during the 3 years of this project.

Environment, Safety, and Health Enhancement Project, Fiscal Year 1997

The Environment, Safety, and Health Enhancement Project provides for the construction of the following new environment, safety, and health related facilities (SNL, Livermore, 1991e):

Environment, Safety, and Health Management Facility. This facility would provide space for the environment, safety, and health departmental offices and labs, emergency preparedness operations center, medical, and environment, safety, and health education and training facilities. This facility would resolve many Tiger Team recommendations. The facility size will be 35,000 sq ft.
Waste Processing Facility. This facility would provide space for waste packaging and shipment, waste process laboratories, material washdown and decontamination, and recycle material processing. This facility is needed to comply with the new federal and California laws. It also would provide space to conduct some waste processing research and implement a site recycle program. The facility size would be 10,000 sq ft.
Hazardous Material Storage Facility. This facility would consist of several modules to store different types of hazardous materials. The facility size would be 5000 sq ft.

Infrastructure Modernization Project, Fiscal Year 1994

The infrastructure modernization project provides for the modernization and repair of site facilities and mechanical utility systems. The project would include (SNL, Livermore, 1991f):

Roof replacements for Buildings 916, 914, 912, 920, 921, 922, 972, 973, and 978. These roofs are approaching or have exceeded their expected useful lifespans. Some buildings listed are currently experiencing significant roof leaks due to their deteriorated condition. These leaks are causing further damage to building elements.
Renovation of mechanical equipment rooms in Buildings 911, 912, 913, 914 and 916. These mechanical equipment rooms have served their expected useful lifespans and now require significant maintenance to keep them in operation. This project includes replacement of old and inefficient equipment.
Road, parking lot, and sidewalk resurfacing. The project would provide resurfacing of approximately 820,000 sq ft of paved areas. It would include needed modifications and additions to the site storm drainage system.
Site firewater system renovation. The site firewater system requires reconfiguration in some areas to eliminate several dead ends and to provide reliable fire water distribution to all areas of the site. In addition many buried valves and devices are old and have rusted beyond operability, and these must be replaced.
Site natural gas distribution system renovation. This system is old and has experienced many leaks because of old piping and fittings/valves. These leaks have been patched with the understanding that these were temporary repairs and that the entire system would require modernization. This project would identify the sections needing upgrade and would make the necessary improvements.

Site Seismic Modernization, Fiscal Year 1997

This is a multiphase effort to renew site structural systems and modify them to meet current and potential future seismic requirements; this modernization would minimize property loss and protect worker safety in the event of an earthquake. Seismic requirements for all the existing facilities at the site are of pre-1980 or post (early) 1980 vintage. Hence, an evaluation of all the facilities needs to be done to determine their actual seismic capacities before any modifications can be proposed (SNL, Livermore, 1991bw).

There are over 40 buildings at SNL, Livermore. A seismic evaluation and a Conceptual Design Report for these buildings along with all major equipment and utility systems would be completed during FY 1994. Once the project is reviewed and validated by DOE and funding has been approved, a detailed evaluation and design modifications would be worked out during FY 1997 and FY 1998. Construction to implement the modifications would be initiated during FY 1997 and completed during FY 2003.

Center for Environmental Technologies Research, Fiscal Year 1997

The Center for Environmental Technologies Research would be used to identify and develop advanced thermomechanical treatment technology to be used to minimize or process waste generated at DOE weapons production facilities, and perform the technological base research necessary to facilitate this technology development. The conceptual design report would be developed during FY 1994. After approval the design work would be initiated in FY 1997 and completed in FY 1998. The equipment procurement and occupancy phase would be initiated in FY 1999 and completed in FY 2001.

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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)