APPENDIX B WASTE MANAGEMENT
This appendix summarizes existing onsite waste management activities and conditions for radioactive, hazardous, mixed, and medical waste generated at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore (SNL, Livermore). Reference to LLNL without specifying the LLNL Livermore site includes Site 300, plus any offsite LLNL leased properties that may ship waste to the LLNL Livermore site. This appendix discusses the practices of onsite waste handling, packaging, and treatment; treatment and storage units; and estimates of waste generation. Transportation of waste is discussed in Appendix K. Figure B-1 shows how Appendix B is organized. Figure B-2 illustrates where additional information on waste management operations is found within this EIS/EIR and how Appendix B interfaces with other appendices.
Several terms are used to describe waste management responsibilities and operating practices at LLNL and SNL, Livermore. These key terms are defined as follows:
Waste Generator. Any individual or group of individuals that generate radioactive, mixed, hazardous, or medical wastes and/or nonsewerable wastewater at LLNL or SNL, Livermore. Waste generator responsibilities are discussed in section B.3.1.1.
Waste Management Staff. Group of individuals whose sole responsibility is to manage wastes generated at the Laboratories (including offsite leased properties) and perform tasks associated with the management of those wastes. The responsibilities of this group, which includes members of the environmental protection organizations at the respective Laboratories, are summarized in section B.3.1.2. (In some cases, this staff may be supported by other persons or groups also performing waste management activities.)
Waste Management Facilities. One or more of the waste management units as defined in sections B.4.2.1, B.4.3.1, or B.5.1 for LLNL Livermore site, LLNL Site 300, and SNL, Livermore respectively.
Waste Accumulation Area. An area specifically designated for temporary collection and storage of wastes until they are picked up by the waste management staff. Hazardous and mixed waste may only be stored in these areas for up to 90 days. Radioactive waste may also be stored in these areas prior to being transferred to Waste Management storage facilities or being shipped offsite. Radioactive wastes may be stored indefinitely in these areas as long as storage is in compliance with DOE Order 5820.2A and relating laws and regulations. Medical wastes are not stored in these areas, but are accumulated at generator facilities. Laboratory guidelines have been developed for proper use of these areas (Hirabayashi, 1989).
Satellite Accumulation Area. A place where a generator may maintain waste containers at or near the point of generation (e.g., in laboratories or machine shops) to collect small quantities of wastes. Hazardous and mixed wastes may be accumulated in limited quantities for periods up to 9 months or until 55 gal of a hazardous waste or 1 qt of an extremely hazardous waste has been accumulated. Radioactive waste may be accumulated indefinitely, as long as appropriate rules and regulations are followed. An extensive list of guidelines must be met to establish a satellite waste accumulation area (Hirabayashi, 1989).
Offsite Leased Property. Facilities external to the LLNL Livermore site that are authorized to ship waste to the site. These include LLNL facilities at the Livermore Municipal Airport, Graham Court, Research Drive, Almond Avenue School, and the Camp Parks facility. (Appendix A lists these facilities.)
Retention System. Collection tanks and associated pumping and piping used to collect wastewater that may contain contaminants at levels above allowable limits for discharge into the sanitary sewer system. The collection tanks isolate the wastewater from the sewer until sampling and analysis results determine if the water is sewerable (based on release limits), or if it requires processing and/or alternate disposition. Retention systems provide isolation of potentially contaminated liquids to prevent unacceptable release. At SNL, Livermore, the retention system is called the Liquid Effluent Control System (LECS); however, the term retention system is used throughout this document for consistency.
Sewerable. Wastewater that meets site release criteria for discharge to the sanitary sewer system and, therefore, is dischargeable to the sewer.
Nonsewerable. Wastewater that does not meet site release criteria for discharge to the sanitary sewer system and cannot be adjusted for discharge. The wastewater is not discharged to the sanitary sewer system, but is instead handled and disposed of as a hazardous waste.
B.1 WASTE MANAGED AT LLNL AND SNL, LIVERMORE
The types of waste managed by LLNL and SNL, Livermore waste management organizations include five categories: radioactive waste, hazardous waste, mixed waste, medical waste, and industrial (nonsewerable) wastewater. These waste types, defined in the following sections, are generated in various forms and quantities as a result of the numerous research and support activities performed at the Laboratories. Although not classified as hazardous waste, LLNL and SNL, Livermore manage industrial (nonsewerable) wastewater as hazardous waste, shipping it to a licensed treatment, storage, or disposal facility. In addition to these wastes, this appendix discusses sanitary sewer effluent controls that monitor allowable releases and prevent unacceptable releases of radioactive and/or hazardous constituents to the sewer system.
Nonhazardous refuse generated in uncontaminated areas such as administrative buildings and offices is collected and disposed through usual industrial practices (i.e., in a sanitary landfill) and is addressed in sections 4.4 and 5.1.3 of this EIS/EIR.
B.1.1 Waste Type Definitions
The following types of waste are generated at LLNL and/or SNL, Livermore.
Radioactive WasteRadioactive waste is material that contains radionuclides regulated under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and is of negligible economic value given the cost of recovery. The radioactive waste generated at LLNL may be classified as either transuranic or low-level waste, while SNL, Livermore generates only low-level waste.
- Transuranic waste is waste, without regard to source or form, that is contaminated with alpha-emitting radionuclides of atomic number greater than 92 (uranium) and with half-lives greater than 20 years in concentrations greater than 100 nanocuries per gram. This type of waste is usually generated at LLNL from the use of plutonium and other transuranic isotopes in nuclear weapons research and development.
- Low-level waste is waste containing radioactivity not classified as high-level waste, transuranic waste, spent nuclear fuel, or specified byproduct material, as defined by DOE Order 5820.2A. Test specimens of fissionable material irradiated for research and development only, and not for the production of power or plutonium, may be classified as low-level waste, provided the concentration of transuranic radionuclides is less than 100 nanocuries per gram. Low-level waste is generated at LLNL and SNL, Livermore from research and development activities that use radioactive materials.
There are several classes of radioactive wastes that are not generated at LLNL or SNL, Livermore. Types of radioactive waste not generated at LLNL or SNL, Livermore include irradiated fuel removed from a reactor (i.e., spent fuel), high-level waste from reprocessing spent fuel, and tailings produced by the extraction or concentration of uranium or thorium from ore.
Hazardous WasteHazardous waste is waste that is designated hazardous by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations found in 40 C.F.R. 261 and/or by the State of California per Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations (see section B.2). As used throughout this appendix, the term "hazardous waste" refers to nonradioactive hazardous waste.
Mixed WasteMixed waste is waste containing both radionuclides as defined by the Atomic Energy Act and hazardous components as defined by 42 USC 6901 et seq. (RCRA). LLNL Livermore site generates both low-level mixed and transuranic mixed waste while LLNL Site 300 and SNL, Livermore generate only low-level mixed waste.
Medical WasteMedical waste (as defined in the California Health and Safety Code, Chapter 6.1) includes but is not limited to the following:
Biohazardous Waste
- Discarded live and attenuated vaccines.
- Discarded material contaminated with recognizable fluid blood, fluid blood products, containers, or equipment containing blood that is fluid.
- Discarded material contaminated with excretion, exudate, or secretions known to be infected with a highly communicable disease agent.
- Animal carcasses and animal waste products suspected of being contaminated with infectious agents.
Sharps Waste
- Any device having acute rigid corners, edges, or protuberances capable of cutting or piercing, including, but not limited to (1) hypodermic needles, syringes, blades, and needles with attached tubing; and (2) broken glass items such as pipettes and blood vials contaminated with medical waste.
Nonsewerable Industrial Wastewater
Nonsewerable industrial wastewater is wastewater that contains constituents at concentrations greater than allowed to be discharged to the sanitary sewer but does not meet the criteria to be designated as hazardous waste. This waste is managed as hazardous waste by the Laboratories.
B.1.2 Waste Generated by Site
Waste generated at LLNL and SNL, Livermore may be in solid, liquid, or gaseous form and contain hazardous and/or radioactive constituents. Table B-1 shows the types of waste generated and managed by site at LLNL and SNL, Livermore.
The sites specifically addressed in Appendix B include the LLNL Livermore site, LLNL Site 300, and SNL, Livermore. For purposes of discussion in this document, the LLNL offsite leased properties are considered part of the LLNL Livermore site. The relative quantities of waste generated from these offsite leased properties are relatively insignificant (i.e., on the order of a few waste drums per year from each facility) compared to the quantities generated by the three main sites. Wastes generated from offsite leased properties are included in the total quantities presented for the LLNL Livermore site.
Gaseous waste is also not discussed in detail in Appendix B. Relative to waste management operations, gaseous waste consists of used compressed gases from research activities that are containerized and require treatment/disposal as a hazardous, radioactive, or mixed waste. These wastes are not processed onsite, but are shipped offsite to approved treatment, storage, and disposal facilities. In addition, the relative quantities of gaseous waste generated at the LLNL Livermore site are small compared to other waste streams.
Table B-1 Waste Types Generated by Site
| Waste Generation | Radioactive | Mixed | Hazardous | Medical | ||
| LLW | TRU | LLW | TRU | |||
| Solid | ||||||
| LLNL Livermore site | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| LLNL Site 300 | X | X | X | X | ||
| SNL, Livermore | X | X | X | X | ||
| Liquid | ||||||
| LLNL Livermore site | X | X | X | X | X | |
| LLNL Site 300 | X | X | X | |||
| SNL, Livermore | X | X | X | |||
| Gaseous* | ||||||
| LLNL Livermore site | X | X | X | |||
| LLNL Site 300 | ||||||
| SNL, Livermore | ||||||
* Gaseous waste is not processed by the waste management staff but is only stored prior to shipment offsite for treatment and disposal; it is, therefore, not discussed in detail.
LLW = Low-level waste.
TRU = Transuranic waste.
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