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Irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources that
could occur with the implementation of any of the alternatives 
to stabilize plutonium solutions currently stored in the 
F-Canyon at the Savannah River Site fall into the categories 
of materials and energy.  The physical plant and facilities
that would be required to implement the No-Action and
Vitrification (Defense Waste Processing Facility) Alternatives
would rely on existing facilities, so the resources typically
required to construct new buildings and establish new engineering
processes would not be required.  The Processing to Metal
Alternative would require minor modifications to FB-Line to
provide new repackaging capabilities for the metal produced.  The
Processing to Oxide Alternative would involve more extensive
modifications to FB-Line and potentially a new facility, which
would require about 4.5 acres in F-Area.  The Vitrification
(F-Canyon) Alternative would require extensive modifications to
the F-Canyon facility.

7.1 Materials

The construction of the Repackaging and Vault Facility would
require about 4,600 cubic meters (6,000 cubic yards) of concrete 
and about 335 metric tons (370 tons) of steel.  Chemicals such 
as nitric acid and tributyl phosphate would be committed for the 
various alternative processes.  The required chemicals and materials 
are readily available. Strategic and critical materials (e.g., 
beryllium, cadmium, cobalt) would not be required in quantities that 
would seriously reduce the national or world supply.
Existing facilities that DOE would use for stabilization
activities would have contaminated areas and equipment that 
would be unusable for recycling.  This would include materials 
such as masonry, piping, metal structures and objects, flooring, 
and plastics.

7.2 Energy

Energy would be consumed under all alternatives to provide power
to operate the F-Canyon buildings and the various process
activities conducted in them.  Steam would be used for
applications such as evaporators and off-gas reactors.  The fuel
used to create electricity for the facilities would be purchased
from commercial utilities.  Small amounts of diesel fuel would also be used.
Annual electric consumption rates have been estimated for 1995
through 2004.  The annual electric use estimate for the No-Action
Alternative would be 21,974 million kilowatt-hours.  For the
Processing to Plutonium Metal Alternative the use would range
between 12,197 and 26,284 million kilowatt-hours.  For the
Processing to Plutonium Oxide Alternative, annual use would range
from 12,197 to 26,284 million kilowatt-hours.  For the Vitrification
(Defense Waste Processing Facility) Alternative, electric use
would range from 12,096 to 25,200 million kilowatt-hours
annually.  For the Vitrification (F-Canyon) Alternative, electric
use would range from 15,231 to 25,307 million kilowatt-hours
annually.