The Nuclear weapons complex : management for health, safety, and the environment / Committee to Provide Interim Oversight of the DOE Nuclear Weapons Complex, Commission on Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and Resources, National Research Council.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee to Provide Interim Oversight of the DOE Nuclear Weapons Complex.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Nuclear weapons plants--United States--Safety measures.

Nuclear weapons plants.

Nuclear weapons plants--Environmental aspects--United States.

Nuclear weapons plants--Employees--Health and hygiene--United States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (156 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academy Press, 1989.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In this volume, the National Research Council examines problems arising throughout government-owned, contractor-operated facilities in the United States engaged in activities to build nuclear weapons. The book draws conclusions about and makes recommendations for the health and safety of the nuclear weapons complex and addresses pressing environmental concerns. In addition, the book examines the future of the complex and offers suggestions for its modernization. Several explanatory appendixes provide useful background information on the functioning of the complex, criticality safety, plutonium chemistry, and weapons physics.

Contents:

The Nuclear Weapons Complex

Copyright

Preface

Contents

Executive Summary

MANAGEMENT

ENVIRONMENT

SAFETY

HEALTH

MODERNIZATION

1 Introduction

THE NUCLEAR WEAPONS COMPLEX

THE CURRENT SITUATION

THE CHALLENGES

Setting Production Goals

Setting Priorities

Using Technical Strengths

Developing and Maintaining Competence

Changing the DOE Culture

2 Management

THE MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE

Contractors

Award Fees

Contractor Turnover

External Oversight

CHANGES

AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT

Simple Lines of Authority

Decisionmaking Processes

Internal Oversight Structure

Communication

Directives from Headquarters

Exchange of Information within the Complex

Independent Technical Advice

Availability of Qualified Personnel

Recruitment

Training

3 Environment

INTRODUCTION

Background

Recent Initiatives

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION

SETTING STANDARDS AND PRIORITIES ACROSS THE COMPLEX

Risk-Based Cleanup Standards

National Priority System

Characterization of Contaminated Sites

WASTE MANAGEMENT

Waste Minimization

Process Development

ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH

Types of Research Needed

The Role of DOE Measurement Laboratories

DOE'S ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

Participation by the Public and by Local and State Officials in Environmental Programs

Ecological Value of DOE Lands

4 Safety

INDUSTRIAL SAFETY

Inhalation of Radioactive Materials

Contamination in Ductwork

Conventional Industrial Safety Practices

Sitewide Emergency Control Centers and Local Monitoring of Safety Systems

FIRE SAFETY

Variations in Operational Approach

Fire Protection Audits

Personnel and Equipment

CRITICALITY SAFETY

SEISMIC SAFETY

DOE Practice

Earthquake Criteria

Upgrading Old Facilities

5 Health.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

The Role of Medical Expertise

Chemical Hazards

ASSESSING RISKS TO HEALTH

Monitoring in the Workplace

Research on Effects of Exposure to Low Levels of Radiation

Epidemiology on Exposure of Workers

Epidemiology on Exposure of the Nonworker Population

6 Modernization of the Complex

THE DOE MODERNIZATION REPORT

Capacity for Processing Plutonium

Renovation and Modernization

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY

Upgrading the Chemical Processing of Plutonium

Computing and Communications Technology

Robotics

Appendixes

Appendix A Biographical Sketches of Committee Members

Appendix B The DOE Nuclear Weapons Complex: A Descriptive Overview

WEAPONS LABORATORIES

MATERIALS PRODUCTION FACILITIES

Heavy Metal Production

Fernald/Ashtabula/Hanford

ICPP/Y-12/Savannah River

Light Element Production: Y-12 and Savannah River

D2O Production at SRS

Li6 and Li6D Production at Y-12

Tritium Production at SRS

WEAPONS PRODUCTION FACILITIES

Production of Weapons Components

Assembly and Disassembly of Weapons

Appendix C Nuclear Criticality

DEFINITIONS

AN ILLUSTRATION

FACTORS AFFECTING CRITICALITY

Density

Moderation

Reflection

Geometrical Shape

Neutron Absorbers

ASSESSING CRITICALITY SAFETY

CRITICALITY ACCIDENTS IN MATERIALS PROCESSING

Appendix D Plutonium

Appendix E Physics of Nuclear Weapons Design

FISSION WEAPONS

Neutron Sources

Assembly Methods

Predetonation

BOOSTED WEAPONS

THERMONUCLEAR WEAPONS

Appendix F Charge to the Committee

References.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references (p. 141-143).

ISBN:

9786610212736

9781280212734

128021273X

9780309571883

030957188X

9780585155364

0585155364

OCLC:

614569881