Idaho, Los Alamos Collaborate to Advance Safe, Efficient Waste Disposal

A Los Alamos National Laboratory glovebox, securely packaged in a soft-sided bag, is loaded into the treatment facility at the Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project at the Idaho National Laboratory site, where it undergoes processing for safe disposal.

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Idaho Cleanup Project (ICP) crews recently processed and packaged a glovebox from Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), an accomplishment that could lead them to treat and certify similar waste from LANL before disposing of it at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico.

“This project demonstrates ICP’s critical role in addressing complex waste streams and advancing the Department of Energy’s (DOE) cleanup mission while adhering to our commitments to the state of Idaho,” ICP Manager Nicholas Balsmeier said. “The team’s efforts ensure waste is processed safely and efficiently, protecting the environment and enabling continued progress in waste management.”

Last fall, LANL safely shipped the glovebox to the Idaho National Laboratory site according to waste transportation regulations. ICP workers ensured the glovebox and its components met WIPP’s waste acceptance criteria. A glovebox is a sealed, stainless steel containment enclosure equipped with glove ports and windows, designed to protect personnel from radiological and chemical hazards when handling radioactive materials.

With the help of remote-controlled equipment, crews at ICP’s Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project (AMWTP) treatment facility disassembled the glovebox in shielded workspaces and packaged it into 100-gallon drums, which now await certification and shipment to WIPP for permanent disposal.

LANL and ICP have a long history of collaboration. From 2013 to 2014, LANL shipped multiple corrugated metal boxes to AMWTP for processing. Similarly, from 2010 to 2011, the Hanford Site sent waste to Idaho in a series of shipments. Processing this waste at AMWTP resulted in a 68% reduction in the number of shipments going to WIPP for disposal, allowing for more efficient use of WIPP’s disposal space.

Dan Coyne, president and program manager for ICP’s cleanup contractor, Idaho Environmental Coalition, believes this project supports DOE’s cleanup mission, as well as other national interests.

“Our team is well-positioned to process challenging waste inventories from across the DOE complex. We have the right people and the right equipment to get the job done,” Coyne said. “This project is more evidence that Idaho continues to play a key role in reducing DOE’s environmental liabilities, which further supports future nuclear missions within the DOE complex.”

-Contributors: Ryan Christensen, Leslie Dal Lago