September 2015

Review of the Low-Activity Waste Facility Hazards Analysis Reports for the Melter and Melter Offgas Systems at the Hanford Site Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Enterprise Assessments (EA) performs targeted oversight activities for selected high-hazard nuclear facility design/construction projects.  One of the targeted oversight activities is the DOE Office of River Protection Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant, managed by Bechtel National, Inc.  Currently, EA is evaluating the development of the documented safety analysis for the Low-Activity Waste facility.  EA examined the development of the hazards analyses for the melter and melter offgas systems, because their operations pose significant hazards to co-located workers and adjacent nuclear facilities.  EA observed the Bechtel National, Inc. hazards analysis teams’ activities associated with these systems and reviewed the Hazards Analysis Report for the Low-Activity Waste Facility, Volume 4, Melter System, which was approved in March 2015, and the Hazards Analysis Report for the Low-Activity Waste Facility, Volume 5, Melter Offgas System, which was approved in January 2015.