[DOE LETTER HEAD]

 

January 02, 2008

 

Savannah River Operations Office

P.O. Box A

Aiken, South Carolina 29802

 

The Honorable A. J. Eggenberger, Chairman

Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

625 Indiana Avenue, NW, Suite 700

Washington, DC 20004-2901

 

Dear Mr. Chairman:

 

Your letter of August 29, 2007, noted that the Board believes there is a reasonable assurance of safety in storing aluminum-rich supernate in Tank 11, provided that certain actions are performed. In interactions with the Board Staff, the Savannah River Operations Office (SR) committed to provide an update to actions being taken in preparation of this activity. SR approved the compliance strategy for transfer of the Tank 51 supernate to Tank 11 on October 29, 2007, and that document is enclosed. Basic elements include:

 

  1. Continued robust implementation of the Tank Farm corrosion control program,
  2. Continued rigorous implementation of the Tank Farm Transfer Control Program,
  3. Continued inspections of Tank 11 in accordance with the In-Service Inspection Program for High-Level Waste Tanks. Additionally, during the transfer of waste from Tank 51 into Tank 11, video cameras will be installed within the Tank 11 annulus to provide monitoring in accordance with a Tank 11 annulus inspection plan,
  4. Continued compliance with the Tank Farm Technical Safety Requirements for annulus leak detection,
  5. Verification of annulus leak response procedures and validation of operability of associated equipment prior to transfer to Tank 11,
  6. Ensuring capability to transfer waste from Tank 11 to other available tanks, if needed,
  7. Ensuring the material meets Salt Waste Processing Facility feed specifications, and
  8. Maintaining the liquid level in Tank 11 well below the known leak sites (maintain level less than 145”).

 

Authorization to proceed remains contingent upon SR approval of a revision to the Concentration, Storage, and Transfer Facilities Authorization Agreement, which is forecast for January 2008. If you have any further questions, please call me at (803) 952-6337 or Mr. Terry Spears, Assistant Manager for the Waste Disposition Project, at (803) 208-6072.

 

                                                                                                Sincerely,

 

                                                                                                Jeffrey M. Allison

                                                                                                Manager

 

 

 

W DPD-08-027

 

Encl:

Storage of Aluminum-Rich Supernate

in Tank I 1 Compliance Strategy and Matrix