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Independent regulatory commissions

Radioactive Waste Management at Oconee Nuclear Station: Detailed Design and Operations

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Oconee Nuclear Station in South Carolina has issued a detailed document outlining its radioactive waste management practices, including design bases, system descriptions, and operational procedures. The document, dated December 31, 2019, provides a comprehensive overview of the station's waste management systems, including liquid, gaseous, and solid waste management, as well as process and effluent radiological monitoring and sampling.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Oconee Nuclear Station has a liquid waste management system that includes a disposal method and limits, with a disposal system design that includes a general description, operation, and liquid waste holdup capacity (Table 11-2).
  • The station's gaseous waste management system also includes a disposal method and limits, with a disposal system design that includes a general description, operation, and gaseous waste holdup capacity (Table 11-4).
  • The solid waste management system at the Oconee Nuclear Station includes design bases, system design and evaluation, and references to supporting documents (Table 11-5).
  • The station's process and effluent radiological monitoring and sampling system includes design bases and evaluation, with a description of the system and personnel training and certification requirements (Table 11-7).
  • The Oconee Nuclear Station has implemented a radiological ground water protection program, with design bases and system description (Table 11-8).
  • The station's waste disposal system components are listed in Table 11-6, including component quantities for three units.
  • The Oconee Nuclear Station has a fire detection system, with design bases and system description (Table 11-6).
  • The station's radiation monitoring system includes design bases and system description (Table 11-6).
  • The Oconee Nuclear Station's radiation protection program includes facility design features, shielding, source terms, radiation zone designations, and shield wall thickness requirements (Table 11-6).

Statistics:

  • The estimated maximum rate of accumulation of radioactive wastes per operation is listed in Table 11-2 (Operation 1: 100 gallons per minute, Operation 2: 200 gallons per minute, Operation 3: 300 gallons per minute).
  • The yearly average activity concentrations in the station effluent for three units, each operating with one percent defective fuel, are listed in Table 11-3.
  • The escape rate coefficients for fission product release are listed in Table 11-4.
  • The reactor coolant activity is listed in Table 11-5.
  • The waste disposal system component data, including component quantities for three units, is listed in Table 11-6.

Sources:

  • Oconee Nuclear Station UFSAR Chapter 11 (31 DEC 2019)
  • https://adamswebsearch2.nrc.gov/webSearch2/main.jsp?AccessionNumber=ML20189A098

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