Creative Storage Solutions in an Ever-Changing Environment

B&W Pantex dismantles retired nuclear weapons for the United States Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). As a function of these dismantlement activities, B&W Pantex temporarily holds various components containing nuclear materials while awaiting disposition. Disposition paths for weapon components will periodically change as the disposition processes are improved, relocated, or significantly modified. Additionally, the approved shipping container may change due to changes in regulations or requirements, or expiration of approval for use of the specific container. As changes occur in the disposition pathways, weapon retirements continue. This necessitates finding additional locations to increase capacities for component staging and interim storage as the population of the nuclear material components increases. The storage locations are also subject to changes in regulations, etc., which further complicates matters. The cost of construction of new facilities for staging or interim storage generally makes that path the last choice. When new locations or modified storage configurations in an existing facility are entertained, the Documented Safety Analysis for that facility must undergo extensive reviews. B&W Pantex recognized the upcoming issues several years ago, and has successfully pursued creative solutions to increase the storage capacity of nuclear material components. These creative solution efforts have resulted in significant improvements in the storage capacity of nuclear material components at B&W Pantex with a significant cost savings for the National Nuclear Security Administration.