LOW-EQUITY MATERIAL DISCARDS AT THE Y-12 NATIONAL SECURITY COMPLEX

The Y-12 National Security Complex (Y-12) is managed by BWXT Y-12 for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Y-12 has substantial inventories of various material forms that contain highly enriched uranium (HEU). These materials have been held for recovery of the HEU and vary by both enrichment level and weight-percentages of HEU. Many forms have low concentrations of 235U and are not economical for recovery. Y-12 is identifying the material forms that are not economical for recovery and discarding them as funding permits. Discard of much of this material requires agreement from DOE to a higher discard limit for the materials. The initial limits are established as concentrations of 235U in the manual DOE M 470.4-6, Nuclear Material Control and Accountability. To determine and justify higher discard limits, an economic analysis of the recovery versus discard option is performed. The background, objectives, benefits, discard approval process, and successes of this program will be addressed in the paper.