Qualitative Options Analysis Approaches For Managing Nuclear Materials

Qualitative approaches to performing decision analyses for project start-ups have been developed and successfully implemented by Oak Ridge National Laboratory staff with the goal of providing simple tools to help manage complex projects that have a variety of drivers or constraints. Many of the Department of Energy’s nuclear materials management projects involve “keep-or-dispose” decisions for nuclear materials and then require developing projects to manage or dispose of the materials. Oak Ridge National Laboratory uses options analysis tools to identify and rank options for accomplishing nuclear materials management projects. This paper focuses on application of the options analysis tools to guide management of projects in the planning phases when only preliminary project information is likely to be available. Examples of how the tools are successfully being used in nuclear waste management are provided.