Summary of the Workshop on Improving Holdup Monitoring in the United States Angela Lousteau and Stephen CroftOak Ridge National LaboratoryPO Box 2008, MS-6166, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6166<u>lousteaula@ornl.gov</u><u></u>, <u>crofts@ornl.gov</u><u></u> Inadvertent nuclear material accumulations reported over the last decade indicate a critical and ongoing need for defensible holdup programs in US nuclear facilities. The characterization and quantification of nuclear material holdup continues to challenge nuclear criticality safety, environmental management, and safeguards and security programs. Ultimately, inadequate holdup measurement programs negatively affect the operational effectiveness of domestic nuclear facilities. The 2019 Technical Workshop on Improving Holdup Monitoring in the United States was organized to help identify, support, and maintain defensible holdup measurement practices in the United States. The workshop, held at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, was attended by 35 nondestructive assay professionals, scientists, and managers representing various US Department of Energy sites, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and commercial industry. The workshop helped identify the elements of a successful and defensible holdup measurement program, specific challenges and needs associated with measurement of <i>in situ</i> plutonium and uranium, and share lessons learned about recent accumulation events. Additionally, identification of potential accumulation points, reduction measurement uncertainties, and enhancements to current nondestructive assay methods were discussed. This paper summarizes the identified programmatic and technical challenges associated with holdup measurements and provides recommendations to improve the effectiveness of holdup measurement practices in the United States.
Year
2020
Abstract