Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility (HEUMF) Startup – MC&A Approach/Lessons Learned

A new nuclear facility startup is a significant undertaking. Through a methodical approach, the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility (HEUMF) Category I Storage Facility at Y-12 was approved for readiness without significant Material Control & Accountability (MC&A) issues. Without implementing the methodical approach, Material Control & Accountability (MC&A) readiness delays would have been encountered, potentially costing the project both time and additional funding. The approach included soliciting information from other government nuclear facilities that had gone through significant startups and utilizing their criteria & lessons learned as a baseline at Y-12. Subsequently, a MC&A readiness team was formed and Subject Matter Expert (SME) verification attributes were developed utilizing the lessons learned and internal departmental brainstorming. This approach supported the readiness process of assuring that “departments” are ready.