October 20, 2015

SRS Starts Process to Double Canister Space

By ExchangeMonitor

Savannah River Site workers recently relocated 156 of glassified waste from Glass Waste Storage Building (GWSB) 1 to GWSB 2, starting the modification process for double-stacking canisters at the site, and potentially opening up the possibility for actual double-stacking to begin in 2016, SRS stated in a press release yesterday. Developed by SRS liquid waste contractor Savannah River Remediation, the concept involves modifying GWSB 1’s existing canister storage positions, which can each hold one canister, into slots capable of accommodating two vertically stacked canisters. The modifications are aimed at creating adequate interim canister storage through fiscal 2026, and could increase GWSB 1’s capacity from 2,254 slots to 4,508 slots, according to the release.

The canisters contain vitrified waste from the Defense Waste Processing Facility, and are destined for storage at a federal repository—presumably the recovering Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. Engineering studies have shown that the stacking will pose “no technical or radiological issues” at SRS, the release states. Physical work on slot modifications is expected to start this month, and the project will continue for another seven to eight years, according to the release. “Without space to store the canisters, our production stops,” SRR President and Project Manager Stuart MacVean said in a statement. “This double-stack concept keeps us processing waste, further reducing the risk of this waste staying in the tanks.”

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