The Transuranic Waste Processing Center (TWPC) has loaded its first 10-drum overpack, further streamlining the transfer of transuranic waste containers to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico.
The overpack is designed to hold up to 10 standard 55-gallon drums and can also be used for larger items that don’t fit into standard drums. It provides an additional layer of protection and containment for smaller containers during storage or transportation.
“Using this specific container will allow us to ship a population of containers that otherwise wouldn’t have shipped in their current form,” Adam Fraser, TWPC Project Execution Manager, said. “There are a variety of containers approved for shipment to WIPP, and we were able to coordinate the use of these with our partners in the Central Characterization Program. It’s another capability in our arsenal now as we continue to package and ship legacy transuranic waste.”
Fraser said the overpacks are designed to fit inside the TRUPACT-II shipping container, a specialized stainless-steel container used for TRU waste shipments. Designs for the shipping casks must withstand normal transportation conditions, such as exposure to high and low temperatures, varying external pressure, and impact from debris. They must also survive a series of hypothetical accidents, ranging from dropping the canisters to punctures, burning, and water immersion.
Since 2008, TWPC crews have safely shipped more than 7,200 waste containers from the Center to WIPP for disposal.
