[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 17 (Thursday, January 25, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2242-2244]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1199]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Mixed Waste Focus Area
AGENCY: Department of Energy, Idaho Operations Office.
[[Page 2243]]
ACTION: Expression of Interest.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy, Idaho Operations Office (DOE-
ID) is seeking expressions of interests and capability from potential
sources. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Mixed Waste Focus Area
(MWFA) has identified thirty deficiencies related to the treatment of
mixed hazardous and radioactive wastes within the DOE complex of
facilities. These thirty deficiencies are listed below in order of
priority.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contract Specialists; Dallas L.
Hoffer, (208) 526-0014 or Linda A. Hallum, (208) 526-5545; U.S.
Department of Energy, Idaho Operations Office, 850 Energy Drive, Mail
Stop 1221, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401-1563.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The thirty technology deficiency
descriptions include:
1. Mercury stabilization--Mercury contaminated wastes require
stabilization to control mercury solubility to meet Universal Treatment
Standards.
2. Mercury amalgamation--Methods and equipment designs are required
for amalgamating bulk non-recyclable mercury to meet Universal
Treatment Standards.
3. NDE/NDA-initial characterization--Nondestructive examination
(NDE) and nondestructive assay (NDA) techniques and equipment are
required to determine the nature of a waste matrix in drums and boxes,
to confirm the presence and concentration of RCRA-regulated materials
and radionuclides, and to identify characteristics of concern for
operational safety and process continuity.
4. Mercury separation/removal--New techniques must be developed to
physically or chemically remove mercury from wastes as a pretreatment
to other waste treatment processes.
5. Material handling--Methods and equipment designs are required
that will provide for handling all types of DOE waste materials in all
process steps without undue risk of exposure of operating personnel to
radioactivity or hazardous materials.
6. Sorting/segregation--Efficient separation of waste types, as
well as segregating nonradioactive, or radioactive only (no RCRA
regulated constituents) from mixed wastes is needed for safe, reliable,
efficient processing.
7. Salt stabilization--Stabilization processes are required for
salt-containing wastes that increase waste loadings, improve
durability, and/or reduce the volume increase typical of today's
standard practices.
8. Ash stabilization--Stabilization processes are required for ash
that increase waste loadings, improve durability and/or reduce the
volume typical of today's standard practices.
9. Mercury monitoring--Although mercury monitors are commercially
available, it would be advantageous to develop real-time monitors
requiring minimal consumables and low maintenance, with operating
ranges covering the emission limits typical of incinerators.
10. Alpha monitoring--Although alpha monitors are commercially
available, it would be advantageous to develop real-time monitors
requiring minimal consumables and low maintenance, with operating
ranges covering the emission limits typical of alpha material
processing facilities.
11. VOC monitoring--Process monitoring could be improved with real-
time monitors requiring minimal consumables and low maintenance, which
can identify and quantify specific VOC contaminants over operating
ranges covering the emission limits typical of hazardous waste
treatment facilities.
12. Heavy metal monitoring--Process monitoring could be improved
with real-time monitors requiring minimal consumables and low
maintenance, which can identify and quantify specific metals in
operating ranges covering the emission limits typical of hazardous
waste incinerators.
13. Radionuclide distribution/partitioning--More complete
information on the fractional distribution of radionuclides between the
off-gas, the final waste form, and any secondary waste streams in high
temperature mixed waste treatment processes is needed to support
equipment design and process permitting.
14. Waste form performance--An objective, technically defensible
evaluation of the long-term performance of advanced waste forms must be
conducted to allow flexibility in siting and operating low-level waste
(LLW) disposal facilities in a manner to best exploit the more durable,
higher waste-loading forms.
15. HEPA filter improvements--A stronger, high-temperature, longer
lived HEPA filter, that can survive a greater pressure drop, and that
requires less frequent replacement, or that can be cleaned and reused,
is needed.
16. Mercury filter--A potential enhancement to traditional off-gas
treatment design would be a selective mercury removal step, which
removes essentially all of the mercury from the offgas stream for
separate treatment.
17. Molten product decanting--Operating techniques and equipment
design are required to facilitate decanting or transfer of molten
materials from furnaces in an effective, reliable, and safe manner
applicable to a radioactive environment.
18. Comparative analysis/aqueous--A comparative analysis on the
efficacy, reliability, applicability, and maintainability of the many
processes now being developed for destruction of organic contamination
in wastewaters containing radionuclides will assist in identifying
processes for further consideration and development.
19. Aqueous organic nonthermal destruction--Destruction/removal of
most regulated organic constituents expected to be found in wastewaters
from mixed waste treatment should be demonstrated to reliably attain
regulatory limits in a manner applicable to a radioactive environment.
20. Refractory performance--Improved refractories, or operating
techniques better suited to the DOE-specific waste processing
conditions, are required to increase long-term refractory reliability.
21. Nitrate removal--Methods are needed to destroy or remove
residual nitrates in sludges and wastewaters.
22. Fission product removal--Methods are needed for removal or
significant reduction of the concentrations of fission products from
mixed waste, especially process residues and sludges.
23. Internal drum pressure measurement--Methods are needed to
measure internal drum pressure without penetrating the drums.
24. Container integrity measurement--Methods are needed to test the
integrity of stored containers to identify any containers that may
require particularly careful handling or overpack in preparation for
management or processing of the contents.
25. Cyanide destruction--Methods are required to treat cyanide in
the presence of interfering dissolved, suspended, and matrix materials.
26. Thermal desorption--Methods are required to minimize
pretreatment to adequately prepare wastes for thermal desorption so the
contaminants can escape, and to verify cleanup levels can be attained
while maintaining radionuclide containment.
27. Evaporator design--Better designs are needed for evaporators
for DOE waste-specific treatment plant streams.
28. Sludge washing--Sludge washing technologies should demonstrate
reliable feed preparation and washing of
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contaminated process residues, sludges, and particulates to satisfy
RCRA requirements.
29. Trace metal removal--Techniques are needed to meet wastewater
discharge permit requirements (e.g. 0.001mg/L cadmium, 0.003 mg/L lead,
and 0.004 mg/L silver) while minimizing secondary waste generation.
30. Supercritical CO2--Techniques are needed to minimize
pretreatment to adequately prepare the wastes for supercritical
CO2 extraction so that the organics can be removed, and the wastes
can be fed and removed from the supercritical environment while
maintaining radionuclide containment.
The MWFA desires a list of interested parties who have technology
available to address one or more of the technology deficiency areas.
This includes technology that may need to be demonstrated in a
radioactive environment on DOE mixed waste to verify its applicability.
The MWFA also desires a list of parties interested in participating in
cooperative research and development leading to demonstration of
technologies. A document with more detailed descriptions of the
deficiencies can be obtained by accessing the Mixed Waste Focus Area
home page on the internet at ``http://wastenot.inel.gov/mwfa,'' or by
calling the Mixed Waste Focus Area, 208-526-7575. From the MWFA home
page, simply push the button for ``News and Events.'' Interested
parties are asked to submit a contact name and address plus a brief
description of existing technology or of capabilities for conducting
research and development (R&D) to Jihad Aljayoushi, U.S. Department of
Energy, 850 Energy Drive, MS 1118, Idaho Falls, ID 83401-1563. Written
expressions of interest should not include detailed proposals or
proprietary data, but should include the name, address, telephone
number, and facsimile (fax) number of the primary contact person.
Submittals should be as brief as practical (e.g., should not exceed
five pages). To assist in the ``Organizational Conflicts of Interest''
determinations, all submittals are required to disclose business
affiliations, partners for proposed teaming arrangements, sister
organizations, etc. To assist in the SBA determinations all submittals
are required to disclose business size and type. Written expressions of
interest should be received on or before February 20, 1996. This
announcement is for expressions of interest only, and is not associated
with any specific funding opportunity, solicitation, procurement,
assistance award, etc.
Procurement Request Number: Not Applicable.
Dated: January 17, 1996.
R. Jeffrey Hoyles,
Director, Procurement Services Division.
[FR Doc. 96-1199 Filed 1-24-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
