High Bridge Associates, Inc. performed an assessment of technical parameters and estimated costs for the US DOE surplus plutonium disposition program for the WIPP and MOX alternatives. This included an analysis of the adequacy of the WIPP to accept significant quantities of surplus weapons plutonium in addition to those legacy transuranic (TRU) wastes already committed for storage in the repository… A series of safety and regulatory concerns were identified for the DOE/NNSA plan to store tons of plutonium not originally planned for emplacement in the WIPP repository. The most serious concern is that the plutonium packaging endorsed by the DOE will be crushed over time as the salt chambers in WIPP close up, creating a high likelihood of an uncontrolled criticality.
