[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