20.6 Disposition of Remediation Waste
259
20.6.3 Initial Staging and Sorting
The first stop for most waste will be the staging area(s); this is where the waste will
initially be examined and surveyed to determine its forensic value (in case this was
missed at the scene) as well as its contamination status. The staging area(s) is the first
intermediate step between the area that was attacked or affected by the attack and
the final disposal; this is where the waste is first examined closely and characterized
for whichever contaminants and hazards are felt to pose a concern.
A small amount of material might be suitable for decontamination and re-use, but
most will likely be sorted into “contaminated” and “uncontaminated” piles, possibly
with further characterization for asbestos, hazardous chemicals, and other threats
because many of these must be handled differently in order to comply with appropriate regulations. It is possible that waste disposal regulations might be changed
to permit the disposal of multiple waste forms into the same landfill to reduce the
amount of sorting and facilitate sorting and loading efficiency as well as to consolidate
shipments and destinations.
All personnel working in the staging area will be exposed to a number of possible
hazards, similar to those noted in the previous section. However, radiological hazards
in the staging area should be better-defined and lower than during initial removal
operations because the waste should at least partially characterized during removal.
In the staging area(s), the waste will also be placed into packages (if possible) for
transportation; this might be 1 m
3 bags, 2.5 m
3 metal boxes, 200 l drums, or other
acceptable containers. They will then be secured for transport and will be taken
to the destination. There might also be very large pieces of debris from building
collapse; these might require cutting or breaking into smaller sizes for transportation
and burial.
20.6.4 Transportation
Packages of waste will be loaded onto appropriate transportation; likely train or
barge, although trucks might be used as well if the city is not close to waterways or
train lines. Whatever the mode of transport, the proper procedures must be followed
and appropriate precautions taken.
Radioactive materials transportation entails too many regulatory and practical
details to do justice to the subject here; those who transport radioactive materials
on a regular basis are required to take a class on the subject and to receive regular
refresher training in order to maintain their knowledge level. Accordingly, this will
provide a brief summary rather than a comprehensive discussion of the topic.
259
20.6.3 Initial Staging and Sorting
The first stop for most waste will be the staging area(s); this is where the waste will
initially be examined and surveyed to determine its forensic value (in case this was
missed at the scene) as well as its contamination status. The staging area(s) is the first
intermediate step between the area that was attacked or affected by the attack and
the final disposal; this is where the waste is first examined closely and characterized
for whichever contaminants and hazards are felt to pose a concern.
A small amount of material might be suitable for decontamination and re-use, but
most will likely be sorted into “contaminated” and “uncontaminated” piles, possibly
with further characterization for asbestos, hazardous chemicals, and other threats
because many of these must be handled differently in order to comply with appropriate regulations. It is possible that waste disposal regulations might be changed
to permit the disposal of multiple waste forms into the same landfill to reduce the
amount of sorting and facilitate sorting and loading efficiency as well as to consolidate
shipments and destinations.
All personnel working in the staging area will be exposed to a number of possible
hazards, similar to those noted in the previous section. However, radiological hazards
in the staging area should be better-defined and lower than during initial removal
operations because the waste should at least partially characterized during removal.
In the staging area(s), the waste will also be placed into packages (if possible) for
transportation; this might be 1 m
3 bags, 2.5 m
3 metal boxes, 200 l drums, or other
acceptable containers. They will then be secured for transport and will be taken
to the destination. There might also be very large pieces of debris from building
collapse; these might require cutting or breaking into smaller sizes for transportation
and burial.
20.6.4 Transportation
Packages of waste will be loaded onto appropriate transportation; likely train or
barge, although trucks might be used as well if the city is not close to waterways or
train lines. Whatever the mode of transport, the proper procedures must be followed
and appropriate precautions taken.
Radioactive materials transportation entails too many regulatory and practical
details to do justice to the subject here; those who transport radioactive materials
on a regular basis are required to take a class on the subject and to receive regular
refresher training in order to maintain their knowledge level. Accordingly, this will
provide a brief summary rather than a comprehensive discussion of the topic.