This panel focused on the remaining mixed waste streams after the ARRA since it has provided the impetus to greatly reduce the volume of the DOE mixed waste inventory. After treating to LDR on-site or through the use of commercial vendors, sites now have a disposal path or paths for their higher activity mixed waste at a fully permitted NTS disposal cell with the planned-to-open in 2012 mixed waste class A, B, C cell soon available as well. Problem solved? Not likely. ARRA funds are depleted and disposition of the remaining DOE mixed waste could fall below the funding line given the pressures to reduce federal budget deficits. There are still mixed waste streams that have no treatment path or are small volume and thus have a large unit cost for treatment and disposal. The Mixed Waste Panel at WM2012 discussed these and other issues for both DOE and commercial mixed waste inventories.
Panelists included: Scott Anderson, CH2M-WG Idaho, LLC; Jhon Carilli, US DOE; Renee Echols, Perma-Fix; Pete Sauer, CH2M-HILL B&W West Valley presented in place of Ray Geimer; Ken Grumski, Waste Control Specialists; Johnny Bowne, EnergySolutions presented in place of Paul Larsen, EnergySolutions; Danny Nichols, Fluor B&W Portsmouth; and Steve Clemmons, Los Alamos National Laboratory (USA).