Safety assessment document for the Dynamic Test Complex B854

A safety assessment was performed to determine if potential accidents at the 854 Complex at Site 300 could present undue hazards to the general public, personnel at Site 300, or have an adverse effect on the environment. The credible accidents that might have an effect on these facilities or have off-site consequences were considered. These were earthquake, extreme wind (including missiles), lightning, flood, criticality, high explosive (HE) detonation that disperses uranium and beryllium, spontaneous oxidation of plutonium, explosions due to finely divided particles, and a fire. Seismic and extreme wind (including missiles) analyses indicate that the buildings are basically sound. The lightning protection system is in the process of being upgraded to meet AMCR 385-100. These buildings are located high above the dry creek bed so that a flood is improbable. The probability of high explosive detonation involving plutonium is very remote since the radioactive materials are encased and plutonium and HE are not permitted concurrently in the same area at Site 300. (The exception to this policy is that explosive actuating devices are sometimes located in assemblies containing fissile materials. However, an accidental actuation will not affect the safe containment of the plutonium within the assembly.) There is a remote possibility of an HE explosion involving uranium and beryllium since these are permitted in the same area.The possibility of a criticality accident is very remote since the fissile materials are doubly encased in stout metal containers. All operations involving these materials are independently reviewed and inspected by the Criticality Safety Office. It was determined that a fire was unlikely due to the low fire loading and the absence of ignition sources. It was also determined that the consequences of any accidents were reduced by the remote location of these facilities, their design, and by administrative controls.. Authors: Odell, B N; Pfeifer, H E. DOE Contract: W-7405-ENG-48. Subjects: 054000* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Health & Safety; 11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; 570000 -- Health & Safety; 99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS; ACCIDENTS; ACTINIDES; ALKALINE EARTH METALS; BERYLLIUM; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; COMBUSTION; DISASTERS; EARTHQUAKES; ELECTRIC DISCHARGES; ELEMENTS; EXPLOSIONS; FIRES; FLOODS; LAWRENCE LIVERMORE LABORATORY; LIGHTNING; METALS; NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS; Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP); OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY; OXIDATION; PLUTONIUM; PROBABILITY; PUBLIC HEALTH;