Establishment of Quantitative Consequence Analyses Criteria for the Los Alamos National Laboratory Nuclear Materials Technology Division

Abstract

The Nuclear Materials Technology Division at the Los Alamos National Laboratory performs consequence analysis on postulated accident scenarios identified during facility hazard analyses. While a comprehensive set of qualitative criteria was established for consequence analysis, quantitative criteria have historically been exiguous. The sparsity of established quantitative criteria coupled with ambiguities in the existing qualitative criteria has contributed to inconsistencies in these analyses. This paper will detail recent changes the NMT Division has made in its consequence analysis methodology designed to increase its objectivity and to facilitate consistency. These changes include the establishment of a complete set of quantitative consequence-severity criteria for accident phenomenon common to the NMT Division facilities as applied to receptors of interest.