OFFICIAL USE ONL. discussion of how much plutonium waste is generated and how it can be reclaimed or disposed of. He also pointed out that in addition to the hazard from inhalation or ingestion of plutonium, there is an associated penetrating radiation from large quantities of plutonium, The amount of x- and gamma-rays released increases with time as impurities such as americium grow in. There is also some associated neutron exposure. A second possible point of exposure or release of plutonium is in fuel reprocessing. Here again, the principal hazard in the reprocessing of fuel elements is plutonium rather than the fission products. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory has undertaken 4 study of how a "zero release" reprocessing plant might operate. A third possible source of release 1s in the shipping of materials containing plutonium The research in this area is concerned with how plutonium might be shipped in a form that is not respirable. The fourth and fifth possible sources of release are in the decommissioning of obsolete facilities and in the refueling of reactors. Following Dr. McVey's presentation, Dr. Stout raised the question of cost per kilowatt hour from reactors. He pointed out that the projected costs now are very much higher than were estimated a few years ago. Dr, Larson responded, pointing out that the increase in cost is largely because of a tripling of construction costs and an increased interest on money that is borrowed to finance construction. Mr. George Pleat, from the Division of Production and Materials Management, described some of the activities of his Division with respect to plutonium-238 and plutonium-239, The anticipated requirement for plutonium-238 by 1980 will be about 450 kilograms. Medical requirements for plutonium-238 which are now very small may increase significantly. With respect to production of plutonium-239, there were 6500 kilograms of non-weapons grade plutonium available as of last summer. This material is suitable for reactors but not for weapons. Future production of plutonium-239 will depend principally on the Savannah River Plant, which has three reactors, Weapons grade plutonium will come from this facility for the next ten years, The N reactor at Richland, Washington, will be operated until 1974. Production there is for reactor grade plutonium. The materials management program was initiated because the storage problem, particularly that associated with scrap materials, became serious. At the present time, there are about 500 kilograms of plutonium-239 associated with various scrap materials. The people in Materials Management are trying to reduce this inventory and to reduce the rate of production of new scrap. At present, about 300 kilograms a year of plutonium in scrap material is being generated. OFFICIAL USE ONLY