At its first meeting, February 3–4, 1994, the committee divided itself into three panels (see Table B-1). The panels were each assigned different tasks that, taken together, addressed the committee's full statement of task. The panels operated from the first committee meeting until January 30, 1995, each providing written material that was used as a basis for the committee's report. The panels met separately from the full committee as required, often coordinating their meetings with full committee meetings (see Appendix C). The committee Chair, Dale Stein, and Vice-Chair, Gregory Choppin, provided guidance to all three panels.

The Decision and Process Analysis Panel was staffed by Tracy Wilson, Board on Energy and Environmental Systems (BEES); the Technology Panel was staffed by Douglas Raber, Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology (BCST), Scott Weidman of BCST, and Jill Wilson of BEES; and the Cost Analysis Panel was staffed by Karyanil Thomas, Board on Radioactive Waste Management. James Zucchetto, Study Director, worked with the panels as necessary and, together with Jill Wilson and Tracy Wilson, worked with the committee to produce its final report. Dev Mani, Director of BEES, and Richard Meserve, Vice-Chair of BEES, provided board oversight for the entire study.

The statement of tasks formulated by the committee for the panels are discussed below.

The Decision and Process Analysis Panel will develop a framework for the decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) of the gaseous diffusion plants (GDPs) and will address the following subjects:

• initial conditions of the three sites;
• regulatory issues;
• public and stakeholder involvement;
• risks to plant workers, the public, and the environment; and
• end points and decision criteria/analysis.

The Technology Panel will identify and evaluate technical processes of importance to the D&D of the GDPs and the stockpile of depleted uranium hexafluoride (DUF₆). Its investigation will include the following:

• determination of the types and levels of contamination present;
• evaluation of technologies for the removal, collection, and disposal of radioactive, chemical, and mixed wastes (using both domestic and foreign experience);
• identification of new and emerging technologies for monitoring and characterization of both radioactive and chemical contamination and research and development directions that may allow cost reductions;
• evaluation of technologies that aid the disassembly of plant equipment and buildings; and
• assessment of safety issues (chemical, radiation, and nuclear) associated with decontamination and disassembly.

The panel will study these issues as they relate to the D&D of GDPs:

• removal of deposits;
• secondary decontamination;

• procedures for shutdown and disassembly of operating plants;
• enriched uranium and other radioisotopes;
• recycling of metals and other materials;
• asbestos, including its possible contamination with uranium;
• polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs);
• perfluorocarbons; and
• decontamination of surfaces (concrete, steel, etc.).

For the DUF₆, the panel will consider two areas:

• storage options and hazards; and
• conversion and subsequent disposition options.

The Cost Analysis Panel will undertake the following:

• Review U.S. Department of Energy D&D cost estimates conducted by Ebasco Environmental, TLG Engineering, Martin Marietta Energy Systems, and others, including the statements of work, methodology, and assumptions.
• Identify the major cost drivers for each study.
• Examine the implications of new criteria and assumptions for these cost estimates.
• Examine the costs and benefits of different options for D&D.
• Develop guidelines and requirements for a new cost estimate.

Other activities will include review of costs incurred on completed D&D projects. Alternative approaches to effect reductions in cost will be examined.