The EEOICPA was passed in 2000. It provides compensation to workers who became ill as a result of their employment manufacturing nuclear weapons in the USA, as well as their spouses, children, and grandchildren. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory EEOICPA coverage is available for qualified former Workers and their families.
Are you eligible for compensation? If you or a family member worked at this or another DOE facility and became ill, you may be entitled to compensation of up to $400K plus medical benefits. Call EEOICPA Counsel Hugh Stephens at 1-855-548-4494 or fill out our free claim evaluation, We can help even if you’ve already filed, even if your claim was denied!
Here, we have compiled publicly available information and documentation about the facilities covered by the Act to clarify how their activities relate to the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Also Known As: California Radiation Laboratory
State: California
Location: Livermore
Time Period: 1950-present
Facility Type: Department of Energy
Facility Description:
The Atomic Energy Commission established the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory as a facility for nuclear weapons research. The Department of Energy (DOE) owns the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Main Site and Site 300; DOE and the University of California jointly operate the sites. The Main Site was initially used as a flight training base and an engine overhaul facility. Transition from naval operations to scientific research began in 1950, when the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) authorized construction of a materials-testing accelerator site. The AEC established the University of California Radiation Laboratory, Livermore Site (the predecessor of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) as a facility for nuclear weapons research. The Department of Energy purchased Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s Site 300 from local ranchers in the 1950s for use as a remote high-explosives testing facility.
Throughout the course of its operations, the potential for beryllium exposure existed at this site, due to beryllium use, residual contamination, and decontamination activities.
Listing:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is listed as a Department of Energy (DOE) site under the EEOICPA. The special Exposure Cohort dates for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are 1950-1973.
Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) Classes:
Employees of the Department of Energy (DOE), its predecessor agencies, and DOE contractors or subcontractors who were monitored for radiation exposure while working at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory from January 1, 1950, through December 31, 1973, for a number of work days aggregating at least 250 work days or in combination with work days within the parameters established for one or more other classes of employees in the SEC
All employees of the Department of Energy, its predecessor agencies, and their contractors and subcontractors who worked at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California from January 1, 1950 through December 31, 1973, for a number of work days aggregating at least 250 work days, occurring either solely under this employment or in combination with work days within the parameters established for one or more other classes of employees in the SEC
Compensation:
As of 01/08/2023, the total compensation paid under Parts B and E of the EEOICPA, including medical compensation, for workers suffering from the effects of having worked at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is $484,571,909. Click here for a current accounting of compensation paid to former LLNL Workers under the EEOICPA.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Workers:
If you or your parent worked at this or any other DOE or AWE facility and became ill, you may be entitled to compensation of up to $400K plus medical benefits from the US Department of Labor. Call EEOICPA Counsel Hugh Stephens at 1-855-EEOICPA (336-4272) or fill out the form to the right, whether or not you have already filed a claim and even if your claim has been accepted or denied.
We can help with all OWCP (Federal Workers Compensation) claims, impairments, wage loss and health care. 2495 Main Street, Suite 442 Buffalo, NY.
NIOSH Site Profile:
SITE DESCRIPTION
LLNL was founded in 1952 on the site of a closed U.S. Naval Air Station. It was known originally as
the University of California Radiation Laboratory at Livermore then later as the Lawrence Radiation
Laboratory at Livermore. LLNL consists of two sites, the main Laboratory site, which is in a densely
2 2populated 1.5-mi area in Livermore, California, and the 11-mi Explosive Test Site near
Tracy, California, which is also known as Site 300.
In the beginning, the Laboratory’s single mission dealt with thermonuclear weapons development.
Over the years, the mission expanded to include diverse scientific and engineering research activities.
These activities, not all of which were related to the development of nuclear weapons have included
the following (DOE 1992):
- Research, development, and test of the nuclear weapons life cycle and related tasks
- Strategic defense research emphasizing kinetic- and directed-energy weapons
- Arms control and treaty verification technology
- Inertial confinement fusion for weapons physics research and for civilian energy applications
- Atomic vapor laser isotope separation for defense and commercial applications
- Magnetic fusion, including leadership of the U.S. effort on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor
- Other energy research in basic energy sciences, atmospheric sciences, fossil energy, and commercial nuclear waste
- Biological, ecological, atmospheric, and geophysical sciences relevant to weapons, energy, health, and environmental issues, including assessment and guidance in the event of accidents and other emergencies
- Charged-particle beam and free-electron laser research for defense and energy applications
- Advanced laser and optical technology for military and civilian applications
- Support of the U.S. intelligence community, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and other Federal agencies
- Participation in the nationally directed initiative to understand the human genome at the molecular leve
Table 2-1 provides a general description of LLNL buildings and activities. In 1966, building numberswere changed; some of these changes are cross-referenced in the table. In addition, the Site 300buildings changed from the 300 series to the 800 series (e.g., 301 changed to 801). Attachment A provides a complete cross reference from the old to the current building numbers, with the exception of the 300 to 800 change. Unless noted otherwise, this document uses the current building numbers.
Table 2-1. Summary of major buildings and activities.
| Old building | Current building | |
| numbers | numbers | Description |
| 101, 102, 106, | 221, 222, 223, 224, | Chemistry: Various radioactive materials including Co-60, fission products, |
| 117, 118, 147, | 232, 233, 234, 167, | enriched uranium, depleted uranium, natural uranium, U-233, Cm-244, |
| 176, 192 | 168, 169 | Pu-239, Am-241, others |
| 153, 154, 157, | 171, 173, 174, 175, | Physics: Accelerators, various activation products, H-3, others |
| 173, 180, 194 | 176, 177, 194, 210, | |
| 212, 241, 243, 421, 435 | ||
| 103, 114, 125, | 215, 243, 253, 321, | Lab services: Various radioactive materials |
| 127, 174, 175 | 419, 514, | |
| 110 | 261 | Critical Test Facility |
| 115 | 327 | Radiography |
| 121 | 412 | Hot cells: High beta waste, Sr-90 |
| 170 | 131 | Weapons engineering |
| 171 | 332 | Metallurgical chemistry: Also known as Plutonium Facility |
| 172 | 331 | Gaseous Chemistry: Also known as Tritium Facility |
| 182 | 162, 165, 166 | Laboratory Services: 55 Ci Co-60 (1958) |
| 190 | 251 | Chemistry Heavy Elements Facility: Cm-244, Am-241, U-233, Pu-239, |
| others | ||
| 193 | 281 | Livermore Pool Type Reactor (LPTR) |
| S | ite 300 | Explosives Testing: Linear accelerators, depleted uranium, H-3, |
| radiography |
MAJOR FACILITIES DESCRIPTIONS AND ACTIVITIES
This section discusses activities in the various buildings at the LLNL main site and Site 300. The
discussion for each of the buildings or building complexes provides information on the general nature
of activities at that facility. Figure 2-2 is a map of the main site, and Figure 2-3 is a map of Site 300.
Table 2-2 summarizes building activities and radionuclides that workers could have encountered.
Section 2.3.1 describes the buildings, Section 2.3.2 describes known soil contamination in the
Southeast Quadrant of the main site, Section 2.3.3 describes Site 300, and Section 2.3.4 describes
personnel involvement in nuclear weapons testing.
This discussion is not intended as a complete radiological history, but rather as a discussion to
familiarize dose reconstructors with the types and variety of activities that have occurred at LLNL.
Other sections of the LLNL Site Profile provide information about radiological conditions at various
facilities throughout the LLNL site in relation to external and internal dosimetry as well as
environmental occupational dose.
Buildings (Main Site)
Building 121
The Test Program facility, Building 121, is in the southwest quadrant of the LLNL site. Operations in
this facility have included the use of X-ray and electron generators, high-voltage pulsers, lasers,
mechanical and electronic equipment, and use of radioactive and toxic materials to perform measurements for the development of diagnostic techniques for interpretation of experiments on
nuclear weapons.
Other operations included laser irradiation of toxic materials, a Febetron electron beam to develop
diagnostic systems for gathering data from nuclear tests, measurement of leakage current on
resistance of photoconductive detectors when illuminated by laser light, concurrent operation of
multiple Class III and IV lasers, a ruby laser, a mode-locked flash lamp pumped dye laser, and a
nitrogen laser with dye cell for the purpose of pico- and nanosecond pulse generation used for streak
camera calibrations.
This facility also housed the Pulsed Calibration Laboratory, Hyjacs X-ray Laboratory, and Vacuum
Barrier Permeation Leak Testing Laboratory (DOE 1992).
Building 131
The Building 131 complex is a large office and laboratory facility housing both the Mechanical and
Electrical Engineering Divisions. The shops and laboratories have supported weapons testing and
assembly as well as microelectronic and microfabrication work. In addition, the facility has a high bay
containing a large laboratory and shop operation as well as a Materials Management Vault that has
stored controlled materials to support the weapons testing program.
The use of radiation sources has been limited primarily to the high bay area, and sealed sources or
radioactive material in solid form has been used. Small antistatic blowers containing sealed sources
have been used in the microfabrication laboratories. Use of a hood or glovebox enclosure has been
required for operations that could potentially expose workers (DOE 1992). Nondestructive use of
depleted uranium was reported in the documentation.
Table 2-2. Individual building activities and associated radionuclides.
| Current buildinga (old #) | # | Building activity | Radionuclides | |
| 131 | Mechanical & Engineering Divisions, | Th-232, U-234, U-235, U-238 | ||
| Weapons | ||||
| 132 | Analytical & Nuclear Chemistry Labs; | H-3, Co-60, Sr-90, Cs-137, Th-228, Th-230, Th-232, U-234, U-235, U-238, | ||
| forensic Sciences Center | Pu-238, Pu-239, Pu-241, Pu-242, Am-241 | |||
| 151 | Isotope Sciences, Environmental | H-3, C-14, Na-22, corrosion products, mixed fission products, transuranics, | ||
| Services Lab | uranium, plutonium, thorium | |||
| 162, 165, 166 | Lab services | 55 Ci Co-60 source (1958) | ||
| (182A-E) | ||||
| 167, 168, 169 | Chemistry | Various radioactive materials including Co-60, fissions products, enriched | ||
| uranium, natural uranium, U-233, Cm-244, Am-241, others | ||||
| 171 | Physics: Accelerators | Various activation products, H-3, others | ||
| 173 | Physics: Accelerators | Various activation products, H-3, others | ||
| 174 | Physics: Accelerators | Various activation products, H-3, others | ||
| 175 | U-AVLIS | U-234, U-235, U-238 | ||
| 176 | Physics: Accelerators | Various activation products, H-3, others | ||
| 177 | U-AVLIS | U-234, U-235, U-238 | ||
| 179 | U-234, U-235, U-238 | |||
| 194 | LINAC | N-13, O-15, Na-22, U-233, U-234, U-235, U-236, U-238 | ||
| 210 | Physics: Accelerators | Various activation products, H-3, others | ||
| 212 | Physics and Space (rotating target | H-3 | ||
| neutron source) | ||||
| 215 | Lab services | Various radioactive materials not specified | ||
| 221 | Chemistry | Various radioactive materials including Co-60, fissions products, enriched | ||
| uranium, natural uranium, U-233, Cm-244, Am-241, others | ||||
| 222 | Chemistry | H-3, C-14, Co-60, Ni-63, Th-232, U-233, U-234, U-235, U-238, Cm-244, | ||
| Am-241, fission products, others | ||||
| 223 | Chemistry | Co-60, U-233, U-234, U-235, U-238, Pu-238, Pu-239, Am-241, Am-243, | ||
| Cm-244, fission products, others | ||||
| 224 | Chemistry | Various radioactive materials including Co-60, fissions products, enriched | ||
| uranium, natural uranium, U-233, Cm-244, Am-241, others | ||||
| 226 | H-3, U-238 | |||
| 227 | U-234, U-235, U-238 | |||
| 231 | Safeguards and engineering | The-232, U-234, U-235, U-238 | ||
| 232 | Chemistry | Various radioactive materials including Co-60, fissions products, enriched | ||
| uranium, natural uranium, U-233, Cm-244, Am-241, others | ||||
| 233 | Chemistry | Various radioactive materials including Co-60, fissions products, enriched | ||
| uranium, natural uranium, U-233, Cm-244, Am-241, others | ||||
| 234 | Chemistry | Various radioactive materials including Co-60, fissions products, enriched | ||
| uranium, natural uranium, U-233, Cm-244, Am-241, others | ||||
| 235 | Characterization studies and ion beam | Th-232, U-234, U-235, U-238, Pu-238, Pu-239, Pu-241, Pu-242, Am-241 | ||
| experiments | ||||
| 241 | Physics: Accelerators | H-3, C-14, P-32, Th-232, U-234, U-235, U-238, various activation products | ||
| 243 | Lab services | Various radioactive materials not specified | ||
| 251 | Heavy Element Facility | U-233, Pu-238, Pu-239, Pu-243, Am-241, Cm-243, Cm-244, Cm-248, Cf-252 | ||
| (190) | ||||
| 253 | Labs and counting rooms | H-3, C14, P-32, Sr-90, Y-90, Cs-137, Bi-214, Po-218, Ra-226, Th-230, U-234, | ||
| U-235, U-238, Np-237, Pu-238, Pu-239, Pu-240, Pu-241, Pu-242, Am-241 | ||||
| 254 | Bioassays and analytical services | H-3, C14, P-32, P-33, S-35, Sr-90, Y-90, I-125, Po-209, Ra-226, Th-230, | ||
| U-232, U-233, U-234, U-235, U-236, U-238, Np-237, Np-239, Pu-238, Pu-239, | ||||
| Pu-240, Pu-241, Pu-242, Am-241, Am-243, Cm-242, Cm-244, Cf-249, Cf-252 | ||||
| 255 | Calibration laboratory | H-3, C14, P-32, S-35, Sr-90, Y-90, I-125, I-131, Th-230, Th-232, U-233, | ||
| U-234, U-235, U-236, U-238, Np-237, Np-239, Pu-239, Pu-242, Am-241, | ||||
| Am-243, Cm-242, Cm-244, Cf-252 | ||||
| 261 | Critical test facility | U-235, Pu-239 | ||
| (110) | ||||
| 281 | Reactor; tracer and dissolution studies | During reactor operations, fission and activation products. Later, trace | ||
| (193) | amounts of various radionuclides. | |||
| 282 | Neutrino detection experiments | H-3 | ||
| 292 | Residual contamination rotating target | H-3 | ||
| neutron source |
Table 2-2 (Continued). Site activities by building and associated radionuclides.
| Current building # a (old #) | Building activity | Radionuclides | |
| 298 | Laser fusion program | H-3, U-234, U-235, U-238 | |
| 321A | Milling and shaping | U-234, U-235, U-238 | |
| 321B | Milling and shaping | U-234, U-235, U-238 | |
| 321C | Milling, machining and shaping | U-234, U-235, U-238 | |
| 322 | Maintenance and engineering | U-234, U-235, U-238 | |
| 327 | Maintenance and engineering; | U-234, U-235, U-238 | |
| (115) | radiography | ||
| 331 | Gaseous chemistry; Tritium Facility | H-3 (HT, HTO), U-238 | |
| (172) | |||
| 332 | Metallurgical chemistry; Plutonium | Pu-239, transuranics | |
| (171) | Facility | ||
| 341 | Lasers Directorate | U-234, U-235, U-238 | |
| 361 | Research and development | H-3, C-14, P-32, P-33, S-35 | |
| 362 | Research and development | H-3, C-14 | |
| 363 | Research and development | H-3, C-14 | |
| 364 | Research and development | H-3, C-14, P-32 | |
| 365 | Research and development | H-3, C-14 | |
| 366 | Research and development | H-3, P-32, P-33 | |
| 377 | Research and development | H-3, P-32, Ni-63 | |
| 378 | Co-57, Co-60, Sr-85, Cd-109, Cs-134, Cs-137, U-233, U-234, U-235, U-238, | ||
| Pu-236, Pu-239, Pu-240, Pu-242, Pu-244, Np-237, Am-241, Am-243 | |||
| 381 | H-3 | ||
| 391 | H-3 | ||
| 412 (121) | Hot cells: High beta waste | Ni-59, Ni-63, Sr-90 | |
| 421 | Physics: Accelerators | Various activation products, H-3, others | |
| 435 | Physics: Accelerators | Various activation products, H-3, others | |
| 491, 492, 493, 494 | U-AVLIS | U-238 | |
| 513 | Waste processing | H-3, C-14, P-32, K-40, Mn-54, Co-57, Co-60, Sr-90, Nb-95, Zr-95, Ru-106, | |
| I-125, I-131, Ba-133, Cs-134, Cs-137, Cs-138, Ce-141, Ce-144, Eu-152, | |||
| Eu-154, Eu-155, Tl-206, Bi-212, Bi-214, Pb-210, Pb-212, Pb-214, Ra-223, | |||
| Ra-226, Ra-228, Ac-228, Pa-231, Th-226, Th-227, Th-228, Th-232, Th-234, | |||
| U-233, U-234, U-235, U-238, Pu-238, Pu-239, Pu-240, Pu-241, Pu-242, | |||
| Am-241, Cm-244, Cf-249 | |||
| 514 | Waste processing | H-3, Be-7, C-14, Na-22, P-32, S-35, K-40, Sc-46, Cr-51, Fe-55, Mn-54, Co-56, | |
| Co-57, Co-58, Co-60, Ni-63, Zn-65, Y-88, Sr-89, Sr-90, Nb-94, Nb-95, Zr-95, | |||
| Ru-103, Ru-106, Cd-109, Sb-125, I-125, I-131, Ba-133, Cs-134, Cs-137, | |||
| Ce-139, Ce-141, Ce-144, Gd-148, Pm-147, Sm-151, Eu-152, Eu-154, Eu-155, | |||
| Hf-172, Lu-173, Lu-174, W-185, Po-209, Po-210, Bi-207, Bi-210, Pb-210, | |||
| Ra-226, Th-228, Th-229, Th-230, Th-232, U-232, U-233, U-234, U-235, | |||
| U-236, U-237, U-238, Pu-238, Pu-239, Pu-240, Pu-241, Pu-242, Pu-244, | |||
| Np-237, Np-239, Am-241, Am-243, Cm-244, Cf-249 | |||
| 514 Tank Farm | Waste processing | H-3, Be-7, C-14, Na-22, P-32, P-33, S-35, K-40, Sc-46, Cr-51, Fe-55, Fe-59, | |
| Mn-54, Co-56, Co-57, Co-58, Co-60, Ni-59, Ni-63, Zn-65, Y-88, Y-91, Sr-90, | |||
| Nb-95, Mo-99, Tc-99, Ru-103, Ru-106, Cd-109, Sn-113, Ag-110m, I-125, | |||
| I-131, Sb-110m, Sb-124, Sb-125, Te-132, Ba-133, Ba-140, Cs-134, Cs-136, | |||
| Cs-137, La-140, Ce-139, Ce-141, Ce-144, Nd-147, Pm-147, Gd-148, Sm-151, | |||
| Eu-152, Eu-154, Eu-155, Eu-156, Tb-160, Hf-172, Hf-181, Lu-173, Lu-174, | |||
| W-185, Au-195, Hg-203, Bi-207, Bi-210, Po-209, Po-210, Pb-210, Ra-226, | |||
| Pa-233, Th-228, Th-229, Th-230, Th-232, U-232, U-233, U-234, U-235, | |||
| U-236, U-237, U-238, Pu-236, Pu-238, Pu-239, Pu-240, Pu-241, Pu-242, | |||
| Pu-244, Np-237, Np-239, Am-241, Am-243, Cm-244, Cf-249 | |||
| 612 | Waste storage and repackaging | H-3, Be-7, C-14, Na-22, P-32, P-33, S-35, Cl-36, K-40, Sc-46, Cr-51, Fe-55, | |
| Mn-54, Co-56, Co-57, Co-58, Co-60, Ni-63, Zn-65, Se-75, Y-88, Y-91, Sr-85, | |||
| Sr-89, Sr-90, Kr-85, Nb-94, Nb-95, Zr-90, Zr-95, Mo-99, Tc-99, Rh-102, | |||
| Rh-103, Rh-103m, Ru-106, Cd-109, Cd-115, Ag-110m, I-125, I-131, Sb-124, | |||
| Sb-125, Ba-133, Ba-140, Cs-134, Cs-137, Ce-139, Ce-141, Ce-144, Nd-147, | |||
| Pm-147, Pm-151, Sm-151, Gd-146, Gd-148, Eu-149, Eu-152, Eu-154, | |||
| Eu-155, Eu-156, Tb-160, Hf-172, Lu-173, Lu-174, Ta-182, W-185, Ir-192, | |||
| Au-195, Pt-195m, Hg-203, Bi-207, Bi-210, Po-209, Po-210, Pb-210, Ra-223, | |||
| Ra-226, Th-228, Th-229, Th-230, Th-232, Th-234, U-232, U-233, U-234, | |||
| U-235, U-237, U-238, Pu-238, Pu-239, Pu-240, Pu-241, Pu-242, Pu-244, | |||
| Np-237, Np-239, Am-241, Am-242, Am-242m, Am-243, Am-244, Cm-244, | |||
| Cf-249, Cf-250 |
Table 2-2 (Continued). Site activities by building and associated radionuclides.
| Current building # a (old #) | Building activity | Radionuclides |
| 612 Yard | Waste storage | H-3, C-14, P-32, S-35, K-40, Cr-51, Mn-54, Co-57, Co-60, Ni-59, Ni-63, |
| Se-75, Sr-90, Nb-95, Tc-99, Sb-125, Cs-134, Cs-137, Ce-144, Pm-147, | ||
| Sm-151, Eu-152, Eu-154, Eu-155, Bi-207, Bi-214, Ra-226, Ra-228, Th-228, | ||
| Th-230, Th-232, Th-234, U-233, U-234, U-235, U-238, Pu-238, Pu-239, | ||
| Pu-240, Pu-241, Pu-242, Pu-244, Np-239, Am-241, Am-242, Am-243, | ||
| CM-243, Cm-244, Cm-253 | ||
| 625 | Waste operations | H-3, C-14, P-32, K-40, Mn-54, Co-57, Co-60, Y-88, Sr-90, Zr-95, Ru-106, |
| Cd-109, Sb-125, Ba-133, Cs-134, Cs-137, Ce-141, Ce-144, Eu-152, Eu-154, | ||
| Eu-155, Bi-214, Pb-212, Pb-214, Pa-231, Ra-226, Ra-228, Th-228, Th-230, | ||
| Th-232, Th-234, U-233, U-234, U-235, U-238, U-239, Pu-238, Pu-239, | ||
| Pu-240, Pu-241, Pu-242, Np-237, Am-241, Am-243, Cm-243, Cm-244, | ||
| Cm-253 | ||
| 2561 | U-234, U-238 | |
| Site 300 – Explosive | s testing: linear accelerators, depleted u | ranium, H-3, radiography. |
| 801 | Flash X-ray (FXR) linear accelerator | H-3, N-13, Ar-41, U-234, U-235, U-238 |
| 810A | U-234, U-235, U-238 | |
| 810B | U-234, U-235, U-238 | |
| 827 | Industrial radiography (portable X-ray | Radionuclides not specified |
| machines) | ||
| 823 | Portable 9-MV Varian accelerator | Radionuclides not specified |
| 850 | H-3, U-234, U-235, U-238 | |
| 851 | 100-MeV LINAC | H-3, N-13, O-15, Ar-41, U-234, U-235, U-238 |
| 865 | Advanced Test Accelerator | Various activation products |
| 300 Pit 7 | H-3 | |
| 300 Well 8 Spring | H-3 |
a. Source: LLNL (2005b).
Building 132
Building 132 provides office and laboratory space for a range of activities including the Directorate
Offices for Chemistry and Materials Sciences; laboratories in the Analytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Division and the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Division; and Nonproliferation Arms Control
and International Security Directorate Forensic Sciences Center offices and laboratories. The facility
consists of the Defense Program Research Facility (132N) and the Nuclear Test Technology Complex
(132S).
Radiological activities have been limited and included operations associated with the use of X-ray
generators, electron beam generators, laser equipment, and sealed radioactive sources (DOE 1992).
Building 151
Building 151 houses the Isotope Sciences Division, which applies nuclear and isotope sciences to a
wide range of problems including stockpile stewardship, nonproliferation, safeguard technologies,
forensic science, and waste characterization and analysis. In addition, Building 151 contains the
Chemistry and Materials Sciences Environmental Services laboratory where samples of waste
streams and environmental media (air, water, soil, etc.) have been analyzed for their radionuclide
content.
Buildings 175 and 177
Buildings 175 and 177 were part of the Uranium Atomic Vapor Laser Isotope Separation (U-AVLIS)
program affiliated with the United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC). In June 1999, USEC
suspended further development of the U-AVLIS technology. Building 175 is sometimes referred to as
the MARS Facility (for Mirror Advanced Reactor System), which used an electron beam to vaporize
natural or depleted uranium for evaluation of ion extraction, source development, and material
handling subsystems.
Building 177 underwent decontamination and decommissioning in early 2002, and the sampling
system was removed.
Building 190
Building 190 is operated by the Physics Department and has included a 10-MV tandem accelerator
laboratory, accelerator mass spectrometry, and other accelerator uses (DOE 1992).
Building 193
The Livermore Pool Type Reactor was operated from Building 193 from 1957 to 1980.
Building 194
Building 194 is operated by N-Division for the Physics and Space Technology Directorate (formerly
the Physical Sciences Directorate). The facility has included a high-energy (100 MeV) linear
accelerator (LINAC) and research laboratories. The accelerator beam has produced small quantities
of short-lived air activation products.
Building 212
Building 212 is administered by the Physics and Space Technology Directorate for miscellaneous
physics experiments. Historically, the building housed a Cockcroft Walton accelerator and a 90-inch
cyclotron. Experiments include the use of uranium, plutonium, and tritium. Radionuclide emissions
are a result of contamination from past operations of the rotating target neutron source, which is no
longer in operation.
Building 222 Complex
The Building 222 Complex in the southwest quadrant of the LLNL at the Livermore site consists of
nine buildings (221 through 229) and several trailers. The complex includes chemical laboratories, offices, and machining and storage facilities. The wide range of work performed here includes the bench-scale synthesis and testing of chemical compounds, intralaboratory and consulting services, chemical analysis, bench-scale polymers and composite technology development, and other special bench-scale research and development projects (DOE 1992).
The chemistry facility, Building 222, is the main facility for the study of analytical and physical chemistry at LLNL. Buildings 224 and 226 are used for environmental analytical work. Building 225 activities have included energy research, surface science, and other similar bench-scale research. Building 227 has provided a facility for polymer research and work associated with LLNL intelligence and treaty verification support. Building 228 is the waste retention system for Building 226. Building 229 has stored beryllium hydride.
The hazards associated with the Building 222 Complex include handling small quantities of hazardous
materials involved in research and development activities. These include radioactive materials, laser
dyes, high explosives, solvents, inorganic acids, bases and salts, organic compounds, halogens,
organometallics, and inorganic compounds (DOE 1992).
Building 231
The Development and Assembly Facility, Building 231, is a large experimental, manufacturing,
assembly, test, and materials-handling facility in the southwestern quadrant of the site. Building 231
houses research and development activities conducted by Chemistry and Materials Science
(Materials Division), Engineering (Engineering Sciences, Materials Fabrication, Nuclear Energy
Systems, Nuclear Test Engineering, and Weapons Engineering Divisions), Safeguards and Security
(Materials Management Division), and Special Projects Program (J Division). Management oversight
for Building 231 is provided by the Engineering Directorate through Engineering Sciences Division.
Small amounts of depleted uranium have been used in Building 232.
Building 235
Building 235 is a part of the Chemistry and Materials Sciences Directorate known as the Weapons
Materials Research and Development Facility. Operations in the facility began in 1987 and have
included examination of material structure, surface, and subsurface; precision cutting; ion implanting;
and metallurgical studies. Most of the depleted uranium in this building has been used for
characterization studies; some has been used for ion beam implantation experiments.
Building 241
Building 241 is administered by the Chemistry and Material Sciences Directorate for material
properties research and testing as well as study of soil bacteria. The history of the facility included the
use of a LINAC.
Building 251
Building 251 is the Heavy Element Facility managed by the Safety, Security, and Environmental
Protection Directorate as a standby, nonoperational facility in which transuranic isotopes are stored
until they can be disposed. One area of the facility has been hardened to resist damage from
earthquakes. Room air in the hardened area is exhausted through two high-efficiency particulate air
(HEPA) filters; glovebox exhausts are triply HEPA filtered. Exhausts from the unhardened areas are
also HEPA filtered and are continuously sampled by sample filter systems.
Buildings 253, 254, and 255
Building 253 houses the Hazards Control Department, and the facility includes laboratories for the
chemical analysis and counting of radioactive samples. Hazards Control also operates Building 254
to conduct bioassays and provide analytical services and Building 255, which houses a radiation
calibration and standards laboratory.
Many operations involve the use of sealed sources.
Building 281
Building 281 is part of the Energy and Environment Directorate. Tracer work, dissolution studies, and
flow studies have been conducted in this building.
The Livermore Pool Type Reactor was operated from Building 281 (which was Building 193 before
1966). The reactor operated from 1957 to 1980.
Building 282
Building 282 contains residual contamination from past operations.
Building 292
Building 292 contains residual contamination from the past operation of a rotating target neutron
source. Emissions result from tritium-contaminated water that leaked from an underground storage
tank. Vegetation in the area transpires water with elevated tritium concentrations.
Building 298
Building 298 is the Fusion Target Fabrication Facility, a part of the Laser Fusion Program. Small
amounts of tritium have been used in this facility in conjunction with fusion target research and
development.
Building 321 Complex
Buildings 321, 321A, 321B, and 321C are the Material Fabrication facility. Operations in this complex
include milling, shaping, and machining of depleted uranium. Uranium pieces were worked in single
locations or were moved from machine to machine. In addition, depleted uranium parts occasionally
underwent heat treatment. The amount of depleted uranium handled depended on programmatic
demands and varied from month to month. Machining only occurred in 321C.
Building 327
Building 327 is a radiography facility and, along with Building 239, has conducted nondestructive
evaluation in support of LLNL Site 300, Nevada Test Site (NTS), Tonopah Test Range, DOE
contractor laboratories, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Equipment in these
buildings has included lasers, linear accelerators, isotope sources, and flash X-ray equipment (DOE
1992).
Building 331
Building 331 is the Hydrogen Research Facility or Tritium Research Facility. The building houses the
tritium research facility and associated laboratories. The bulk of the tritium inventory is in elemental
form or metal hydrides capable of being turned into elemental form by heating. A small amount of
tritium has been used for labeling compounds or synthesizing lithium hydride. There has been no
deliberate experimental use of tritiated water. Some tritiated water is formed in the tritium cleanup
systems during the removal of tritium from glovebox atmospheres (DOE 1992).
Building 332
Building 332 is the Plutonium Facility. Exhausts from glovebox operations and the workplace are
triply HEPA filtered. Exhausts are monitored with both continuous filter sampling and
plutonium-specific, continuous real-time monitors. The major activities at the facility have included
testing plutonium-bearing engineering assemblies, developing and demonstrating improved plutonium
fabrication techniques, and fundamental and applied research in plutonium metallurgy.
Building 334
Building 334, the Hardened Engineering Test Building, is in the southwest quadrant of the LLNL site
and provides laboratory space. This facility performs two main activities. The first is intrinsic radiation
measurements. Nonexplosive, plutonium-bearing assemblies are used in these experiments to
determine the occupational radiation exposure to personnel during transportation, storage, and
handling of nuclear weapons. The second activity is physical testing of components to various
combinations of vibration, acceleration, mechanical and thermal shock, and thermal cycling. These
tests simulate the harsh conditions to which the components could be subjected over their lifetime in
storage, transportation, and use.
Building 341
Building 341 is one of the Lasers Directorate facilities. Experimental studies include the use of
high-energy electrical systems, explosives, high-velocity experiments using gun systems,
development and testing of optics, laser systems, flash X-ray generators, and hydro-diagnostics
equipment.
Building 361 Complex
The research complex for the Biology and Biotechnology Research Directorate includes Buildings
361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366 and 367. Building 365 contains small amounts of tritium, 14C and 35S
used in animal research and incorporated in animal carcasses stored frozen pending disposal. The
building air is filtered through at least two HEPA filters and one charcoal filter before being exhausted.
Most of the organs that contained radionuclides have been removed from the animals for
examination. The radionuclide sources in Building 361 include tritium, 14C, 32P, 33P, and 35S, mostly
incorporated as constituent atoms (tracers) in organic compounds.
Building 378
Building 378 is part of the Energy and Environment Directorate. Small quantities of radioactive
tracers have been handled in this building.
Building 391
Building 391 is the Inertial Confinement Fusion Laser Facility. The building contains a master
oscillator room and film calibration facility; a laser bay and switchyard; a 10-beam target bay; a Nova
2-beam target bay; and Nova power-conditioning and control systems. Radiation and radioactive
materials may be encountered in the form of neutrons, X-rays, and possible contamination of the
target chamber with tritium.
Building 412
Building 412 is used for environmental research and includes service shops and laboratories in which
experiments involving lasers and spectrometers are conducted. Other experiments have involved
extremely high temperatures and pressures. The eastern section of the building contains six hot cells
that are no longer used. These cells and the associated air filtration and scrubber system are
contaminated with low levels of mixed fission products and are in caretaker standby condition with a
maintenance and monitoring program (DOE 1992).
Building 435
Building 435 houses two magnetic fusion energy experiments: the Sustained Spheromak Physics
Experiment, operated by the Physics and Advanced Technology Directorate, and the Davis Diverted
Tokamak, operated by the University of California, Davis, Department of Applied Science.
Experiments are conducted in these facilities on the confinement and heating of plasmas as part of
the U.S. Fusion Energy Program. Plasmas are formed in large vacuum vessels and studied using
diagnostics including a laser interferometer and laser Thompson scattering (DOE 2004). This building
has also housed the Sherwood Project (magnetic fusion energy experiment) and the International
Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor.
Building 490 Complex
This complex of buildings in the northern quadrant of the LLNL at the Livermore site includes
Buildings 490, 491, 492, 493, and 494. The complex supports operation of the laser demonstration
facilities (Buildings 490, 492, and 494) and the separator demonstration facilities (Buildings 490, 491,
493, and 494) as well as related research and development activities. Chemical processing has been
performed in Building 494.
The operations performed at the 490 Complex supported both the U-AVLIS process for uranium
enrichment and waste treatment development activities. In June 1999, USEC suspended further
development of the U-AVLIS technology. The Separator Demonstration Facility in Building 490
contained the uranium separator and areas for receipt, inspection, and storage of the separator pod
assemblies and parts. Pods were transported for refurbishment from Building 490 to Building 491
through an enclosed transporter equipped with a HEPA filter and an inert gas supply.
Building 491 housed the separator pod disassembly area, oxidation ovens, grit blasters, coating
equipment, change rooms, a receiving and shipping area for component storage and assembly of
sealed containers of natural or depleted uranium and of small quantities of enriched uranium.
Building 493 was used for component storage and assembly and for sealed storage of U-AVLIS feed,
classified materials, and low-level radioactive wastes. Building 493 stored up to 80,000 kg of uranium
at one time.
Buildings 513 and 514 Area
Building 513 is operated by the Radioactive and Hazardous Waste Management Division. The
Stabilization Unit is a mechanized mixing device used to make homogeneous mixtures of waste.
Solidification agents are added during mixing to transfer sludges to solids. The Microfiltration Unit
filters out waste radioactive particles. Small quantities of waste materials are sampled, treated, and
stored. No releases are assumed to occur from waste storage because the wastes are fully
contained.
Building 514 and the 514 open area are operated by the Radioactive and Hazardous Waste
Management Division. The wastewater treatment tank farm and storage tank area process the liquid
waste from facilities on site. The treatment process can involve any of batch chemical treatment
consisting of neutralization, flocculation, oxidation, reduction, precipitation, separation, or filtration.
Areas used for storage are not considered to release radionuclides because the wastes are fully
contained.
Building 612 Area
Building 612 is operated by the Radioactive and Hazardous Waste Management Division. It is a
facility where waste has been repackaged for shipment off site. The Building 612 Yard is operated by
the Radioactive and Hazardous Waste Management Division. The Yard consists of several areas
where containers of radioactive wastes are stacked outdoors. The containers, which are not air tight,
can outgas tritium.
Building 625
Building 625 is operated by Radioactive and Hazardous Waste Management. The building houses
the handling and storage of wastes that are not subject to the Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act, such as polychlorinated biphenyls, asbestos, and transuranic wastes.
Southeast Quadrant (Main Site)
The Southeast Quadrant of the Livermore site has slightly elevated levels of 239Pu in the surface soil
and air (presumably from resuspension). The source of the 239Pu was past waste management
operations.
Site 300
Explosives tests in which radionuclides can be present have been conducted on open-air firing tables.
These tests have depleted uranium material as part of the material inventory. There are multiple tests
per year. Air activation products are created at the flash X-ray and LINAC. Experiments involving
tritium were conducted in the past as well.
Throughout its history, Site 300 has included several LINACs and flash X-ray units. These devices
include:
- XR2 Machine, late 1950s
- ASTRON LINAC, 1963
- Electron Test Accelerator, 1983
- Electron Test Accelerator II, late 1980s
Some selected operations at Site 300 are discussed below.
Bunker 801
Bunker 801 is the Contained Firing Facility but in the past has been used with open-air firing tables.
This facility contained the Flash X-Ray (FXR) LINAC, which began operations in 1982. Workers could
have encountered depleted uranium, tritium, and accelerator-produced air activation products.
Bunker 851
This facility housed a 100-MeV LINAC. Open-air firing tables were also used. Workers could have
encountered depleted uranium, tritium, and accelerator-produced air activation products.
Bunker 86
The Advanced Test Accelerator is housed in Bunker 865. Workers are likely to have encountered
accelerator-produced air activation products.
Nuclear Weapons Testing
LLNL personnel supported a variety of nuclear weapons testing from 1952 through the late 1980s.
Specific information about these tests is not provided in the Site Profile. Individual exposure records
should include information for personnel who traveled to the Nevada Test Site, Pacific Proving
Ground, or other nuclear weapons testing locations (Alaska, Colorado, New Mexico, and Mississippi).
These records should include external dosimetry results as well as any bioassay that might have been
performed.
For external dose, LLNL employees working at the NTS may have been double badged, wearing
dosimetry from both the NTS and LLNL. For other nuclear weapons tests, only LLNL dosimetry was
provided. For internal dose, LLNL might have performed bioassay upon a worker’s return to LLNL.
The Building 222 Complex in the southwest quadrant of the LLNL at the Livermore site consists of
nine buildings (221 through 229) and several trailers. The complex includes chemical laboratories,
offices, and machining and storage facilities. The wide range of work performed here includes the
bench-scale synthesis and testing of chemical compounds, intralaboratory and consulting services,
chemical analysis, bench-scale polymers and composite technology development, and other special
bench-scale research and development projects (DOE 1992).
The chemistry facility, Building 222, is the main facility for the study of analytical and physical
chemistry at LLNL. Buildings 224 and 226 are used for environmental analytical work. Building 225
activities have included energy research, surface science, and other similar bench-scale research.
Building 227 has provided a facility for polymer research and work associated with LLNL intelligence
and treaty verification support. Building 228 is the waste retention system for Building 226.
Building 229 has stored beryllium hydride.
The hazards associated with the Building 222 Complex include handling small quantities of hazardous
materials involved in research and development activities. These include radioactive materials, laser
dyes, high explosives, solvents, inorganic acids, bases and salts, organic compounds, halogens,
organometallics, and inorganic compounds (DOE 1992).
Building 231
The Development and Assembly Facility, Building 231, is a large experimental, manufacturing,
assembly, test, and materials-handling facility in the southwestern quadrant of the site. Building 231
houses research and development activities conducted by Chemistry and Materials Science
(Materials Division), Engineering (Engineering Sciences, Materials Fabrication, Nuclear Energy
Systems, Nuclear Test Engineering, and Weapons Engineering Divisions), Safeguards and Security
(Materials Management Division), and Special Projects Program (J Division). Management oversight
for Building 231 is provided by the Engineering Directorate through Engineering Sciences Division.
Small amounts of depleted uranium have been used in Building 232.
Building 235
Building 235 is a part of the Chemistry and Materials Sciences Directorate known as the Weapons
Materials Research and Development Facility. Operations in the facility began in 1987 and have
included examination of material structure, surface, and subsurface; precision cutting; ion implanting;
and metallurgical studies. Most of the depleted uranium in this building has been used for
characterization studies; some has been used for ion beam implantation experiments.
Building 241
Building 241 is administered by the Chemistry and Material Sciences Directorate for material
properties research and testing as well as study of soil bacteria. The history of the facility included the
use of a LINAC.
Building 251
Building 251 is the Heavy Element Facility managed by the Safety, Security, and Environmental
Protection Directorate as a standby, nonoperational facility in which transuranic isotopes are stored
until they can be disposed. One area of the facility has been hardened to resist damage from
earthquakes. Room air in the hardened area is exhausted through two high-efficiency particulate air
(HEPA) filters; glovebox exhausts are triply HEPA filtered. Exhausts from the unhardened areas are
also HEPA filtered and are continuously sampled by sample filter systems.
Buildings 253, 254, and 255
Building 253 houses the Hazards Control Department, and the facility includes laboratories for the
chemical analysis and counting of radioactive samples. Hazards Control also operates Building 254
to conduct bioassays and provide analytical services and Building 255, which houses a radiation
calibration and standards laboratory.
Many operations involve the use of sealed sources.
Building 281
Building 281 is part of the Energy and Environment Directorate. Tracer work, dissolution studies, and
flow studies have been conducted in this building.
The Livermore Pool Type Reactor was operated from Building 281 (which was Building 193 before
1966). The reactor operated from 1957 to 1980.
Building 282
Building 282 contains residual contamination from past operations.
Building 292
Building 292 contains residual contamination from the past operation of a rotating target neutron
source. Emissions result from tritium-contaminated water that leaked from an underground storage
tank. Vegetation in the area transpires water with elevated tritium concentrations.
Building 298
Building 298 is the Fusion Target Fabrication Facility, a part of the Laser Fusion Program. Small
amounts of tritium have been used in this facility in conjunction with fusion target research and
development.
Building 321 Complex
Buildings 321, 321A, 321B, and 321C are the Material Fabrication facility. Operations in this complex
include milling, shaping, and machining of depleted uranium. Uranium pieces were worked in single
locations or were moved from machine to machine. In addition, depleted uranium parts occasionally
underwent heat treatment. The amount of depleted uranium handled depended on programmatic
demands and varied from month to month. Machining only occurred in 321C.
Building 327
Building 327 is a radiography facility and, along with Building 239, has conducted nondestructive
evaluation in support of LLNL Site 300, Nevada Test Site (NTS), Tonopah Test Range, DOE
contractor laboratories, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Equipment in these
buildings has included lasers, linear accelerators, isotope sources, and flash X-ray equipment (DOE
1992).
Building 331
Building 331 is the Hydrogen Research Facility or Tritium Research Facility. The building houses the
tritium research facility and associated laboratories. The bulk of the tritium inventory is in elemental
form or metal hydrides capable of being turned into elemental form by heating. A small amount of
tritium has been used for labeling compounds or synthesizing lithium hydride. There has been no
deliberate experimental use of tritiated water. Some tritiated water is formed in the tritium cleanup
systems during the removal of tritium from glovebox atmospheres (DOE 1992).
Building 332
Building 332 is the Plutonium Facility. Exhausts from glovebox operations and the workplace are
triply HEPA filtered. Exhausts are monitored with both continuous filter sampling and
plutonium-specific, continuous real-time monitors. The major activities at the facility have included
testing plutonium-bearing engineering assemblies, developing and demonstrating improved plutonium
fabrication techniques, and fundamental and applied research in plutonium metallurgy.
Building 334
Building 334, the Hardened Engineering Test Building, is in the southwest quadrant of the LLNL site
and provides laboratory space. This facility performs two main activities. The first is intrinsic radiation
measurements. Nonexplosive, plutonium-bearing assemblies are used in these experiments to
determine the occupational radiation exposure to personnel during transportation, storage, and
handling of nuclear weapons. The second activity is physical testing of components to various
combinations of vibration, acceleration, mechanical and thermal shock, and thermal cycling. These
tests simulate the harsh conditions to which the components could be subjected over their lifetime in
storage, transportation, and use.
Building 341
Building 341 is one of the Lasers Directorate facilities. Experimental studies include the use of
high-energy electrical systems, explosives, high-velocity experiments using gun systems,
development and testing of optics, laser systems, flash X-ray generators, and hydro-diagnostics
equipment.
Building 361 Complex
The research complex for the Biology and Biotechnology Research Directorate includes Buildings
361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366 and 367. Building 365 contains small amounts of tritium, 14C and 35S
used in animal research and incorporated in animal carcasses stored frozen pending disposal. The
building air is filtered through at least two HEPA filters and one charcoal filter before being exhausted.
Most of the organs that contained radionuclides have been removed from the animals for
examination. The radionuclide sources in Building 361 include tritium, 14C, 32P, 33P, and 35S, mostly
incorporated as constituent atoms (tracers) in organic compounds.
Building 378
Building 378 is part of the Energy and Environment Directorate. Small quantities of radioactive
tracers have been handled in this building.
Building 391
Building 391 is the Inertial Confinement Fusion Laser Facility. The building contains a master
oscillator room and film calibration facility; a laser bay and switchyard; a 10-beam target bay; a Nova
2-beam target bay; and Nova power-conditioning and control systems. Radiation and radioactive
materials may be encountered in the form of neutrons, X-rays, and possible contamination of the
target chamber with tritium.
Building 412
Building 412 is used for environmental research and includes service shops and laboratories in which
experiments involving lasers and spectrometers are conducted. Other experiments have involved
extremely high temperatures and pressures. The eastern section of the building contains six hot cells
that are no longer used. These cells and the associated air filtration and scrubber system are
contaminated with low levels of mixed fission products and are in caretaker standby condition with a
maintenance and monitoring program (DOE 1992).
Building 435
Building 435 houses two magnetic fusion energy experiments: the Sustained Spheromak Physics
Experiment, operated by the Physics and Advanced Technology Directorate, and the Davis Diverted
Tokamak, operated by the University of California, Davis, Department of Applied Science.
Experiments are conducted in these facilities on the confinement and heating of plasmas as part of
the U.S. Fusion Energy Program. Plasmas are formed in large vacuum vessels and studied using
diagnostics including a laser interferometer and laser Thompson scattering (DOE 2004). This building
has also housed the Sherwood Project (magnetic fusion energy experiment) and the International
Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor.
Building 490 Complex
This complex of buildings in the northern quadrant of the LLNL at the Livermore site includes
Buildings 490, 491, 492, 493, and 494. The complex supports operation of the laser demonstration
facilities (Buildings 490, 492, and 494) and the separator demonstration facilities (Buildings 490, 491,
493, and 494) as well as related research and development activities. Chemical processing has been
performed in Building 494.
The operations performed at the 490 Complex supported both the U-AVLIS process for uranium
enrichment and waste treatment development activities. In June 1999, USEC suspended further
development of the U-AVLIS technology. The Separator Demonstration Facility in Building 490
contained the uranium separator and areas for receipt, inspection, and storage of the separator pod
assemblies and parts. Pods were transported for refurbishment from Building 490 to Building 491
through an enclosed transporter equipped with a HEPA filter and an inert gas supply.
Building 491 housed the separator pod disassembly area, oxidation ovens, grit blasters, coating
equipment, change rooms, a receiving and shipping area for component storage and assembly of
sealed containers of natural or depleted uranium and of small quantities of enriched uranium.
Building 493 was used for component storage and assembly and for sealed storage of U-AVLIS feed,
classified materials, and low-level radioactive wastes. Building 493 stored up to 80,000 kg of uranium
at one time.
Buildings 513 and 514 Area
Building 513 is operated by the Radioactive and Hazardous Waste Management Division. The
Stabilization Unit is a mechanized mixing device used to make homogeneous mixtures of waste.
Solidification agents are added during mixing to transfer sludges to solids. The Microfiltration Unit
filters out waste radioactive particles. Small quantities of waste materials are sampled, treated, and
stored. No releases are assumed to occur from waste storage because the wastes are fully
contained.
Building 514 and the 514 open area are operated by the Radioactive and Hazardous Waste
Management Division. The wastewater treatment tank farm and storage tank area process the liquid
waste from facilities on site. The treatment process can involve any of batch chemical treatment
consisting of neutralization, flocculation, oxidation, reduction, precipitation, separation, or filtration.
Areas used for storage are not considered to release radionuclides because the wastes are fully
contained.
Building 612 Area
Building 612 is operated by the Radioactive and Hazardous Waste Management Division. It is a
facility where waste has been repackaged for shipment off site. The Building 612 Yard is operated by
the Radioactive and Hazardous Waste Management Division. The Yard consists of several areas
where containers of radioactive wastes are stacked outdoors. The containers, which are not air tight,
can outgas tritium.
Building 625
Building 625 is operated by Radioactive and Hazardous Waste Management. The building houses
the handling and storage of wastes that are not subject to the Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act, such as polychlorinated biphenyls, asbestos, and transuranic wastes.
Southeast Quadrant (Main Site)
The Southeast Quadrant of the Livermore site has slightly elevated levels of 239Pu in the surface soil
and air (presumably from resuspension). The source of the 239Pu was past waste management
operations.
Site 300
Explosives tests in which radionuclides can be present have been conducted on open-air firing tables.
These tests have depleted uranium material as part of the material inventory. There are multiple tests
per year. Air activation products are created at the flash X-ray and LINAC. Experiments involving
tritium were conducted in the past as well.
Throughout its history, Site 300 has included several LINACs and flash X-ray units. These devices
include:
- XR2 Machine, late 1950s
- ASTRON LINAC, 1963
- Electron Test Accelerator, 1983
- Electron Test Accelerator II, late 1980s
Some selected operations at Site 300 are discussed below.
Bunker 801
Bunker 801 is the Contained Firing Facility but in the past has been used with open-air firing tables.
This facility contained the Flash X-Ray (FXR) LINAC, which began operations in 1982. Workers could
have encountered depleted uranium, tritium, and accelerator-produced air activation products.
Bunker 851
This facility housed a 100-MeV LINAC. Open-air firing tables were also used. Workers could have
encountered depleted uranium, tritium, and accelerator-produced air activation products.
Bunker 86
The Advanced Test Accelerator is housed in Bunker 865. Workers are likely to have encountered
accelerator-produced air activation products.
Nuclear Weapons Testing
LLNL personnel supported a variety of nuclear weapons testing from 1952 through the late 1980s.
Specific information about these tests is not provided in the Site Profile. Individual exposure records
should include information for personnel who traveled to the Nevada Test Site, Pacific Proving
Ground, or other nuclear weapons testing locations (Alaska, Colorado, New Mexico, and Mississippi).
These records should include external dosimetry results as well as any bioassay that might have been
performed.
For external dose, LLNL employees working at the NTS may have been double badged, wearing
dosimetry from both the NTS and LLNL. For other nuclear weapons tests, only LLNL dosimetry was
provided. For internal dose, LLNL might have performed bioassay upon a worker’s return to LLNL.
Videos:
Other aspects of the Lawrence Livermore Nuclear Laboratory are discussed below:
DOCUMENTS:
NIOSH Special Exposure Cohort Petition Evaluation Reports
Petition 92 (Jan 1, 1950, to Dec 31, 1973)
SEC Petition Evaluation Report, Petition SEC-00092, Report Rev #: 0
Report Submittal Date: December 3, 2007
Petition 163 (Jan 1, 1950 to Dec 31, 1973)
SEC Petition Evaluation Report, Petition SEC-00163, Report Rev #: 0
Report Submittal Date: January 21, 2010
Petition 221 (Jan 1, 1974, to Dec 31, 1995)
SEC Petition Evaluation Report, Petition SEC-00221, Report Rev Number: 0
Report Submittal Date: February 12, 2016
Technical Basis Documents
Site Profile
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory – Introduction
Effective Date: 09/12/2005, Revision: 00 PC-1