THE MURMANSK INITIATIVE - RF: 1994-1999 NEARING THE FINISH LINE.

''The Murmansk Initiative - RF'' is a tri-lateral project developed to support Russia's ability to meet the London Convention's prohibition on ocean disposal of radioactive waste. The Initiative, under a tripartite agreement, has upgraded an existing low-level liquid radioactive waste treatment facility, increasing capacity from 1,200 m{sup 3}/year to 5,000 m{sup 3}/year, and expanded capability to treat liquids containing salt (up to 10 g/L). The three parties to the agreement, the Russian Federation, Norway, and the United States, have all contributed the project. All construction has been provided by Russia. Construction of mechanical systems (piping and valves, pumps, sorbent columns, settling tanks, and surge tanks) is nearing completion, with instrumentation and control (I&C) systems currently being installed. Delays to the I&C installation have occurred because changes in system specifications required additional U.S. supplied computer control equipment to be purchased, and clearance through customs (both U.S. and Russian) has been slow. Start-up testing has been limited to testing of isolated sub-systems because of the delays in the I&C installation. The current state of the Russian economy and completion of a cementation unit, which was not part of the original tri-partite agreement, have hampered final construction activities. Russian regulatory authorities have stated that final licensing for expanded capacity (5,000 m{sup 3}/year) would not be given until the cementation unit was on-line. Completion of the project is now scheduled for August 1999.