The future MOX fuel fabrication facility at the Savannah River Site, classified as a bulk handling facility.

(Source: DOE Photo)

A facility where nuclear material is held, processed or used in bulk form. Where appropriate, bulk handling facilities may be organized for safeguards purposes into multiple material balance areas (MBAs), for instance by separating activities relating only to the storage and assembly of discrete fuel items from those involving storage or processing of bulk material. In a bulk MBA, flow and inventory values declared by the facility operator are verified by the IAEA through independent measurements and observation. Examples of bulk handling facilities are plants for conversion, enrichment (or isotope separation), fuel fabrication and spent fuel reprocessing, and storage facilities for bulk material.