ML19207A994
| ML19207A994 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 07/07/1978 |
| From: | Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Schlesinger J ENERGY, DEPT. OF |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19207A992 | List: |
| References | |
| SECY-78-256, NUDOCS 7908230170 | |
| Download: ML19207A994 (2) | |
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JUL 0 71973 b[
b M[,l i ba d..sj C The Honorable James T. Schlesinger Secretary of Energy
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Washington, D. C. 20555
Dear Mr. Secretary:
The matter of the safe disposal of radioactive wastes from the nuclear fuel cycle is one of concern to both the Department of Energy (00E) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Recent developments at the commercial low-level waste burial grounds have raised the questiori of whether adequate regionally distributed disposal capacity for the nation's low-level radioactive wastes will be available at the currently operating facilities.
Two of the six licensed co=ercial burial grounds (West Valle-lew York and Maxey Flats, Kentucky) are closed. A third site Sheffield, Illinois) has reached its licensed capacity.
(Public hearings will ce conducted on an application for site expansion.) A limit of 135,000 f t3 per month (the average monthly rate for 1977) has been placed by the State of South Carolina on the volume which may be accepted at the fourth site, (Sarnwell, South Carolina). Thus; a large fraction of the waste from reactors and other waste generators located in the Eastern and Midwestern United States must soon be transported to the burial sites at Beatty, Nevada, and Hanford, Washington.
In addition, an application for a new cornercial burial site in New Mexico was withdrawn by the applicant on April 4 Very little flexibility exists in options for waste disposal if operational problems develop at the remaining sites.
NF.C believes that additional standby capacity should be made available.
Because there is no prospect of opening new commercial burial grounds in the near future, we believe it prudent for COE to develop a contin-cency plan which would allow the DOE burial sites to accept co=ercially cenerated wastes should the need arise. Such a plan would be consistent Yith the Atomic Energy Ccrission's practices in the early 1950's, before a co = crcial disposal industry was established.
It is also ccqsistent with the recent DOE Task Force peport which suggested that
' all the burial crounds be operated as a national system.
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_2 NRC also requests that you censider disposing of waste from all COE prime contracters at 00E burial grounds rather than at commercial burial sites.
Because the need is bcth important and somewhat urgent, we would appreciate your immediate attention to these requests. The NRC staff is prepared to c operate with your staff on these matters. The NRC contact is Mr. Sheldon Meyers, Director, Division of Fuel Cycle and Material Safety.
Mr. Meyers can be reached at (301)427-4152.
Sincerely, Original Signed By
]pe;h.i Hentie Joseph M. Hendrie G
786030