ML19207B010
| ML19207B010 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 07/07/1978 |
| From: | Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | SENATE, ENVIRONMENT & PUBLIC WORKS |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19207A992 | List: |
| References | |
| SECY-78-256, NUDOCS 7908230194 | |
| Download: ML19207B010 (4) | |
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- f JUL i 573 The Honorable Gary Hart '
Chaiman, Subcouraittee on fluclear Regulation Cecraittee on Environment and Public Works
... 4.. United States Senate
. ;.Tf. Washington, D.C.
20510
Dear 14r. Chaiman:
The matter of the safe disposal of radioactive wastes is one vi conci:rn T. ~TCto the liuclear Regulatory Correaission (:iRC).
I m uld like to inform the
.! u...ccmittee of the current status of disposal capacity for managment of tt'e nation's icw-level radioactive wastes and actions we are taking
- .._,_ regarding this matter.
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Recent developments at the six cct:aercial low-level radioactive waste burial sites have raised the question of whether adequate regionally distributed disposal capacity for the nation's low-level wastes will i.ne available at currently operating facilities. Tm of the six licensed
. cocnercial burial grounds (West Valley, New York, and Maxey Flats, Kentucky) are closed. A third site (Sheffield, Illinois) has reached its licensed capacity and is no longer accepting waste for disposal (public hearings will be conducted on an application for sito expan-fthc)onth (the average conthly rate for 1977) on the volu=a of wasta sion. The State of South Carolina has placed a limit of 135,000 #7 that may be buried at a fourth site (Barnwell, South Carolina).
In
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addition, an application for a new comercial burial site in How Mexic was withdrawn by the applicant earlier this year. Thus a large frac-tion of the wastes from reactors and other waste generatcrs located in the eastern and =id-western United States cust be transported to the burial sites at Beatty, Nevada and Hanford, Ueshingtan.
Enclosure I shows the vol'mes of uasta curied and tha remaiaing capacities of the six comercial low-lavel disposal sites. Adequata lou-level waste disposal capacity presently exists at the sarnwell, South Carolina, Seatty,.levada, and Manford, asningten sites to the mid 1980's asscaing taese sites continue to operate and no additional limitations are placed on the volu.mes of wastes received at these sites. We know of no plans by.!evada cr Washington to liait the volume of waste received at their sites. '!ery little flexibility exists in options for low-level wasce disposal if operation problems develop at
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the remaining si tes.
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R...Q__-.i Wft NRC TCR.M 313 (oJ6) FCt OMO W u. s. c o v t a. - v.,... ~ri o., i e t..... n.. m 7908230) f'
,* l' f The !!onorable Gary Hart.
Tiie ni1C believes, in the nort term that the present situation can be addressed by the industt y cooceratively working out arrangments for use of shielded casks, transport vehicles, interim storage and optimal e
utilization of the capacity of the three operating sites. Hcwever, NRC also believes that additional standby capacity should be available.
There is no prospect of opening new commercial burial grounds in the near future; only Department of Energy (DGE) owned and operated burial grounds could meet this need. Thus, we believe it prudent for the DOE to develop a contingency plan which would allow the 00E burial sites to accepc comercially generated wastas should the need arise.
I have sent a letter to Dr. Schlesinger requesting 00E to develop sucn a contingency plan and have initiatad discussions between cur respec-tive staffs.
I have also requested or. Schlesinger to consider disposing of radioactive wastes from c4E prime contractors at 00E sites rather than at comercial burial sites.
NRC aisc plans to issue an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to sciicit coments on development of a regulatory program for alternative disposal methods to tha currently practicco method of shallow land burial.
Such alternatives may offer one means of providing additional disposal capacity.
In the long term, HRC plans to continue to addrcss the issue of safe capacity for management of the nation's low-level wastes. We also know that this issue is among those being acdressed by the Presidential Interagency Review Group on Guclear Waste,ianagement.
I will keep you informed of DOE's response to our reouest anu of further development: that could affect the natica's low-level vaste disposal capacity.
Sincerely, gfjn.1:17737 p.. 3 -
"1 Joseph :i. tiendrie Chairman
Enclosure:
Status of Lironsed Co=mrcial u.-_-_
_ __ w Low-Level Waste Disposal 31t05 cc: Sen. J m es 'cClura 7860S7
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The Huncrable Gary Hart
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Identical Letters Sent To:
The lionorable Morris K. Udall Chairman, Subcomittee on Energy and the Envircnment Conaittee on Interior and Insular Affairs m
United States House of Representatives
. ~' Washington, D.C.
20515 cc: Rep. Rcbert Bauman 9~
The Honorable John D. Dingell,
. Chairman, Subccenittee on Energy and Power Cemittee on Interstate and Foreicn Comerce United States House of Representatives 5
Washington, D.C.
20515 cc: Rep. Clarence J. Brcwn g
I 786038
....m-eummase s e
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k Enclosure,13 ',
Status of Licensed (ommercial Low-Level Waste Disposal Sites
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Volume of Haste Approximate Waste
- Buried Through 1977 Capacity Remaining Current Status 3
3
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Barnwell, SC S.164.174 50,993,416 OPEN--Limited to 3
ft / month 135,000 i
Sheffield, IL 3,0::3,000 O
Licensed Capacity Filled Beatty, NV 2,1:17,460 16,986,034 OPEN Hanford, WA 596,023 44,142,500 OPEN Maxey Flats, KY 4,964,932 15,785,358 CLOSED FOR STUDY Uest Valley, NY 2,460,000 1,483,188 CLOSED BY~0PERATOR