ML19210C855
| ML19210C855 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 09/12/1979 |
| From: | Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Oakar M HOUSE OF REP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19210C856 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7911200209 | |
| Download: ML19210C855 (9) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES
~8 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION cN o
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WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 k..... p8 September 12, 1979 CHAIRMAN The Honorable Mary Rose Oakar United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C.
20515
Dear Congresswoman Oakar:
I have received the inquiry regarding safe transportatioin of radioactive wastes through Ohio from yourself and the other members of the Ohio Congressional delegation. You asked about our policy re<garding the transportation of nuclear wastes, what precautions are t:aken, and what notifications are made. We are pleased to respond to th<ese questions.
Your letters indicate that if one of the casks on the fliatbed trucks was involved in an accident, the results would be catastrophiic.
We do not agree with this conclusion. First of all, I want to assture you that if there were an accident involving one of these shipments,, the results would not be catastrophic, due to the protective nature cof the packaging (as described in Enclosure 1) and the nature of the wastres themselves.
. Wastes generated in a nuclear power plant take many formas, including compacted solids, combustible material, solidified evapo)rator bottoms, and dewatered resins from ion exchange columns.
The matieriaTs that have been shipped from TMI Unit 1 (shut down before the accidient occurred at TMI Unit 2 on March 28,1979) we e dewatered resins.
Thiis material is in the form of tiny solid beads from which excess water thas been removed.
The waste was shipped under the category of low specific: activity material since the radioactivity per unit mass was small. Becaus;e of the low concentration of radioactivity, such material presents s: mall hazard to public health and safety even if it is dispersed in an atccident.
Conse-quently, in the unlikely event.of an accident severe enojugh to rupture the package and disperse the contents, the public healthi hazard would be limited, not catastrophic.
In general, transportation of radioactive waste material!s is regulated at the Federal level by both the Nuclear Regulatory Comrr.iission (NRC) and theDepartmentofTransportation(DOT). These two agenc:ies partition their regulatory responsibilities by means of a Memoranclum of Understanding.
The aforementioned Enclosure 1 gives a brief description of the NRC and DOT requirements for the packaging and transportation off radioactive materials including nuclear fuel and waste.
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p 1366 301 79112 001CS pz_
The Honorable Mary Rose Oakar Under existing regulations, neither the NRC nor the DOT prescribe specific highway routes for the transportation of radioactive waste materials or require shippers of such material to post advance notice of shipments. The DOT regulations require the use of alternate routes, where practicable, to avoid " heavily populated areas, places where crowds are assembled, tunnels, narrow streets, or alleys (49 CFR 397.9)."
Existing State and local requirements frequently restrict use of bridges, tunnels, and roads for carriers of radioactive and other hazardous materials.
In addition, portions of highways which are unfit for travel by heavy vehicles or by vehicles carrying hazardous materials have traditionally been closed to traffic by State raffic authorities acting in concert with local officials.
The NRC has recently reexamined its regulations on packap,ing and trans-portation in " Final Environmental Statement on Transporta tion of Radioactive Material by Air and Other Modes,"
(NUREG-0170 (December 1977; Enclosure 2)).
In that document, the staff concluded that the environmen tal impacts of normal transportation and the risk attendant to accidents. involving radioactive waste material shipments are sufficiently smatll to allow continued shipments by all modes and that no changes to the regulations are needed at this time. 10 wever, the NRC continues to s:tudy safety aspects of transportation of radioactive waste materials -to determine whether improvements for safety can be made.
As a result of recent initiatives by State and local authtorities to impose routing controls on nuclear shipments, the DOT has; undertaken a rulemaking examination of transportation safety aspects orf highway routing for radioactive materials. The examination will include con-sideration of routing decisions now being made by carriers and of the methods by which those decisions are made, as well as ther safety effects of existing and possible federal, State, and local highwaiy routing controls. A copy of the DOT notice of that examination i's enclosed (Enclosure 3).
The NRC plans to cooperate with the DOT in this proceeding consistent with a Memorandum of Understanding between the+ two agencies.
This proceeding is expected to take about two years to coxnplete.
Shipments of radioactive waste from the Three Mile Islandi Nuclear Power Station have been made under the existing regulations. To date, twelve shipments have been completed. Three of the shipments of radioactive waste from the TMI site discussed above may have contained small quantities of material from TMI-2 and so are considered as TMI-2 shiipments. The other shipments contained TMI-2 rubbish including protective clothing used in decontamination activities. Additional shipments of low activity waste material associated with TMI-2 recovery operations are also planned.
These TMI-2 related shipments have been and should contirnue to be conducted no differently from similar shipments involving other reactors and will be conducted under the same NRC procedure as described above.
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The Honorable Mary Rose Oakar Decontamination of THI-2 facilities comprises three major tasks:
cleaning 280,000 gallons of water from the auxiliary building, cleaning 630,000 gallons of water from the containment building, and removing the reactor core. The last two tasks are still being planned. A system has been designed and installed for processing the 280,000 gallons of water from the auxiliary building. This system is now being checked out but will
- not be operated until an environmental assessment has been completed and approved. The draft environmental assessment, a copy of' which is enclosed for your information, (Enclosure 4), has been released for public comment. When process units containing resin beds are depleted, they will be dewatered, replaced, and stored temporarily on site in an engineered storage facility.
All these units are planned to be shipped to Richland, Washington for burial. To date, all TMI-2 shipments of radioactive waste have been sent' to Richland and have traversed Ohio following the notif~ication of appropriate officials in that state. Advance notification o.f all TMI-2 radioactive waste shipments, including routing and timing, will continue as schedules become known. Certain of these process units wrill not contain as much radioactivity as the others and thus are plainned to be shipped as low specific activity material in Type A packages;. Public health and safety assurance for such shipments is provided b!y the low concentration of radioactivity in the contents, as required by the classification of low specific activity material, and by the packaging, which is designed to withstand normal transportation conditi:ons.
Similar considerations apply to the other TMI-2 and TMI-l shipments discussed above.
The remainder of the process units involved with the decontatmination of the 280,000 gallons of water from the auxiliary building' are planned to be shipped in Type B packages, which are designed to witNta;nd both normal transportation conditions and transportation accident conditions with essentially no release of radioactive contents. These process units are planned to be shipped in a dewatered state as for the TMI-l waste. Requirements for further solidification of this tnaterial prior to shipment are under consideration by the NRC staff.
The NRC has established a special procedure whereby NRC personnel at the Three~ Mile Island site observe the preparation of each shiprnent and independently measure the radiation levels around each shipment. The NRC then notifies, among others, each State requesting information on such shipments in advance of the actual movement of the material.
So much interest has been expressed in these shipments that the NRC has amended its procedure and will notify all States that future shipments will traverse.
For Ohio, the NRC will provide this information to James McAvoy, Director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
The information provided will include package identification, package description, carrier name, waste description, waste volume, waste origin (Three Mile Island Unit 1 or Unit 2), aggregate radioactivity vyg em o
,1 A lrd.m 1566 003 o
The Honorable Mary Rose Oakar in the package, radiation readings outside the package, presence, if any, of transuranic waste components (e.g., plutonium or americium),
labels, time and date the shipment left Three Mile Island, burial facility identification, routing of the shipment, and any other infor-mation deemed pertinent by the NRC personnel at the Three Mile Island site.
Presently, if a transportation accident occurs, State and local govern-ments are primarily responsible for overseeing the response of carrier, shipper, and others and for taking actions deemed necessary to protect public health and safety.
If the State or local response team needs advice on radiological matters or assistance in responding to a trans-portation accident, Fede'ral resources are available.
Usually, these resources will be a team from a nearby Federal installation under the auspices of the Interagency Radiological Assistance Plan.
The subject of emergency preparedness in transportation of radioactive materials is also under active consideration by both the NRC and the DOT.
- Recently, a joint NRC/D0T study group completed a report on emergency preparedness, in which several recommendations were developed for Federal rulemaking and response planning by shippers, carriers, and State and local agencies.
We are soliciting public coments on this document, a copy of which is enclosed (Enclosure 5).
While neither the NRC nor the DOT have officially endorsed the Study Group's report, the NRC and the D0T have initiated actions to implement these recommendations.
We hope this information will be helpful to you.
If we can be of further assistance, please let us know.
Sincerely, p
}g dt M Joseph M. Hendrie
Enclosures:
~
1.
" Transportation of Nuclear Fuel and Waste" 2.
" Final Environmental Statement on the Transportation of Radioactive Materials by Air and Other Modes" NUREG-0170 3.
" Highway Routing of Radioactive Materials:
Inquiry" Federal Register 43, 36492 (August 17,1978) 4.
" Environmental Assessment:
Use of EPICOR-II At Three Mile Island" 33(36 00o NUREG-0591 r
5.
"Revi w and Assessment of Package Requirements (Yellowcake) and Emergency Response to Transportation Accidents" NUREG-0535
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TRANSPORTATION OF NUCLEAR FUEL AND WASTE The transportation of nuclear fuel and waste is regulated principally by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The regulations of the NRC are found in
Title:
10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, primarily in 10 CFR Part 71, " Packaging of Radioactive Material for Transport and Transportation of Radioactive Material Under Certain Conditions," The regulations of the DOT are found in the Code of Federal Regulations, primarily in 49 CFR Parts 170-189 5
" Hazardous Materials Rsgulations" (for shippers and road, rail, water and air carriers).
These regulations are applicable both to persons who ship radioactive materials as they package an offer such materials for trans-portation, and to carriers of radioactive ( material as they load and transport such materials in their vehicles.
The regulations provide protection to transport workers and the general public from the hazards of radiation, and to undeveloped film from damage.
Primary reliance for safety in transportation of radioactive material is placed on the packaging.
The DDT regulations prescribe general standards and requirements for all packages of radioactive material, and for handling and storage of those packages by carriers.
For packages which contain no
- significant fissile radioactive material and only small qua:ntities of other radioactive materials, the DOT standards and requirements provide adequate assurance of containment and shielding of the radioactive material.
While these small quantity packages, termed Type A packages, may fail in an accident situation, the radiological consequences would be limited because of the limited package contents.
When the radioactive content of a package exceeds the small Type A quantity limit, it may only be transported in a Type B package, one which will survive transportation accidents.
A Type B package must be designed to' withstand a series of specified impact, puncture and fire environments, providing reasonable assurance that the package will withstand most severe transportation accidents and its design must be independently reviewed by the NRC engineering staff to verify its accident ~ resistance.
Finally a certificate must be issued by the NRC before a Type B package fabricated from that design can be used to transport radioactive saaterial.
The standards which have been established in the DOT and NRC regulations provide that the packaging shall prevent the loss or dispersion of the radioactive contents, provide adequate shielding and heat dissipation, and prevent nuclear criticality under both normal and accident conditions of transportation.
The normal conditions of transportation which must be considered are specified in the regulations in terms of hot and cold environments, pressure differential, vibration, water spray, impact, puncture and compression tests. Accident conditions which must be considered are specified in terms of impact, puncture and fire conditions.
c:s -
_ _.. _... =.
Procedures applicable to the shipment of packages of radioactive material require M a package be labeled with a unique radioactive materials label.
L scansportation, the carrier is required to exercise control over radlaactive material packages, including loading and storage in areas separated from persons, and to limit the aggregation of packages to minimize exposures.
The procedures the carrier must follow in case of an accident include notification of the shipper and the DOT, isolating any spilled radioactive material from personnel contact, pending disposal instructions from qualified persons, and holding vehicles, buildings, areas, or equipment from service or routine occupancy until they are cleaned to specified v'alues.
Radiological assistance teams are available through a Federal interagency program to provide equipment and trained advisory personnel, if necessary, to help manage accidents involving radioactive materials.
Recent studies indicate that approximately 2.5 million packages of radio-active materials are currently being shipped in the United States each year.
Within the limitations of the regulatory standarcis, radioactive materials may be safely t{ansported in routine commerce using conventional transportation equipment.
No special or routing are needed to assure safety.pstrictions on the speed of vehicle In its recent reexamination of its regulations on packaging and transportation of radioactive materials, the NRC staff concluded that the environmer.tal impacts of normal transporta-tion and the risk attendant to accidents involving radioactive material shipments are sufficiently small to allow continued shipments by all modes and that no changes to the regulations are needed at this time.
Two documents, " Environmental Survey of Transportation of Radioactive ftaterials To and From Nuclear Power Plants," WASH-1238, and " Final Environmental Statement on the Transportation of Radioactive Materials by Air and Other Modes," NUREG-0170, provide additional infomation on this topic.
OSection 201 of the Energy Reorganization Act as amended by Public Law 94-79 imposes special restrictions on the air transport of plutonium.
2Accordi_ng to the DOT, of the more than 32,000 hazardous matertal incident reports submitted to the DOT during the five year period 1971-1975, only 144 were noted to involve radioactive materiais.
Of these 144 incidents, only 36 showed any release of contents or excess radiation levels.
In most cases, releases involved minor contamination from packages of low specific activity materials, exempt materials, or Type A quantities of radioactive materials.
NUREG-0170 VO L.1 FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT ON THE TRANSPORTATION OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL BY AIR AND OTHER MODES Docket No. PR-71,73 (40 FR 23768)
December 1977 Office of Standards Development U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
-, i.
'l VOL. 2 I
FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT ON THE i
TRANSPORTATION OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL BY AIR AND OTHER MODES l
l Docket No. PR-71,73 (40 FR 23768)
December 1977 p "muq e
.S Office of Standards Development U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1366 009
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PROPOSED RULES o
36492 carriers of various radioactive materi-esit wsen soo una a uses ror eama pumaan. no and co.a stauona mar un sis tas for <=mne als now restrict use of bridges tunnels.
and roads otherwise open to public essept for inaand waters.
ttse Local jurisdictions have also izn-cs=s: In naciuna to its present sovernment use. the t'nauency band sto.s:s tas is aradante to roe.
mment ano nor.c.vernment.mnauucas ramanansanon usuons iniana or tne terntertaa name L:ne as co-posed requirements for permit fees.
advance nouce, escorts and Wied
~
cre.u.uea mun r.ne metair sernees. In adcuan, tse inquency sto uis is arnaatae for.~ -._entoperanons unen b of
- d. In w m M s
n local restrictions are ="~ 4='ad with
=
local responsibMes for anemncy m-esc:st in the stau of navait. stauons in the aeronautscal raasonanescon serme anin not c-in.
sponse or for traffic control (such as terference to es Navy recepuan trom its usuon at sonolulu on 184 kHz.
the estab11thment of truck routesh This rula n* W w!Il amine the PART s7-AV1MmN $tRVICES transportation safety aspects of high-
=. E way routing of radioactive materials.
E=
In f 87.501, paragraph (D is amended to read as follows:
The evnmination wG1 incimia a=uan iE stien of routing decisions now being
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- I Y M "",*
made by carriers and the methods by (U Radiobeacon stations: 190-205 kH:: 325-415 kH;;; 510-5 S kHr-which those decisions are made. The rula-"= kine wul enmine the safety ef-fects of existing and possible Federal.
(FR Doc. 78-tts33 Fned S-t6-78: s:45 aml State, and local highway routing con-INFORMATION. tm. iz2cluding effects of accons by FOR FURTHER one State or locality on another.
[4910-W TAC Only highway routing of radioactive DEPARTMENi OF TRANSPORTATION Douglas Crockett. Office of Hazard. materials will be considered in this
~
ous Materials Regulation. U.S. De-doctet.This does not rule out the pos-Metenaja reenspectation sureau partment of Transportation. Room sible future consideration of materials
" P*" N 6218. 2100 Second Street SW., Wash-in otner hn=ard e's um and other Inston, M. 2M90. 20246-0656.
m e of transportanon. Heer.
[ Docket No.HM-164; Adn.nce Noticel '
mway transportauon. of all four SUPPmf7'NTART INFORMATICN: modes of transportation, offers the
-O CANAGE sY PUBLIC HIGHWAY largest number of routing possiDHities L Scorr or TRrs DoCIZT Higtrway Revving of te6eec+tve Motorials; and the greatest access to population.~
A. Beckvround. On April 20, 1978. censers. When highway carriers trans-lagvity the MTB published an opinion (43 FR port. radioactive materials, they now AGENCY: Materials Transportation 16954) concerning the legal relation-face immediate and sir. +ecant dispari-Bureau.' Research and Special Pro. ship between section 175.111 of the ties in safety requirements imW by b grams pmmistration. DOT
- New-York City health code and regu. State and local jurisdictions.
ACTION: Advance notice of prop med lations issued by DOT under the Ha:-
B. Ja/ery. Both DOT and the Nucle-ar Regulatory C-mi"S on (NRC)
E' ardous Materials Transportation Act rula m k m r (HMTA. Title I of Pub. L.93-633). Sec-share responsibility for insuring use of SU'.IMARY: This publication invites tion 175.111 of the city's health code safe methods of preparing and trans. -
comment on the need, and possible prohibits the transportation in or porting radiowtive matenals. DOT H through the city of most commercial regulations pertab to 'ismrding and
-k*n e 12-methods for establistung routing re-
~
quirements under the Hazardous Ma.
shipments of radioactive materials.
betng and marking, p tenals Transportation Act applicable The HMTA is the easic Federal legis-shi. ming paper entries, keyed to the lation under which the transportation re'mion ha ard of the Instenal being -
to highway carriers of radioactive ma.
safety of twardous maten11s. !nclud.
trs= sported (49 CFR parts 170-178. es.
tenals. The Matenals Transportation ing radioactive =atenals is regulated. pec-ally fl 173.7Cb). 173.389.398 and ~
Bureau (MB) recently completed an In the opinion. MTB concluded that parts 390-397 especially part 397L exammation of a local New York City HMTA routing authority is sufficient Cmnplementary NRC regulations per- '
crdinance halting the movement of ra.
to preempt State and local highway emmy to parkwne of certab radio-dioactive matenals. Simile ormnnnees
~
routing requirements (see HMTA. acuve materials. are found at 10 CFR
[-
have been or may be enacted else-there. Th:s inquiry is intended to !! 105, 112: 49 U.S.C.1804,1811), but part 71. In addition NRC regulations that because a routing requirement in 10 CFR part 73 concern tne physi-assist in MTB in deci&r what Feder-has not yet been establishec under the cal security of special nuclear materi-al action may be Justified in light of HMTA. that act does not at present afs. at both fixed rarilities and while in local concerns addressed in such ordin-M ances. A hearing will be announced preempt section 175.111 of the city's transpodon.
health code.
An existing DOT regulation generzI-subsequently.
DATE: Comments must be received on and othe a r quiremen s
- ard us ma nals 3 9(a f5 or before January 1.1979.
- posed by State and local junsdictions ciuding radioact2ve matenals, wu 'n
~?
ADDRESS. Comments must be ad-elsewhere, affect interstate commerce. carned in substantial quantities. Sec-In some cases local requirements maY tion 397.9 was issued under statutes dressed to Dockets Branch. Informa-so vary from one another as to be in-that predate the HMTA (18 U.S.C. 834 tion Services Division. Materials compatible. In other cases they may and 49 U.S.C. 304), and states:
Transportat:on Bureau, Restarch anc impose significant additional responsi-Spec:al Programs Admmittration. U.S.
bilities on shippers. carners, or neigh.
f W Rates Department of Transportation. Wash.
ington. D.C. 20590. Five copies of com-bonng junsdictions. Existing State can Unless there is no ovaceirshle alterna.
menta are requested but not required. and local requirements for highway tire. a motor venteta wnics2 contuns hazard.
t FEDERAL REGISTER, VOt. 43. HO.16o-7NURSOAY, AUGUST U,19r8
E,
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,:s PROPOSED RULES 36493
[
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ous materials tr.ust be operated over routes Development. December 1977 (avalla.
- II. Soam Pocerur r RzuuzAroar which do not go throu.h or near heavily ble from the Nationa1 Technica1 Infor.
Ar " ETES populated areas, places where crowds are as.
mation Service for $12)[er. M Insti-Four alternatives are outlined below.
sembled, tunnels, narrow streets, or aners.
(2) IJppek and Schul to ilhmtrste several pm_.-- which Operating convenleace is not a basis for &
terminmr whether it is practicable to oper.
tutional, and Political Issues in Trans-might be used to regulate highway ste a motor vehicle in accordance mth this portation of Nuclear Materials at the routing of radioactive materials. MTB paragraon.
Back End of the LWR Nuclear Fuel is not proposing to employ any of the Cycle. September 30,1977 (m"*1le alternatives. They are outlined merely Human Affairs Research Centers. 4000 as illustrations of available HMTA au-
~
Another DOT regu' Jon expressly Northammt 41st Street. Seattle, Wash. thority. As illustrations. tP-v reflect recognizes State and It al traffic regu. 98105).
differenet:s in State and locA.iecision-lation (49 CFR 397.3). Section 397.3 (3) Transport of Radioactive Materi-m'*inY participation, differenen in approves those State and local require. al in the United States (NLREG cost to governments, business, and ments which concern the mechanics of 0073) U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Com. consuniers, and differences in judg-Egr driving and
- 5. N vehicles. Those missiot. Office of Standards Develop. ment, as to the necessity for additional
!p State and local requirements are ment. May 1976 (single copies inay be Federal scrutiny of >=Mve madri-roughly comparable to Federal re.
obtained by writing to Division of als carriage by highway. The first
=
quirements in 49 CFR part 392. Sec-Technical Information and Document three alWnatives are prohnhtv in as-cet o
of stringency, cost, and tion 397.3 states:
Control.
U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory degree of DOT ru!*m=Mng scrutiny. A g nr..t 3:ste and locaJ tses, ordinances. Commf uinn. Washington, D.C. 20555).
draft regulatory evaluation available and regulations.
(4) Environmental Survey of Trans-for l'spection in' the public docket.
portation of Radioactive Materinls to tentatively concludes the implementa-Erery motor veh2cle cone =*r hanedous matenals must be driven and parted in com.
and from Nuclear Power Plants tion of the regulatory erumples t,elow l
pliance mth the laws. ordmances and resu- (WASH-1238).
U.S.
Atomic EnerEy wotdd probably not have major eco-lauens of the funsdiction in which it is Commfnion. Directorate of Regula-nomic consequences under Executive being operated, unless mer an at vanance tory Standards. December 1972 (copies Order 12044.
7
' "g'hd7pYo ava!!able from the National Technics 1 A. Jtecuire compliance by redioce-M uo are s cab t the operacon of that vehicle and wnica Information Service for $7.25).
tire meterscIs Afghtoap carrsers totth a impose a more sumsent ob11gation or re-In addition, the Nuclear Regulatory generuf routing rule to be established stramt.
Commi" ion has contracted for a ge-by MTB. The test of 49 CFP. 337.9 b,. T.
A third regulation. Issued under the, neric environmental assessment on might serve as a n%.1 for develoc-L. _i HMTA approves. certain hazardous transportation of radioactive materials ment of a general routing recturemens
{_f matertals restrictions imposed on the near or through large densely populat. (varituns would require an exemp-i use of tunnels by State or local au-ed areas. Results of this effort will be tion uncier part 107). Specific route ap-thonty (49 CFR 177.310). Section considereil as they become available.
proval or lice-t of highway carriers b-w uld not be necessary or possible.
177.810 states:
The items listed ere available for g. _-
B. llequire ecch hightcay carrier to t 277.320 Feh.e As-tannels.
public inspection in the MTB doctets
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be licerssed only for vartance from re-room. Copiet may be obtained from Nothing contamed in parts rio-189 of this diocense matericIs routes permitted the publishing agencies cr. Where indl-under a generclly applicable MTR rd -
sumter saan be so consuued as to num.
fy or supersede regulations established.and cated, fmm the National Technical In-routing rule, but permat voluntary li -
p'.- -
pub 11sned under authonty of State statute formation Service. Sprmgfield. Va.
censtnc. Alternative B. a partial Ifeens-5
~
or municipal orr"-* regarding the tind.
221S1 (payment to NTIS should be en-ing scheme, would have many of the N
character. or quanuty of an hazardous ma-closed).
features of alternative C. a full licens-I" Nh'**
urean $
C. The need for consistent rules. Con-ing scheme, outlined below. However.
"8" sh tunnet used for mass transportation.
sistency among Federal, State, and alternative B would involve the estab-j -
local trar.sportation requzrements af.
lishme:2t of a general Federal routing Sections 397.3 and 397.9. and section fects both efficiency and safety in rule under which much or most high -
177.810(a), taken together, ref)cet the transportatiot For highway transpor. way c rriage cf radioactive materials
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fact that routing of highway traffic in tation, differences in regulatory re-would occur. with specific route ap-i hazardous materials has beca a matter left prtmarily to State and local regu-quirements may affect safety in a proval required only for carriage oper-ations that depart from the general lalon, and the prmciple that such number of ways. such as-.
rule. Bah the general rule, as well as State and local regulation should not m Routes used m1F not be the best avaS. any specific route spprovals, might
~
have the actual effect of altogether able; consider. In addition to actual routes.
forbidding highway transportation be-m Confusion resulting from diffennees matters such as carrier firm travel tween any two points. even where in locany enforced rules may result in non-times, and availability of alternate co other modes of transportation are methods of transportation other than-rul available. These provisions constitute m Rerouting that resuits from a locsur highway carriage. The general rule, or the present posture of DOT highway tmposed rule may have unconsicered effects a specific route approval. would be suf-routing policy.
on other Ices 11 ties. especially on their emer. ficient authority for highway carnage In addition to these provisions. there rency responsibilities.
operations conducted in compliance are also a number of publications However, regulatory uniformity may with applicable Federal requirements, svallable. concerning radioactive mate-and State and local requtrements not not be always desirable or possible, nals transportation. which will be con-consistent with those Federal require-sidered in t!us doctet. The list below is due to local transportation conditicns ments would be preempted.
not inclusive:
and the emergency responsibilities of This alternative could also provide (1) Final Environmental Statemeat local authcrities. There are therefore for spectfic route approval, when justi-on the Trans;ortation of Radioactive practical limits on the possible scope fled on a voluntary basis upon appil-Material by Air and Other Modes of uniform cr exclusive HMTA routing cation by a carner. or as a require-(NUREG-0170). U.S. Nuclear Regula. requirement.s that might be developed ment upon application from a State or tory Com= ssion. Office of Standards in this docket.
local governm nt. Specific route ap-FIDERM REGISTit, VOL. 43. NC. MO--THURSDAY, AUGtJST 17,1975
}...._
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36494 PROPOSED RULES preval would be used primarily for sit-tive material by highway unless the Do local condluons affecung route selecuan uations involving unusua.1 local condi-route used were previously approved necessitate ind*vidual Federal erammatinn?
If detailed ers 'ination of htttaway routes is tions or routes involving substantial by MTB. Consequently, existing rout-necessary by wnst procedures should it be ing pra.ctices would have to be phased controversy.
out gradually. to reduce confusion and *fy'Q C. Require each highucy carrier to commercial disruption. The mechanics if new routing rules are deeeloped and im-be licensed for ecch rcdtoactive mete-of this alternative resemble those of piemented? How are those costs utely to ric! route. This alternative would re-aff ect abwers. camers. Federal. Stata, and quim each highway carrier to obtain the process now used by MTB in issu-local govermnents, uulities, and the puhuc?
. 3[-
prior MTB approval of any route to be ing exemptions. Implementing this a}.
I b
used in the transportation of radioac-ternative may require substantial ad-( )
are the IDtely costs and benefits tive materials. The carrier might file ministry.tive resources-of takins no acuen?.
D. Invite the Nuclear Regulefory (2) Do ex2sune dispartues between state 5D re-and local rules concemme hisnway camage proposed routes supported by a state-Commission to consider routing ment of safety and jurisdictional con-of radioacuve mrerials need to be harmo.
v siderations. Public comment would be strictions for its licensees. The Nucle, nazed? If so, how?
solicited. If the carrier's proposal were at Regulatory Cor *fon addresses secepted by MTB. it would authorize routes used to transport special nucle-A hearing will be held to consider carrier operation under the plan for a ar materials (10 CFR part 73) and has views on this advance notice, at a time certain term, perhaps 2 yezncPlan ap-the authority to consider routing in and place to be wbsequently an-proval would preempt State and local both regulatory and licenent proceed-nounced. Drafters of this document requirements not consistent with it, ings.
are Douglas A. Crockett. Office of but could =ake federally enforceable III. Rzerts-l" roR Co1NMT Hazardous Materials Regulation, MTB. and George W. Tenley. Office of those State and local requirements af-Comment is solicited on the preced-the Chici Counsel Research and Spe-fecting the carner which are consist.
ent with the plan. In some cases, spe-ing discussion and on the questions cial Programs Mmmtration.
cial locally imposed require =ents belov.
Commenters are advised that section might-be expressly incorporated into Shuald radioactive materials be sub-105(b) of the RM"PA requires DOT to the plan by the carrier or MTB.
ject to more stringent Federal high-consult and cooperate with the Inter.
It would be necessary to establish way routing requirements than now state Cosnmerce Commmion before M.
[
some general critens by which route imposd by 49 CFR 379.9,*
suing any regulazion with. respect to plans could be judged. As in alterna-(A) If so-the routing of ha=ardous materials.
tive B. matters which might be exam.
(D What types, cuanuues and foms of ined could include carrier fitness.
n mate.als should be considered?
Am.-u o m. laca. Iso 4.1808: o travel times, and availability of alter-(2) What benefits might be achieved?
CFR 1.53(e) and paragraDh (aX4) of app. A nate methods of transportation. Such (3) What factors in addauon to population to part lan.
triteria additionally would be useful to density and bignway conditions should be N'TF -The Manertals Transpanauen considered in connacuan with routt=r? Bureau has~cleterm ned that this advance t
carriers h preparing plans, and to sh uld those factors include such thtm as notice w!D not res, ult tn a malor econnmu-
- State and local governments in admin, emerge respo for drivers, im,act om4,- the - of executi,e 0,de,
~
istenng meir highway etory pro.
,,,,,,, ncI,1,m,,,r.se trainmg
,,,13,,,,,, tim,,,,,,,. 12o44 anci DOT tzrnlemer.uns procedures lence and efficiency of the camer? Should (43 FR 958 2. A rer:itatory evalustaan is grams.
At the end of the term, a carrier these factors be cons 2dered in place of rout.
aT""*hi* su the decacts could file for renewal. At that time his ing?H) How would additional Federal rules Issu d in Waminrton, D.C' on safety record. and conditions affecting Impact stsw and M regulatory procrs=s. August 10.1978.
lus performance, could be evaluated. or enienency ruponse capabniues? To what again by a public process. Under some extent is greater unifo=1ty in State and -
Doucr.as A. CROCEr"Fr.
circumstances, and subject to proce-local recturements oestrable, and to what Acf2stg Assocta.fe Dtrector for dural considerations, the carrier's plan extent actuevable through Federal rulemak.
Ec.ecidous Mafersc23 Regule.
ing' approval could be revoked or modified (5) What kind of Federal rule is desirable?
ticnt Maiertals Transpo-tatica before the term had run.
Is a generalized DDT requirement prefer-Rureau.
This alternative would make it im-able to a procedure that entans an indivs possible to 'nove a designated radioac-al DOT *n-ation of some or all routes?
[FR Doc. 78-22738 FDed 8-16 'T8; 8 45 am)
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FID(eat RICISTER. VOL. 43, No.160-THutsDAY, AUGUST 17,1773
f;UREG-0591 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT USE OF EPICOR-II AT THREE MILE ISLAND, UNIT 2 PREPARED BY OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY C0W41SSION AUGUST 14, 1979 i-1366 012
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JAAftY ' OSC OAKAR R
Ano"u' REIN AFF
- N D'"*T* 0"
RS DISTRICT OFFICE:
SEL.ECT COMMITTEE ON AGING
'"' C E"""
Congregg of tije t!3niteb States e -
-,u Wouge of Representatibed p
(*"""*
WASHINGTON OFFICE UIasfjington, D.C. 20515
.., C_ s.,.. m -
W AsuswoTom. D.C.
20515 tua sum May 3, 197 9 F
j+:.-
Mr. Joseph M. Hendrie i-Chairman C
Nuclear Regulatory Commission 7
1717 H S tree t, N.W.
L Washington, D.C.
20555
Dear Mr. Chairman:
It has beer. called to my attention that cargoes of nuclear wastes were transported from Tha9 Mile Island in Pennsylvania through the S tate of Ohio and on u., the S tate of Washington.
While I am not an alarmist and I do recognize the f act that
[
this waste must be stored in a safe area, I cannot accept the attitude nor tne manner in which you are accomplishing this feat.
First, transporting dangerous cargo such as nuclear waste on
=
interstate highways, and specifically on the Ohio Turnpike, i-without notifying the proper authorities is reprehensible.
E If just one of the flat-bed trucks used to carry the five ton L
casks becomes involved in an accident, the results would be L.
catas trophic.
The possibility of contamination, of exposure to radiation, and of death cannot be ignored.
The communities involved and, the public officials responsible for-its safety, would not have time to implement a course of action.
- Time, r-a valuable component to survival, would then become a deterrent.
Second, and most importantly, the total lack of communication
[
between your Commission and the Nuclear Safety Task Force of Ohio, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the Ohio Turn-pike police, the County Commissioners, and the mayors of the i
State is inexcusable.
The sensitivity of the material being moved across the State of Ohio should have required you to notify those officials of possible danger.
The movement of those trucks k
could have been accomplished af ter the highway was clear of h
traffic, or during slow traffic time.
What is your specific policy regarding the transportation of nuclear wastes?
What prenautions are taken?
What notifications are made?
1366 014 e
~
Mr. Joseph M. Hendrie May 3, 1979 Page Two I look forwa rd in the immediate future, to these answers and any informa4. ion which will relate your policy concerning the transport of nuclear waste.
++=
Sincerely, w;;.-
M Mary R Oakar Member f Congress l-MRO:elr
..e p
n 1
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.. -MAf.Y ROSE CAKAR
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DISTRICT OFFICE:
SEI ECT COMMtTTEE cod AGING
- " "" L'~~ T Congregg of tijeIHnitch States i
c=
Ref ED0-6169 3 house of Representatibeg
~
(*""**"
WASHINGTON OFFICE:
Riasfjington,33.0. 20515 Cys: Gossick ior c- - C-a,.w w-o.c. z
Cornel 1
~
(zoz) zzs.ssri Rehm May 8, it 79 Ryan Shapar Cook, MPA
=
Mr. Joseph M.
Hendrie
~~
Chairman p-Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H S treet, N.W.
Washington, D.C.
20555
Dear Mr. Chairman:
[-
It has been called to our attention that cargoes of nuclear k
wastes were transported from Three Mile Island in Pennsylvnnia if through the State of Ohio and on to the S tate of Washington.
N c:
We, the members of the Ohio ~ Delegation, are not alarmists and I
do recognize the fact that this waste must be stored in a safe
~~
area, but we cannot accept the attitude nor the manner in which i{r you are accomplishing this feat.
i First, transporting dangerous cargo such as nuclear waste on f-interstate highways, and specifically on the Ohio ' Turnpike, F
without notifying the proper authorities is reprehensible.
If F
just one of the flat-bed trucks used to carry the five ton casks
[=
becomes involved in an accident, the results would. be catastro-E phic.
The possibil' ty of contamination, of exposure to radia-tion, and of death cannot be ignored.
The communi-ties involved and, the public officials responsible for their sa:fety, would not have time to implement a course of action.
Ti.me, a valuable component to survival, would then become a de terrent.
i.
L.
Second, and most imp'rtantly, the total lack of ccanmunication be-tween your Commission and the Nuclear Safety Task Force of Ohio, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the Ohio Highway Patrol, the County Commissioners, and the mayors of the State is inex-cusab le.
The sensitivity of the material being moved across the State of Ohio should have required you to notify those officials of possible danger.
The movement of those trucks could have been
~
accomplished af ter the highway was clear of traffic, or during slow traf fic time.
What is your specific policy regarding the transportation of nuclear wastes?
What precautions are taken?
What notifications are made?
1366 016 O
A
?-
Mr. Joseph M. Hendrie May 4, 1979
~]
Page Two We lo forward'in the imm
. tate future, to these answers and
'6formati n whi'ch wil,l' relate your policy concerning the
~~
.any tra spor,t o nuc ar was e.
i-?.
1 cerely, y;g f
' ~ ~ ~
h h j/b' 3,l/l/Sl:1fpc l'fv.E v A
[
Douglas / Apple 5tp M.C.'
Mary Rose Oakar, M.C.
A
/44
'fWA <
Thomas A.ULuken,'M.C.
J3en Id'M.
fo ttl, M.C.
Y:
/gW O
b
j Donald ~J. ~ Pease, M.C.
T n F.
Seiberling, M. C.
) ~. /2s fdX 2
sW.
e k.
nr uis Stdkes, M.C.
Charles A. Vanik, M.C.
[-j ~
l 1:
f
/
s t
/
f
- iams, M.C.
/ //
- ~
.t t: _
wYrd M.
j Me tzenbaum,p en.
W I
J n M.
- Ashbrook, M.C.
b
=2 pn r
e 7 :.
I '.
I' 1366 317 3..