ML19225D184
| ML19225D184 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 08/13/2019 |
| From: | Maupin C, Timothy Mccartin Division of Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery and Waste Programs, Division of Spent Fuel Management |
| To: | |
| Maupin C | |
| References | |
| Download: ML19225D184 (18) | |
Text
Draft Regulatory Basis for Disposal of Greater-than-Class C (GTCC) and Transuranic Waste (TRU)
Cardelia Maupin, Sr. Project Manager NMSS/DUWP/LLWPB Telephone No. 301-415-4127 Email: Cardelia.Maupin@nrc.gov Tim McCartin, Sr. Level Advisor NMSS/DSFM Telephone No. 301-415-7099 Email: Timothy.McCartin@nrc.gov 1
Purpose of Meeting
- Stakeholder participation and involvement
- Assist public comment on draft regulatory basis for the disposal of GTCC waste
- Supports NRCs openness strategy and cumulative effects of regulation initiative 2
Part 61 Low Level Waste Disposal Waste Classes Class Class A B Transuranic P
(TRU) Waste Class GTCC C
3
Commercial Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Facilities
- US Ecology Richland Richland, WA Accepts Class A, B, and C waste
- EnergySolutions Clive, UT Accepts Class A waste only Clive
- Waste Control Specialists Andrews, TX Barnwell Accepts Class A, B, and C waste Andrews
- EnergySolutions Barnwell, SC Accepts Class A, B, and C waste 4 4
Three categories of GTCC Waste Activated Sealed Other Metals Sources Wastes 5
GTCC Waste Disposal: A Federal Responsibility
- LLRW Policy Amendments Act of 1985 NRC - License the GTCC waste disposal facility DOE - Develop recommendations and options for the safe disposal of all GTCC waste - completed February 1987
- Energy Policy Act of 2005 DOE - responsible for completing activities needed to provide a GTCC waste disposal facility GTCC Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
- Draft GTCC EIS - February 18, 2011
- Final GTCC EIS - February 24, 2016 Report to Congress on GTCC Disposal Alternatives -
November 14, 2017 6
Await Congressional Action
NRC Activities Related to GTCC Waste Disposal
- January 30, 2015 - Texas requested clarification on Agreement State authority
- July 17, 2015 - SECY-15-0094 - Historical And Current Issues Related To Disposal of GTCC Waste
- December 22, 2015 - SRM-SECY-15-0094 - prepare a regulatory basis for the disposal of GTCC waste through means other than deep geologic disposal after completion of the Part 61 rulemaking and address TRU waste definition
- October 23, 2018 - SRM-M181011 - decouple to the extent practical the GTCC draft regulatory basis from Part 61 rulemaking 7
Current GTCC Activities
- Published Draft Regulatory Basis for comment in the Federal Register on July 22, 2019 (84 FR 35037)
- Process
- Webinar on August 22, 2019
- Public Meeting in Austin, TX on August 27, 2019 day public comment period ends September 20, 2019 8
DRAFT Regulatory Basis: NRC Staffs Processes and Preliminary Findings
- Evaluated GTCC waste described in DOEs Final Environmental Impact Statement for GTCC Waste (published in 2016)
- Presented three alternatives for implementation of GTCC disposal under 10 CFR Part 61 (i.e., no regulatory change, develop new guidance, and conduct a rulemaking)
- Found the majority of GTCC waste is potentially suitable for near-surface disposal (approximately 80% by volume)
- Found that most (approximately 95%) of the potentially suitable GTCC waste could be regulated by an Agreement State 9
10 Transuranic Radionuclides Waste Volumes (m3) by TRU Concentrations 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0
< 10 nCi/g >10 to <100 nCi/g >100 to <1,000 nCi/gm >1,000 to <10,000 nCi/g > 10,000 nCi/gm Existing GTCC Potential GTCC Existing GTCC-like Potential GTCC-like 11
Key Assumptions of Technical Analysis
- Disposal facility design
- near surface disposal
- average disposal thickness of one waste container
- Exposure assessment
- activated metals (stainless steel) low degradation rates
- consistent with early 1980s Part 61 analysis 12
Preliminary Hazards Assessment
- Operational hazards (workers and offsite public)
- remote handled packages
- consideration for fire protection
- Offsite releases (after closure of facility)
- mobile, long-lived radionuclides
- Intruder exposure
- excavation scenario
- drilling scenario 13
Technical Analysis Perspectives
- Most GTCC waste potentially suitable for near-surface disposal
- analysis of specific site and inventory required
- GTCC waste containing TRU radionuclides presents challenges
- release of Pu from an operational fire
- consideration of fissile material during operations
- intruder - excavation scenario
- intruder - drilling scenario 14
For Additional Information:
- Federal Rulemaking Website:
Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2017-0081
- NRCs Public Web Site for GTCC:
https://www.nrc.gov/waste/llw-disposal/llw-pa/gtcc-transuranic-waste-disposal.html
- NRC Contacts:
Cardelia Maupin, Sr. Project Manager 301-415-4127; Cardelia.Maupin@nrc.gov Gary Comfort, Sr. Project Manager 301-415-8106; Gary.Comfort@nrc.gov Tim McCartin, Sr. Level Advisor 301-415-7099; Timothy.McCartin@nrc.gov 15
How to Provide Comments
- Federal Register notice (84 FR 35307) provides various methods of submitting comments:
- Federal Rulemaking Website:
Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2017-0081
- Email comments: Rulemaking.Comments@nrc.gov
- Fax comments: 301-415-1101
- Mail comments to: Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, ATTN: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff
- Hand deliver comments: 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852; between 7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. (ET) on Federal workdays; telephone: 301-415-1677 16
Submitting Comments
- Include Docket ID NRC-2017-0081 on all correspondence
- Comment period ends September 20, 2019 17
Questions?
18