ML19241A652
| ML19241A652 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 02/16/1979 |
| From: | Dircks W NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Hart G SENATE, ENVIRONMENT & PUBLIC WORKS |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19241A648 | List: |
| References | |
| RULE-PRM-20-7 SECY-78-613B, NUDOCS 7907090106 | |
| Download: ML19241A652 (3) | |
Text
Identical letters to be sent to:
The Honorable Gary Hart Chairman Subcccmittee on Nuclear Regulation Co.mittee on Environment and Public Works United States Senate Washington, D.C.
20510 cc: Sen. Alan Simpson The Honorable John B. Dingell Chairman Subcc rittee on Energy and Pcier Committee on Interstate and Foreign Cc m erce United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C.
20515 cc:
Rep. Clarence Brown The Honoracle Morris K. Udall Chairman Subccanit. tee on Energy and the Environment Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs United States House of Representatives
'!ashington, D.C.
20515 cc:
Rep. Steven D. Spes 3))
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Jaar.ir.
Reccgaizing ycur intarast and concern regarding the management of radicactin.;aste, I ceould like to inform pu that the lluclear Regulat:ry Ccmission (:;RC) has denied a petition for rulemaking that was submittad by a letter dated August 6,1976 by tce ilatural Rescurces Dafanse Council, Inc. ( iRDC).
This patition recuested that the Ccaission immediately adopt interin regulaticos setting standards for shallcw land dis;csal of transuranic and othar icw-level radio-active.asta as. ell as Ore:are s program atic ganaric envircemental imcac* statement (3EIS) en Ica-level waste disposal.
The reasons fcr denial are discussed in the e.cciosed Faderal Racister Notice.
Althouga the l2C staff found insufficient justification for imediate implementation of regulations as recuestad by the petitioner, many sf the points raiset by the petitionar are being considered in the on.
going l;RC icw-level waste management program.
A, cart of tnic crogram, I!RC is devei, ping regulations and supacrting environmental incact statements regarding (1) maximum concentrations of radionuclides.
including transuranic nuclides, unich may be discosed cf as low-level waste, and (2) administrative, instituticnal and technical recuirements for discosal cf Icw-level waste ':y shallcw land burial and alternative discosal metncds.
These regulations are scheduled to be cualished for puolic cc=E it in 1930.
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. The Cc=1ission also believes that a separate GEIS as called f.:r by the petitioner is neither recuired by NEPA cor necessary for develop-ment of the NRC low-level waste program.
It is intended that *he environmental statements and other technical documentation being developed to guide and support the forthcoming regulations will be of
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sufficient scope to make a separate crcgra=atic' GEIS unnecessary.
The petitioner's suggestions regarding the points and issues to be addressed in their proposed 3EIS are being considered by the ?,RC staff as input to our preparation of these envir0cmental statements.
If we can be of further assistance please let us know.
Sir.c erel y,
William J. Dircks, Director Office of Nuclear Aaterial Safecy and Safeguards
Enclosure:
Federal Register Notice of denial of procosec rulemaking
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