ML19249A531
| ML19249A531 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 07/07/1978 |
| From: | Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Schlesinger J ENERGY, DEPT. OF |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19249A528 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7908230535 | |
| Download: ML19249A531 (2) | |
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,o, UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 3
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- July 7,1978 cxAnnum The Honorable James T. Schlesinger
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Secretary of Energy Washington, D. C. 20555 Dear Mr.
ratary:
The matter of the. safe disrosal of radioactive wastes from the nuclear fuel cycle is one of concern to both the Department of Energy (DOE) and the fluclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
Recent developments at the comercial low-level waste burial grounds have raised the question cf 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 commercial burial grounds (West Valley, New York and Maxey Flats, Kentucky) are closed.
A third site, Sheffield, Illinois) has reached its licensed capacity.
(Public hearings will be conducted on an application for si.te expansion.)
A limit of 135,000 ft3 per month (the average monthly rate for 1977) has been placed by the S. tate of South Carolina on the volume which may be accepted at the fourth site, (Barnwell, 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, fievada, and Hanford, Washington.
In addition, an application for a new commercial burial site in New Mexico was withdrawn by the applicant on Acril 4.
Very li-tie flexibility exists in options for waste dis:osal if operationai problems develop at the remaining sites.
NRC believes that additional standby capacity should be made available.
Secause there is no prospect of opening new commercial burial grounds in the near future, we believe it prudent for DOE to develop a contin-gency plan which would allow the DOE burial sites to accept commercially generated wastes should the need arise.
Such a plan would be consistent with the Atomic Energy Commission's practices in the early 1950's, bcfore a commercial disposal industry was established.
It is also consistent with the recent DOE Task Force Report which suggested that all the burial grounds be operated as a national system.
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7908230533
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-2 NRC also requests that you consider disposing of. waste from all DOE prime contractors at 00E burial grounds rather than at commercial burial sites.
Because the need is both important and somewhat urgent, we would appreciate your immediate attention to these requests. The NRC staff is prepared to cooperate with your staff on these matters.
The HRC contact is Mr. Sheldon Meyers, Director, Division of Fuel Cycle and Material Safety.
Mr. Meyers can be reached at (301)O 427-4152.
- ncerely,
...\\w Jose M. Hendrie W O?81