ML19281A715
| ML19281A715 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 02/12/1979 |
| From: | Martin J NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Dircks W NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19281A713 | List: |
| References | |
| REF-WM-7 NUDOCS 7904040030 | |
| Download: ML19281A715 (2) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES kj,,fjl[k NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION U4 PDit y
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555
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FEB 121979 o' NO 4
MEMORANDUM FOR: William J. Dircks, Director W Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards FROM:
John B. Martin, Director a
Division of Waste Management 0 -
SUBJECT:
ITEMS OF INTEREST TO THE COMMISSION 1.
On February 6,1979, a meeting was held at Germantown, Maryland with representatives of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and
+ heir consultant, Battelle Columbus. The purpose of the meeting was to provide the NRC staff with an overview of the activities taking place at the Office of Nuclear Waste Isolation (Battelle-Columbus), as well as the WIPP project and the programs at Hanford and the Nevada Test Site.
NRC staff members from NMSS, SD, NRR, and RES attended.
EPA was notified of the meeting but did not attend. A copy of the meeting no; ice had been placed in the NRC public document room at 1717 H St., Washington, D.C.
In his introductory remarks, Sheldon Meyers, Director of Nuclear Waste Management at DOE, stated that the meeting was the first of a series to be held for the purpose of information exchange between NRC staff and DOE and that these meetings would be announced and open to the public.
The meeting consisted of a series of presentations and question and answer periods by members of DOE and the Office of Nuclear Waste Isolation (0NWI).
OfMI is a prime contractor to DOE and serves as a program office on the subject of high-level radioactive waste management in geologic repositories.
The subjects presented in-cluded overviews of the ONWI program plan; technical studies, including program and system analysis; engineering and technology development; geologic explorations; facilities engineering; site qualification and licensing.
In addition, an overview of the WIPP project and the programs at the Nevada Test Site and Hanford were presented by the DOE personnel.
During the meeting, ONWI representatives indicated that the earliest '
they could have an application to NRC for a geologic repository construction authorization would be January 1982.
Therefore, they plan to submit a Preliminary Information Report (PIR) to NRC in April 1980, in the expecta, tion that it will serve as a basis for information exchange, including the preparation of a mini SER by the NRC staff and a letter by ACRS.
Furthermore, as indicated above, they intend to. establish information exchange meetings with the NRC staff immediately.
79040400 M
En William J. Dircks, Director 5' It was stated that, because of the restrictions imposed by the Armed Services Committee of the House of Representatires on the use of funds for activities related to obtaining a license from the NRC for the WIPP facility, DOE is precluded from establishing liaison with NRC on this subject. As a consequence, design decisions important to safety are being made without interaction with the NRC.
This was a significant step forward in dealing with DOE on Waste Management issues.
DOE now seems quite open to NRC and public scrutiny of their overall program. We foresee continuing this type of interaction on a regular basis.
2.
On February 9,1979, the Division of Waste Management received an invitation from the State of New Mexico to present our thoughts on the licensing procedures and requirements that may be applicable to a radioactive wasta repository.
Discussions on these matters are tentatively pl'anned with Governor Bruce King, the State Senate Conservation Committee, and State officials associated with the WIPP facility.
f${til John B. Martin, Director Division of Waste Management cc:
Principal Staff