ML19339A084
| ML19339A084 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Erwin, 07000754, 07000008, 07000364, Framatome ANP Richland, 07000824, 07001193, 07000025, 07000048, 07001143, 07000572 |
| Issue date: | 10/10/1980 |
| From: | Cunningham R NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Austin M, Cunnigham G, Depoix V, Dipiazza R, Michel C, Nilson R, Olsen A, Remley M, Shelley W, Renee Taylor, Toy H BABCOCK & WILCOX CO., Battelle Memorial Institute, COLUMBUS LABORATORIES, EMVROCIA, GENERAL ELECTRIC CO., KERR-MCGEE NUCLEAR CORP., MONSANTO CO., NUCLEAR FUEL SERVICES, INC., SIEMENS POWER CORP. (FORMERLY SIEMENS NUCLEAR POWER, U.S. ECOLOGY, INC. (FORMERLY NUCLEAR ENGINEERING, WESTERN NUCLEAR, INC. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19339A085 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8011030009 | |
| Download: ML19339A084 (5) | |
Text
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- UNITED STATES j
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 7
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.C WASHING TON, D. C. 20555 l
DDT.1 C 3:0 Identical letter sent to those on attached list.
Gentlemen:
With transuranic (TRU) wastes exceeding 10 nCi per gram no longer acceptable for disposal at operating cocraercial shallow land disposal sites, t e Nuclear Regulatory Conmission (NRC) requested the Department of Energy (DOE) to accept these wastes from licensees for storage pending provisions for ultimate disposal.
In subsequent discussions on this matter, as you are aware, DOE has indicated that its authority to accept TRU wastes from the onraercial sector is limited. The enclosed report,RFP-3110, provides a
. JE assessment of the situation.
As an interim step towards resolution of the problem, we requested that DOE provide TRU waste packaging criteria developed at DOE sites for retrievable storage that could be used by licensees.
Enclosed is a copy of the response.,
supplied by DOE dated April 14, 1980 with attached packa~ging criteria.
Please note that DOE states that it cannot guarantee absolutely that the criteria will not be changed, but we believe that the letter provides reasonable assurance that such packages would be acceptable if DOE were to receive commarcial TRU wastes in the future.
Please also note that while criteria provided by DOE were developed by its Idaho Operations Office, it is not to be implied that this would be the site used if DOE were to accept co'=ercial TRU wastes in the future.
For shipment, liccasee waste packages must be delivered to a carrier for transport in accordance with NRC regulations,10 CFR Part 71, including applicable Certificates of Compliance issued by the NRC. We have concluded from examination of the DOE packaging criteria that the described packages are generally compatible with the content and container requirements of NRC Certification of Compliance No. 6400. One minor modification in the Certicate that would be required would be to authorize the use of the DOT Specification 17C drum in addition to the DOT Specification 17H drum presently specified in the Certificate.
Users of the Certificate may recognize a need for other modifications to assure that packaging of wastes in accordance with the DOE criteria is compatible with NRC require-ments. Any-alternatives to present requirements of the Certificate that l,
may be considered necessary should be discussed with our Transportation Certification Branch.
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,8011 030 co9
,m You are advised to establish a detailed quality control program with appropriate documentation that will enable you to demonstrate sometime in the future that containers purchased or fabricated were inspected to assure that they meet the DOE specifications, that the contents are as i
prescribed, and that other requirements are fully met.
Packaging procedures should provide for careful handling of containers to prevent even minor damage that might be of concern for long-term retrievable storage.
We have not been able to ' identify any feasible options for receipt and retrievable storage of TRU wastes pending ulticate disposal other than DOE sites. Any suggestions that you may have are invited.
Proposals for any licensed facility to accept TRU wastes for retrievable storage must consider the need for financial assurance that the wastes can be delivered in the future for final disposal, as well as take into account views on the acceptability of the facility in the state where it may be located.
We plan to continue discussions on this matter with DOE.
However, it is apparent that for some time licensees will have to provide for safe on-site storage of TRU wastes that cannot be delivered to DOE sites through contractual arrangements that have been made.
We are willing to work closely with you on any license amendments that may be required to provide for additional storage. The potential costs for disposal combined with your costs for storage are incentives to minimize the volume of TRU wastes that exceed 10 nCi per gram. Again, if volume reduction techniques that you may wish to consider should require licensing action, we are willing to work closely with you.
If you have any questions on these matters, please contact me or Mr. Leland C. Rouse of my staff.
Sincerely, lc.
,/.
i...
Richard E. Cunningham, Director Division of Fuel Cycle and Material Safety Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
Enclosures:
1.
RFP-3110 2
Memorandum for J. B. Martin, NRC from S. Meyers, DOE dated 4/13/80 cc: See attached list.
m
I cc:
Mr. Enanuel Gorden Nuclear Fuel Cycle Projects Manager Atomic Industrial Forum, Inc.
7101 Wisconsin Avenue Washington, DC 20014 Mr. Sheldon Meyers Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Waste Management Office of Nuclear Energy Department of Energy Washington, DC 20545 Mr. Gerald L. Daly Chief, Technology Branch Division of Waste Management Departmeut of Energy Washington, DC 20545 P
e
Identical letter sent to:
6
?6bcock and Wilcox Company 70-364 ATTN: Mr. Micheel A. Austin, Manager Technical Ccntrol 609 N. Warren Avenue Apollo, PA 15613 Babcock and Wilcox Company 70-824 ATTN:
A. F. Olsen, License Administrator Lynchburg Research Center P. O. Box 1260 Lynchburg, VA 24502 Battelle Columbus Laboratories 70-8 ATTN: Mr. Harley L. Toy Licensing Coordinator -
505 King Avenue Columbus, OH 43201 Exxon Nuclear Company, Inc.
70-1257 ATTN:
Dr. Roy Nilson, Manager Licensing Research and Te. hnology Center 2955 George Washington Way Richland, WA 99352 General Electric Company 70-754 ATTN: Mr. Gene Cunningham Senior Licensing Engineer Vallecitos Nuclear Center P. O. Box 460 Pleasanton, CA 94566 Kerr-McGee Nuclear Corporation 70-1193 i
ATT' : W. J. Shelley, Director Regulation and Control Kerr-McGee Center l
Oklahoma City, OK 73125 Monsanto Research Corporation 70-572 ATTN:
Mr. Robert R. Taylor, Manager Operations Engineered Products 1515 Micholas Road Dayton, OH 45418
R page 2 Identical; letter sent to:
Nuclear Fuel. Services, Inc.70-143 ATTH:
C. J. Michel, Administrative Manager P. O. Box 1218 Erwin, TN 37650 Rockwell International 70-25 Atomics International Division ATTN: Dr. M. E. Remley Manager, Health and Safety 3
8900 De Soto Avenue Canoga Park, CA 91304 Westinghouse Electric Cerporation 70-1143 ATTH:
Ron P.
DiPiazza,' Manager NES License Administration i','P Systems Division D. 0.' Box 355 Pittsburgh, PA 15230 fluclear Engineering Ccgany, Inc.
N7 h
ATTN:
Vincent P. dePoix, President P. O.
Box 7246 Louisville, KY 40207