ML19339A087
| ML19339A087 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07000008 |
| Issue date: | 04/14/1980 |
| From: | Meyers S ENERGY, DEPT. OF |
| To: | Martin J NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19339A085 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8011030022 | |
| Download: ML19339A087 (4) | |
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i%.W ?E v xi m:y Departmc at of Energy Washington, D.C. 20545 MKl 4 ff60 MEMORANDUM FOR Mr. John B. Martin, Director Division of Waste Management U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555 Your letters of December 5 and 18,1979, urged the Department of Energy (DOE) to accept licensed transuranic (TRU) waste for retrievable storage now that there is no licensed disposal site for such wastes.
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At that time, other potential options had not been fully considered.
There have since been a number of discussions between the NRC and DOE waste management s ta f f s.
In an April 4 meeting with Bob Browning and others, it was concluded that NRC could iork with commercial TRU waste genera, ors and the States to provide for licensed interim storage. This would resolve the immediate issue for the waste generators.
'As part of this effort, DOE agreed to provide the enclosed TRO waste packaging criteria which are representative of that now used at DOE sites for retrievable storage of DOE TRU waste.
We would propose that NRC eliminate any reference to a specific DOE site when the criteria are sent to the industry.
Of course, we cannot guarantee absolutely that the criteria will not be changed.
NRC staff stated at the meei;ing that they would provide to the industry appropriate caveats for application of these criteria.
Some_ existing TRU waste packages may not meet these representative acceptance criteria.
If DOE were to receive commercial TRU waste in the future, DOE and the w',ste generator could agree on an overpack if some packaging feature did not aeet die criter'a.
If a restricted material is contained in the package, the waste generator may be required to sort and repackage.
However, it is recommended that you do not require overpacking, sorting or repackaging of existing packages now.
Since the criteria are for retrievable storage needs, less stringent criteria may be applicable if a 'ommercial TRU waste generator were shipping to a DOE site for early treatment to meet repository disposal criteria.
We are continui.1g to define the charge 00E would eventually levy for ultimate acceptance and disposal of commercial TRU waste. We estimate that the charge would be approximately $200 per cubic foot.
NRC staff stated they would encourage commercial TRU generators to minimize the total volume of TRU waste by (1) decontamination to remove bulk materials from the "TRU category," and (2) volume-reduction techniques.
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When a Federal repository becomes operational we expect to have authority to accept for disposal all TRU waste NRC may identify as requiring such isolation. We will continue working with you on this subject.
For questions related to interim storage of commercial TRU waste, G. Daly (353-4001) in 'the Division of Waste Products will be the contact with NRC.
Sheldon Meyers Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Waste Management Enclosure l
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/.cceptance Criteria Packaging criteria to be established would be essentially the same as for DOE waste.
The following general criteria would have to be met by each waste generator prior to acceptance by DOE.
Final criteria would be formally established and issued by the receiving site:
a.
The following are prohibited:
free liquids, pyrophorie materials smaller than 0.25 in, cube, liquid metals, acids, elemental alkaline metals, and explosives.
b.
Liquids must be mixed with absorbants so that liquids will not f16a if container is broken.
c.
Combustible waste must be packaged separately, and labeled with a bright green 4-in. triangle on all sides.
2 d-Surface contamination rust be less than 2 200 d/m/100 cm 3
beta - gamma and less than 220 d/m/100 cm - alpha.
Radia-
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tion at surface:
less than 200 cR/hr.
c.
Packaging rust minimize gas buildup.
In hydrogenous caterials alpha ac' evity must be restricted to 5
4 x 10 nCi/gm waste.
f.
Thermal decay rest not e..:eed 10 watts per package.
g.
Each package must be serialized and marked to maintain identity for at least 20 years.
Maximum Fissionable Material h.
Acceptable Package Gross Weight Maximum Content DDT17C55-GallonDruml/ 800 lb/ drum 200 g/ drum DOT 6MPackaging1/
640 lb/ drum 500 g/ drum DOT 7A Steel Box 1/
3,200 lb/ box 60 g 0
233 or 235 100 g U
3 DOT 7A Fiberglassed 10,000 lb/ box 5 g/ft of Box waste volu-metric average and 350 g/ box maximum DOT 17H 30-gallon 1/
200 lb/ box 100 g/ drum Drum 1/ 30me DOE sites require galvanized metal containers.
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Representative Acceptance Criteria for Retrieval of Stored TRU Waste The representative 00E acceptance cri+eria consist of a summary page and a detailed document,.both of which are.ubject to revision.
It is assumed that a large, fraction of stored TRU waste will require-further treatment before disposal in a geologic repository.
Some existing TRU waste packages may not maet these representative acceptance criteria.
If DOE were to physically receiv'e commercial TRU waste in the future, it wouId be, expected that DOE and the waste generator could agree on an acceptable overpack if some packaging feature does not meet the final criteria.
However, if a restricted material is contained in the package, the waste generator may be required to sort and repackage.
Therefore, it is recommerded that overpacking and/or sorting and repackaging should not be done until final DOE acceptance criteria are available.
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