ML19350C421
| ML19350C421 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/21/1980 |
| From: | Lohaus P, Roles G, Rich Smith NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8104010506 | |
| Download: ML19350C421 (4) | |
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NRC REGULATORY APPROACH DISPOSAL OF LOW-LEVEL RADI0 ACTIVE WASTES to be presented at the ANS/ ENS International Conference, Nov. 17-21, 1980, Wash.,0C R. Dale Smith, Chief - Low-Level Waste Licensing Branch, Division of Waste Management, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Conmission Paul H. Lohaus, Chief - Waste Products Section, Low-Level Waste Licensing Branch G. W. Roles, Nuclear Engineer - Waste Products Section NRC has a program underway to develo, a new LLW regulation 10 CFR Part 61,
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" Disposal of Low-Level Radioactive Waste." NRC's' approach in developing this regulation is'to: T Develop the overall performance objectives that should be achieved; o
Apply a series of multiple barriers to radioactivity release from a
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disposal facility; e
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o Assure that waste is disposed of by methods which confine the p
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h, throughout its hazardous lifetime; and-
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o Provide early, open and full opportunity for state, public, an A
industry input.
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In October 1978, we published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking asking for advice, recommendations, and comments on the scope of a LLW regulation and supporting Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). We received 36 comments.
Based on these comments and input from other sources (e.g., results of technical studies and licensing experience), our approach is to establish general performance objectives and technical criteria applicable to a broad range of land-based LLW disposal methods.
In September 1979, we contracted
~with the. firm of Dames and Moore to assist NRC in preparing the EIS. We subsequently prepared a preliminary draft regulation to identify major considerations which needed to be addressed and resolved. The preliminary 818d010 O ~
2-draft was completed in November 1979 and distributed to the states, other federal agencies, industry, and the public. We have since published on February 28, 1980 a Federal Register Notice of availability of the preliminary j
draft' regulation and have held several workshops to provide an open forum for Wialogue about the regulation and issues.
The promulgation schedule calls for issuance of a Notice of Proposed Rule-
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making along with th,e draft EIS by April 30, 1981.
Publication of a final rule and final EIS is expected by the end of September 1982.
Issuance of the 4
final regulation will depend on the nature and extent of comments received and the extent of any hearings which might be held.
Performance Objectives:
1 The first objective is that LLW disposal facilities are sited, designed, operated and closed to assure long-term confinement of the waste with no need for active long-tenr. site maintenance following closure. The custodians of future disposal facility sites should not ce required to carry out major maintenance programs to assure continued protection of the public health and safety.
The second overall objective is to assure protection of the groundwater at the disposal facility. After disposal, the waste form and its container,
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I coupled with site characteristics, facility design and operations should assure that any releases to the groundwater are maintained at low levels.
We are presently considering use of _the EPA National Primary Drinking Water Standards as a nunerical limit for protection of the groundwater.
1 The third overall objective is to assure srotection of the unintentional intruder who might unkr.owingly come in contact with the water after active site surveillance activities have ceased. We are presently considering use of the Part 20 maximum individual dose limit of 500 mrem / year to assure
_ protection of an unintentional intruder after the 100-year post-operational surveillance period.
Multiple Barriers:5 The technical approach we are applying in developing Part 61 involves two aspects.
One concerns the application of multiple barriers, both natural and manmade, to the release of waste from a disposal facility and to minimize potential for human contact with the waste. The principal barriers can be viewed as the waste form and package, natural site characteristics, disposal facility design and operations and post-operational institutional controls.
Waste Classification:
The second aspect involves application of the waste classification concept to assure that wastes are disposed of by methods which provide adequate confinement. We are currently considering three categories or classes of waste.
One category, the very low activity short half-lived wastes, would be l
held for decay and disposed of as non-radioactive waste in the same manner as
'oiner non-radioactive wastes (e.g., disposal at a sanitary landfill).
The second category would encompass those wastes acceptable for disposal by shallow or intermediate land burial.
We also expect to identify certain I
wastes containing, for example, high concentrations of long lived material which should be disposed of by higher confinement methods (e.g., a deep
.mine or ' disposal along with the high-level waste).
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The waste classification methodology is also being applied to analyze combina-tions of waste, disposal method, site characteristics and design to develop information about the health, environmental and cost impacts of LLW disposal.
This data will be blended with that dealing with the social, political.?nd institutional considerations into a formal EIS.
Regulatory Guides.
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We are also preparing and plan to publish along with the proposed rule, a regulatory guide on the contents of a disposal facility application. We plan to set out in one guide the information needs relating to both the safety and envircnmental aspects of a proposed disposal facility.
In addition, we are considering other regulatory guides to set out specific guidance on various aspects of LLW disposal including waste form, site suitability, facility closure and monitoring.
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