ML20010C882
| ML20010C882 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 07/15/1981 |
| From: | Coffman F, Snyder B ENERGY, DEPT. OF, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20010C880 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8108210164 | |
| Download: ML20010C882 (10) | |
Text
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l Memorandum of Uncerstanding Between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Department of Energy Concerning the Removal and Disposition of Solid Nuclear Wastes from Cleanup of the Three Mile Island Unit 2 Nuclear Plant I.
Objective This memorandum of understandirg specifies interagency procedures for the removal and disposition of nuclear wastes resulting from cleanup of the Three Mlle Island Unit 2 olant.
This will help to ensure that the TMI Site does not become a long-term waste disposal facility.
II.
NRC Roles and Responsibilities The NRC has the responsibility under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 as amended (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), to regulate all licensee. activities at the TMI-2 site, including waste management, and ensure these activities are carried out in accorcance with the recuirements of applicable rules and regulations and the requirements of Facility Operating License Number CPR-73, as modified by amencments or orders.ssued by the NRC.
4 NRC will carry out its responsibilities by onsite observation of licensee activities.
As recuired, policy, and technical support will be provided to the NRC TMI Site Office by NRC Headquarters and Regional Office (s).
NRC will work cccperatively and closely with the CCE, and will keep CCE fully and currently informed of NRC's activities.
NRC will continue to keep public, sta'e and local officials informeo of t
NRC's activities.
When appropriate, NRC will involve CCE in these information exchangec with the public, state anc Iccal officials.
8108210164 B10723 PDR ADOCK 05000320 PDR p
2 III. 00E Role and Responsibilities Where DOE dt.Lermines that generically henefiClal research, development and testing of the TMI-2 accident generated solid wastes can be carried out, 00E will perform such activities at appropriate DOE facilities.
For those other wastes that cannot be disposed of in commercial low level waste facil'_ ties, 00E may also assume responsibility for removal, storage, and disposal to the extent that the licensee provides reimbursement to the 00E.
These activities will De undertaken to the extent consistent with appropriate statutory authority. NRC licensing of DOE facilities that are utilized for storage, processing or disposal of TMI-2 accident generated wastes will not be required since these facilities have primary uses other than for receipt and storage of wastes resulting from licensed activities.
The DOE will provide technical support to the licensee and the NRC as deemed appropriate.
1 DOE will work closely with the NRC and keep NRC informed of DOE's activities.
IV.
Currently Identified TMI-2 Accident Generated Solid Radioactive Wastes 1
The following lists those THI-2 accident generated solid radioactive wastes which currently exist or are planned to be generated.
This listing may be modified in the future as the cleanup progresses.
1.
EPICOR-II System Wastes i
Forty-nine ion exchange resin liners with loadings up to 1500 l
I curies / liner are in temporary storage at the TMI-2 site.
DCE ' plans to develop a prototype high integrity centainer (HIC), production
3 units of which, if utilized by the licensee, may allow these liners to be acceptacle for licensed disposal in commercial land burial facilities some 1-2 years from now.
DOE is also performing characterization experiments en one of these liners and may find it desirable to extend its R&D program to other liners.
Should a more expeditious handling of these wastes be required due to the potential for a limited release to the storage enviranment (which could cause public concern), a contingency plan will be implemented wherein 00E would at its discretion take receipt of these EPICOR liners on a reimbursable basis from the licensee for storage or disposal.
Future EPICOR II liners are anticipated to be loaded to allow commercial shallow land disposal offsite by the licensee.
2.
Submerced Demineralizer System Wastes It is anticipated that the dispersed radioactivity in accident l
generated water will be deposited on zeolites in submerged demineralizer system (SDS) liners.
Due to the unique character and nature of these wastes, DOE will take possession of and retain these i
liners to conduct a waste immobilization research and cevelcpment and testing program.
3.
Reactor Fuel l
The present plan for the damaged cole is to remove the fuel, provide I
appropriate fuel assemblies and samples to DCE for analysis characterization ano archiving, place the balance in fuel storage i
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l containers, and store the fuel in the TMI Unit 2 spent fuel storage pool.
As is the case with other nuclear power plant spent fuel, disposition of the balance of the THI-2 fuel will await resolution of the spent fuel storage issue.
l 4.
Transuranic Contaminated Waste Materials As the cleanup progresses, some waste materials (e.g., sludges) may be found to be contaminated with transuranics at levels above which commercial low level burial facilities are authorized to accept.
Alternatives for such material will be considered on a case-by-case basis and could include archiving, R&D evaluation or temporary storage onsite, or at a DOE facility awaiting further processing and/or disposal in a permanent repository offsite.
Depending on the nature of these materials, DOE's activities could either take the form of an R&D program of generic value, or would be suoject to reimbursement by the licensee.
5.
Makeuo and Purification Svstem Resins and Filters During the TMI-2 accident, the makeup and purification system demineralizer vessels and filters were highly contaminated by letdown of reactor coolant through the system.
These resins and filters have not been characterized, however, based on radiation measurements, the resins and tilters are believed to have specific activities well in excess of the loadings on the high specific l
activity EPICCR-II prefilters ano are considered unsuitable for commercial land disposal.
Due to the generic.value of the I
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5 information to be obtained and t he very high specific activities of the filters, DCE will take possession and retain these filters for research and development activities.
DOE's activities regarding the purification system resins will either take the form of an R&D program of generic value, or DOE will take possession of these resins for storage or disposal on a reimbursable basis.
6.
Other Solid Radioactive Wastes The low-level wastes associated with decontamination (e.g., scme icn exchange media, booties, gloves, trash) will be disposed of by the licensee in licensed commercial low level burial facilities.
V.
This Memorandum of Understanding will take effect when it has been signed by the authorized representative indicated below for~each agency. DOE and NRC shall each have the right with the consent of the other party to modify this agreement.
FOR THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION FOR THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY vcM BernaroJ.Snyoey(ProgramDirector Frahklin
- t. Coffmapf/
j TMI Program Office Acting Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulations Office of Coordination and 3
Special Projects 7//37 8/
Office of Nuclear "nergy Date:
'7/ I~
9/
Date:
4
DRAFT PRESc RELEASE NRC STAFF AND DOE SIGN MEMORANDUM ON THREE MILE ISLAND WASTES The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff and the Department of Energy have signed a memorandum of understanding which specifies interagenc;. procedures for removing a.id disposing of certain radioactive wastes resulting from the Three Mile Island 2 accident.
Under the agreement, the NRC will be responsible for regulating all licensee activities--including waste management--
at the Three Mile Island site to assure that the activities l
l comply with applicable rules and regulations c.4 the licensee's operating license as modified.
In addition, the NRC staff will continue to keep public, state and local officials informed of its activities and involve Department of Energy officials in information exchanges with these officials, as appropriate.
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For its part, the DOE, where it determines that generically beneficial research, development and tes ting of the Three Mile Island-accident generated solid wastes can be carried out, will perform such a'ctivities at appropriate DOE facilities.
For other solid radioactive wastes resulting from the accident and which cannot be buried at commercial low level waste sites, the Department may assume responsibility for removal, storage and disposal of the wastes--to the extent that
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2-the licensee provides reimbursement.
Such activities also would have to be undertaken in a manner consistent with the agency's statutory authority.
DOE facilities used to store, process or dispose of accident-generated wastes will not have to be licensed by the NRC.
This reflects the fact that the facilities primarily are used for purposes other than the receipt and storage of radioactive wastes resulting from activities licensed by the NRC.
The two agencies also agree to keep each other informed of their activities and the DOE will provide technical j
support to the licensee and th'e NRC as appropr-ate.
1 The solid, accident-generated wastes presently existing l
or expected to be generated include:
resin liners from the l
EPICOR-II system used to decontaminate water stored in the l
l Luxiliary building; :eolite liners from the submerged denin-eralizer systems being used to decentaminate water in the l
reactor building and reactor coolant system; the reactor fuel; waste materials such as sludge which may be contaminated with levels of transuranic radioactive materials unacceptable for commercial disposal; and resins and filters from the reactor water makeup and purification systems.
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. p m ;,o UNITED STATES
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 5'
..E WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 o
o Docket No. 50-320 The Honorable Morris K. Udall Chairman, Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515
Dear Mr. Chairman:
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Energy concerning the removal and disposition of solid nuclear wastes from the cleanup of the Three Mile Island Unit 2 nuclear plant.
A copy of this memorandum is 1
enclosed for your information.
Sincerely, i
William J. Dircks Executive Director for Operations 4
Enclosure:
Memorandum of Understanding cc:
The Honorable Manuel Lujan, Jr.
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l Copies'of the MOU will also be sent to:
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
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1.-
The Honorable Richard L. Ottinger Chainnan, Subcommittee on Energy Conservation and Power Committee on Energy and Commerce cc: The Honorable Carlos J. Moorhead 2.
The Honorable Toby Moffett Chairman, Subcommittee on Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Governr
^'erations cc: The Honorable v-.: Deckard 3.
The Honorable Tom Bevill Chairman, Subcommittee'on Energy and Water Development Committee on Appropriations cc:
The Honorable John T. Meyers SENATE:
1.
The Honorable Mark 0. Hatfield i
Chairman, Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development Comittee on Appropriations cc:
The Honorable J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.
2.
The Honorable James McClure Chairman, Comittee on Energy and Natural Resources cc: The Honorable Henry Jackson I
3.
The Honorable Alan K. Simpson Chairman, Subcommittee on Nuclear Regulation l
Comittee on the Environment and Public Works i
j cc: The Honorable Gary Hart 4.
The Honorable Charles Percy Chairman, Subcomittee on Energy, Nuclear Proliferation and Government Processes Comittee on Governmental Affairs cc: The Honorable John Glenn l
PENNSLYVANIA DELEGATION:
1.
Senator Arlen Specter 2.
Senator John Heinz 3.
Representative Allen Ertel
.epresentative William Goo @
4.
R 5.
Representative Robert Walkc e
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