ML20024H167
| ML20024H167 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/17/1991 |
| From: | Lohaus P NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Wong O U.S. ECOLOGY, INC. (FORMERLY NUCLEAR ENGINEERING |
| References | |
| REF-WM-102 NUDOCS 9105290185 | |
| Download: ML20024H167 (6) | |
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MAY 171991 Docket No. WM-102 U.S. Ecology, Incorporated Mr. Oscar Wong Suite 300 212 South Tryon Street Charlotte, N.C.
28281
Dear Mr. Wong:
This letter is in response to the proposal made jointly by U.S. Ecology (USE) and the JGC Corporation (JGC) at the meeting held in NRC offices in Rockville, fiaryland on May 8,1991.
The meeting was held in response to your May 6,1991, letter.
A typea version of the handwritten proposal presented to NRC at the meeting is enclosed.
As stated in the proposal, USE has requested that the boric acid waste stream, treated to a pH of a minimum of 9.0 with a waste loading not to exceed 40% by weight, be accepted as a formulation for treatment in the U.S. Ecology high strength bitumen process on an interim basis for a period of 12 months.
The 12 month period proposed would extend from the time the NRC established specific criteria which are to be applied to bitumen solidified / stabilized waste forms.
The term of this period would be renewable at the discretion of NRC. Also as stated in the proposal, USE agreed to work with the NRC in expeditiously resolving any outstanding issues on the use of bitumen for low-level radioactive waste solidification / stabilization.
Upon consideration of the USE/JGC proposal, we believe that the proposed reduction in boric acio waste loading and increase ;.' the lower limit for pH, together with the test data submitted in the topical iaport and in response to requests for additional information on this waste stream formulation, provide sufficient basis to support a conclusion that the boric acid waste forms, produced in accordance with the stated restrictions, will satisfy the structural stability requirements of 10 CFR Part 61.
Consequently, we intend to prepare a Technical l
Evaluation Report (TER) that will indicate our interim approval of the boric l
acid waste stream prepared in accordance with the restrictions stated above.
l The TER will also indicate that we have reached a negative finding on the other two waste streams currently under consideration; viz., the bead and powdered resins.
As staff indicated in the May 8, 1991 meeting, we expect USE to conduct further confirmatory tests within the 12 month period that will demonstrate that the uptake of water by the bituminized waste forms is, as asserted by USE, a skin affect that will not significantly affect the long-term performance of the I
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waste forms. We would also expect the additional testing to confirm that the l
processing restrictions on maximum waste loading and minimum pH will provide dimensional stability and borate retention capability of the wask forms. With these considerations in mind, we intend to grant the interim approval for a I
period of 12 months that will extend from the time of issuance of the TER, not from the time of formal issuance of new criteria.
9105290185 910517 s pp 108 PDR WASTE
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F As further indicated by staff at the above-cited meeting, we intend to work closely with USE (and others) to develop the improved acceptance critn.ia and testing recommendations for bituminized waste forms as expeditiously as possible. These criteria may be incorporated in a revision to the Technical Position on Waste Form which will be developed on a separate schedule.
It should be noted that notwithstanding NRC's decisions on the adequacy of the USE bituminized wastes, the sited States have regulatory authority concerning the conditions for acceptance of waste forms at their disposal facilities.
It is, therefore, the licensees' responsibility to contact the State regulatory authorities to determine the acceptability of the bituminized wastes at their state's facilities.
If you have any questions on this matter, please contact me at (301) 492-0553 or Dr. Michael Tokar at (301) 492-0590.
105 M
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Paul H. Lohaus, Chief Low-Level Waste Management Branch Division of Low-Level Waste Manageraent and Decorraissioning Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Enclosure :
As stated Distribution:
Central File e NMSS r/f RBangart JGreeves JAustin JSurmeier PLohaus J Kennedy RShewr.a ker MTokar LLWD t/f LLWM r/f PDR YES X
PDR NO Ca tegory:
Proprietary or CF Only ACNW YES X
N0 SUBJECT ABSTRACT: PROPOSAL MADE JOINTLY BY (USE) AND THE (JGC)
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OFC :LLWM*
- LLWM
- LL l NAME:RShewmaker/sw :MTokar
- PLohaus DATE:05/16/91
- 05/16/91
- $ d]/91 I
WONG LTR OFFICIAL RECORD COPf
PROPOSAL May 8, 1991 USNRC
Reference:
Docket No. WM-102
Subject:
Interim Approval Gentlemen:
In accordance with our discussions today, JGC and US Ecology request that NRC provide, as socn as possible, interim approval for bitumenized boric acid waste form at a pH of 9.0 or above and at a solids waste loading of 40% by weight or below.
We request that is interim approval remain in effect for one year from the establishment of the criteria which are to be used for evaluation of bitumenized waste forms.
These criteria are intended to form the basis on which final approval is granted.
We will work with NRC to resolve expeditiously any outstanding issues.
The interim approval is renewable.
Enclosure
As\\(urther indicated by staff at the above-cited neeting, we intend to work clos'ely with USE (and others) to develop the improved acceptance criteria and testing recommendations for bituminized waste forms as expeditiously as po s sib l'e.
These criteria which may be incorporated in a revision to the Technical Position on Waste Form and which will be developed on a separate schedule.
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It should be 'noted that notwithstanding NRC's decisions on the adequacy of the USE bituminize'd wastes, the sited States have regulatory authority concerning the conditions hr acceptance of waste forms at their disposal facilities.
It is, therefore,\\the licensees' responsibility to contact the State regulatory authorities to dete mine the acceptability of the bituminized wastes at their state's facilities.
If you have any questfons on this matter, please contact me at (301) 492-0553 or Dr. Michael Tokar at\\(301) 492 0590.
Paul H. Lohaus, Chief Low-Level Waste Management Branch Division of Low-Level Waste Management and Decommissioning Office of Nuclear Material Safety ar.o Safeguards Enclosure : As stated Distribution:
Central File #
NMSS r/f RBangart JGrceves JAustin JSdrmeier PLohaus JKennedy RShewmaker MTokar LLWDst/f LLWM r/f PDR YES X
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PDR HO Ca tegory:
Proprietary or CR Only ACNW YES X
N0
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SUBJECT ABSTRACT: PROPOSAL MADE JOINTLY BY (USE) AND THE (JGC)
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__________.____________________________________________________\\_________
- LLWM*
- LLWM
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s NAME:RShewmaker/sw :MTokar iPLohaus
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__________________e___________
DATE:05/16/91
- 05/16/91
/ /91
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WONG LTR OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
. i staf f at the above-cited n<eeting, we intend to work closely with USE (and others) to develop the in prcved acceptance criteria and testing r econcendatiens for bituniirii2ed waste forr.s as expeditiously as possible.
It shculd be roted that notwithstanding NRC's decisions on the adequacy of the USE bituminized wastes, the sited Statts have regulatory authority concerning the condit'ons for acceptance of wastt forn;s at their disposal facilities.
11 is, ther fore, the licensets' responsibility to contact the State regulatory authoritics wo deterniire the acceptability of the bituminized wastes at their state's facilities.
If you have an\\
y questions on this natter, pleast contect Dr. Michael Tolar at (301) 492-0E90'\\
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Paul H. Lohaus, Chief
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Lcw-Levtl Waste Managentnt Branch
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Division of Lcw-Level Waste Mcnagenent
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and Deconmissioning N
Office of Nuclear Material Safety
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and Safeguards i
Enclosure As stated
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Distribution:
Central File #
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NMSS r/f Pfangart JCreeves JAustin 'N JSurceier PLohaus JKennedy RShewmahr t'Tohr
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LLWD t/f LLWM r/f PDR YES ]/
Ca tegory :
Proprietary or CF Only POR NO NO
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ACNW YES -g f//1, j j
SUBJECT AESlRACT : PROPOSAL MADE JOINTLY BY (USE) AND\\ HE (JGC)
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. l staff et the above-cited meetir 9, we intend to work closely with USE (and others) to dtvelop the in-provtd acceptance criteria and testir.g reccntn'endations f or bituminize,d wastt-forms a expeditiously as possible, 11 should be roted that notwithstar ding NRC's decisions cn the adequacy of the USE bituniinized wastes, the sited States base regulatory authority concernirg the conditions for acceptance of waste forms at their disposal facilities.
It is, therefore, the responsibility of the licenset-to contact the State regulatory authorities to determine the acceptability of the bituniir ized wastes at their facilities.
If you have any questions on this ratter, please contact Dr. Michael Tokar (301)492-0590.
Paul H. Lohaus, Chief Low-level Weste Management Eranch Division of low-level Waste Mar,agement ar d Deconmissioriing Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Enclosure As stattd Distribution:
Centiel File #
fiM55 r/f REangart JGreeves JAustin JSuratier PLohaus JKennedy RShewmaker l'Tokar LLWD t/f LLWM r/f FDR YES ~-
Cateoory:
P r oprie t a ry or CF Only PDR NO ACNW YE5 NO SUBJECT AESTFACT: FROPOSAL MADE JOINTLY EY (USE) A!D THE (JGC)
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NAME:RShewYktr/sw
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/ /91 WONG LTR OFFICIAL FECOPD COPY
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