ML20028B529
| ML20028B529 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/26/1982 |
| From: | Pflum C NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Boyle R NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| References | |
| REF-WM-1 NUDOCS 8212020246 | |
| Download: ML20028B529 (3) | |
Text
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-a (Return to WM, 623-SS 3110/CGP/82/10/06/0 t :.,. 6. u n.
Af0 file OCT 2 G 1932 WMHL r/f NMSS r/f WMHL:
3110 JBMartin REBrowning MJBell MEMORANDUM FOR:
Regis R. Boyle CGPflum & r/f High-Level Waste Licensing HJMiller Management Branch J0 Bunting Division of Waste Management TClark PW FROM:
Chris G. Pflum High-Level Waste Licensing Management Branch Division of Waste Management
SUBJECT:
RECORD OF DECISION FOR "LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT OF LIQUID HIGH-LEVEL RADI0 ACTIVE AT THE WESTERN NEW YORK NUCLEAR SERVICE CENTER, WEST VALLEY (DOE /EIS-0081)
The subject Record of Decision appeared in the September 15, 1982 issue of the Federal Register and ends a NEPA process for the Department of Energy (DOE).
The DOE may now construct and operate facilities at West Valley New York to solidify liquid high-level radioactive wastes.
The solidification process was described as alternative 1A in the environmental impact statement (D0E/EIS-0081, June, 1982)y prepared for this project.
The NRC sent comments to DOE on the draft EIS on October 30, 1981.
The Record of Decision (ROD) is consistent with the final EIS.
The R0D states, "The Department of Energy has decided to construct and operate facilities at the Western New York Nuclear Service Center (Center), West Valley, New York, to solidify the existing liquid High-Level Radioactive Wastes (HLW) which are presently being stored in underground tanks."
Like the EIS, the R0D has also identified the following future decisions, each of which will require appropriate documentation to comply with NEPA.
1.
The selection of a waste form.
2.
Final decontamination and decommissioning of the solidification facilities.
3.
Siting and design of a geologic repository.
4.
Disposal of LLW generated during the solidification process.
(The ROD states that the decision on low-level waste disposal will be made after an " appropriate environmental review.")
0212O20246 821026 PDR WASTE PDR OFC :
NAME :
DATE :82/10/20
~
3110/CGP/82/10/06/0 M 2 6 1992 It is our understanding that Savannah River (SRL) and Pacific Northwest Laboratories (PNL) will develop and refine the process which pr duces borosilicate glass.
The West Valley EIS used borosilicate glass as a reference waste form for its preferred solidification process.
SRL has shown that borosilicate glass can be an acceptable waste form for the liquid HLW at Savannah River.
However, West Valley has 47,000L of acidic thorex waste which was not tested in the Savannah River program.
Pacific Northwest Laboratories is now investigating the solubility of thoria (oxydized thorium) in borosilicate glass to determine "whether the thorium pi. ent at West Valley might be incorporat whether alternate treatment should be considered."gd into waste glass, or Hence, it is possible that two waste forms may be produced at West Valley; one for the neutralized wastes and one for the acidic thorex waste.
The R0D has a provision which will allow 00E to refine the solidification process.
The provision states, "The process of the actual WVDP, as built, may therefore differ from the present descriptions (in the EIS) due to the incorporation of refinements from the development program.
Such refinements are not expected to substantially alter the projected environmental impacts."
As long as the environmental impacts for solidifying the HLW at West Valley are within the limits projected by the EIS, DOE could prcbably refine the solidification process and waste form without preparing another NEPA document. The NRC should therefore rely upon our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with DOE, rather than NEPA, to keep abreast of the activities at West Valley.
ORIGUIALSIC
^
Chris G. Pflum High-Level Waste Licensing Management Branch Division of Waste Management n
NAME :CGPflum:1mc :
DATE : 10/ p /82
F
. References 1.
Final Environmental Impact Statement, "Long-Term Management of Liquid High-Level Radioactive Wastes Stored at the Western New York Nuclear Services Center, West Valley," June, 1982 (DOE /EIS-0081).
2.
"Comercial Waste Treatment Program Proposed West Valley Support,"
(draft), Pacific Northwest Laboratories, May, 1982.
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