ML20029B331

Briefing to Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board on Waste Confidence Proceeding on 901010

ML20029B331
Person / Time
Issue date:	10/10/1990
From:	NRC
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ML20029B332	List: ML20029B331 ML20029B337
References
REF-WM-1 NUDOCS 9103070066
Download: ML20029B331 (20)

Text

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BRIEFING.TO THE NWTRB ON THE WASTE CONFIDENCE PROCEEDING OCTOBER 10, 1990

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WASTE. CONFIDENCE PROCEEDING 1

o A GENERIC ENVIRONMENTAL FINDING o

RESULTED FROM REACTOR LICENSING LITIGATION o

ORIGINAL PROCEEDING 1979-1984 1984 DECISION PLEDGE TO REVIEW EVERY 5 YRS c

1989 REVIEW 5

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i NOVEMBER 1976 NRDC PETITION o-FOR-RULEMAKING ON WHETHER RADI0 ACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR REACTORS CAN BE SAFELY DISPOSED OF; AND l

0 THAT NRC NOT GRANT OPERATING LICENSES OR AMENDMENTS UNTIL AB0VE FINDING 0F

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SAFETY CAN BE MADE.

TWO NUCLEAR UTILITY COMPANIES REQUEST LICENSE AMENDMENTS TO EXPAND SPENT FUEL r

STORAGE CAPACITY (NOVEMBER 1976)

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o' U.S.

CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS DID NOT

. VACATE LICENSE AMENDMENTS, BUT DID l

REMAND TO NRC THE FOLLOWING ISSUE IN l

MAY 1979; i

"WHETHER THERE IS REASONABLE ASSURANCE THAT i

AN OFF-SITE STORAGE SOLUTION WILL BE AVAILABLE BY THE YEARS 2007-2009, THE EXPIRATION OF THE. PLANTS' OPERATING

LICENSES, AND IF.

NOT, WHETHER THERE IS REASONABLE i

ASSURANCE THAT FUEL CAN BE SAFELY STORED AT a

l REACTOR. SITES BEYOND THOSE DATES."

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PURPOSE OF 1979 WASTE CONFIDENCE PROCEEDING:

" SOLELY TO ASSESS GENERICALLY THE DEGREE OF ASSURANCE NOW AVAILABLE THAT RADI0 ACTIVE WASTE CAN BE SAFELY DISPOSED OF, TO DETERMINE WHEN l

SUCH DISPOSAL OR OFF-SITE STORAGE WILL BE l

AVAILABLE, AND TO DETERMINE WHETHER RADI0 ACTIVE WASTES CAN BE SAFELY STORED ON-SITE PAST THE EXPIRATION OF EXISTING LICENSES UNTIL OFF-SITE i

DISPOSAL OR STORAGE IS AVAILABLE."

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1984 WASTE CONFIDENCE FINDINGS i

1.

DISPOSAL IN A REPOSITORY IS FEASIBLE 2.

AT LEAST ONE REPOSITORY WILL BE AVAILABLE BY 2007-2009; SUFFICIENT REPOSITORY CAPACITY WILL BE AVAILABLE WITHIN 30 YRS TO DISPOSE OF ALL-SPENT FUEL AND HLW GENERATED 3.

SPENT FUEL AND HLW WILL BE SAFELY MANAGED i

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l 1984 WASTE. CONFIDENCE FINDINGS (CONT'D) 4.

SPENT FUEL CAN BE SAFELY. STORED FOR AT LEAST 30 YEARS i

5.

SUFFICIENT ON-SITE OR OFF-SITE STORAGE CAPACITY WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE, IF NEEDED.

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4 WASTE CONFIDENCE RULEMAKINGS o

10 CFR 50.54 PROVIDES THAT LICENSEES SUBMIT PLANS FOR SPENT FUEL MANAGEMENT AT-REACTOR NO.

LATER THAN 5

YRS PRIOR TO OPERATING LICENSE l

-(0L)

EXPIRATION o

10 CFR 51.23 PROVIDES THAT NO DISCUSSION OF ANY-ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF SPENT FUEL STORAGE FOLLOWING OL EXPIRATION IS REQUIRED IN.

1 CONNECTION WITH.A LICENSE OR LICENSE AMENDMENT FOR A REACTOR OR AN ISFSI l

REVIEWLOF ISSUES CONSIDERED IN-1 1984 DECISION l

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1.

FINDING TECHNICALLY ACCEPTABLE SITES IN A

. TIMELY FASHION l

.2.

TIMELY DEVELOPMENT OF WASTE PACKAGES AND ENGINEERED BARRIERS 3.

INSTITUTIONAL UNCERTAINTIES IN REPOSITORY PROGRAM i

4.

CONTINUITY OF WASTE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT j

5.

CONTINUED ~ PROGRAM FUNDING 6.

DOE SCHEDULE FOR REPOSITORY DEVELOPMENT i

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0RIGINAL AND RECOMMENDED 1989 j

i FINDING 1 l

i "THE C0191ISSION FINDS REASONABLE ASSURANCE THAT SAFE DISPOSAL OF HIGH-LEVEL RADI0 ACTIVE i

WASTE AND SPENT FUEL IN A MINED GE0 LOGIC

i REPOSITORY IS TECHNICALLY FEASIBLE."

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BASIS.FOR REAFFIRMING ORIGINAL FINDING 1 o

WASTE PACKAGE o

WASTE FORM / REPROCESSING o-BACKFILL o

SEALANTS o-CONCLUSIONS ON BASIS OF RESEARCH TO DEVELOP WASTE

FORM, WASTE

PACKAGE, BACKFILL, AND

SEALS, NRC STAFF HAS NO BASIS-FOR DECREASED CONFIDENCE IN TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY OF GEOLOGIC DISPOSAL.

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i ORIGINAL FINDING 2 1

"THE.

COMMISSION. FINDS REASONABLE ASSURANCE THAT i

ONE OR MORE MINED GEOLOGIC REPOSITORIES FOR COMMERCIAL HIGH-LEVEL RADI0 ACTIVE WASTE.AND SPENT FUEL WILL BE AVAILABLE BY THE YEARS 2007-2009, AND-THAT' SUFFICIENT REPOSITORY CAPACITY WILL

'BE l

-AVAILABLE WITHIN 30. YRS BEYOND EXPIRATION OF ANY.

REACTOR OPERATING LICENSE TO DISPOSE OF EXISTING COMMERCIAL HIGH-LEVEL RADIDACTIVE WASTE AND SPENT i

FUEL.0RIGINATING IN SUCH REACTOR AND GENERATED UP TO THAT TIME."

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1 BASIS FOR ORIGINAL COMMISSION FINDING 2

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2007-2009 TIMEFRAME FOR REPOSITORY OPERATION BASED ON COURT REMAND OF ISSUE FROM REACTOR LICENSING CASES -- NOT A REQUIREMENT FOR SAFETY i

OR ENVIRONMENT.

2.

30-YEAR TIMEFRAME F0P.

AVAILABILITY OF SUFFICIENT CAPACITY BASED ON:

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A.

DELAYS IN DOE PROGRAM PRIOR TO NWPAA 1.

5-YEAR SLIPPAGE IN DATE.

FOR REPOSITORY l'

AVAILABILITY (FROM 1998 TO 2003)

(DOE DRAFT 1987 NISSION PLAN AMENDMENT, JAMUARY 1987) 2.

SLIPPAGE IN NEAR-TERM MILESTONES FOR EXPLORATORY SHAFT EXCAVATION AND START OF IN-SITU TESTING (DOE DRAFT AND FINAL 1987 MISSION PLAN AMENDMENTS)

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NEED TO ACCOUNT FOR POSSIBILITY THAT l-YUCCA MTN SITE WILL PROVE UNSUITABLE l

0 IF YUCCA MTN SITE IS FOUND UNSUITABLE DOE MUST i

l SUSPEND CHARACTERIZATION AND REPORT T6 CONGRESS l

1987 NWPAA AUTHORIZED DOE TO CHARACTERIZE ONLY YUCCA MOUNTAIN, NV SITE CHARACTERIZATION SUSPENDED AT HANFORD, l

WA AND DEAF SMITH, TX SITES o

NEED TO ACCOUNT FOR POSSIBILITY THAT EPA STANDARDS FOR HLW DISPOSAL WILL NOT BE TIMELY r

OR USABLE FOR EVALUATION OF ANY SITE IN THE NEAR TERM i

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D.

DOE. ESTIMATE OF TIME REQUIRED FOR SECOND REPOSITORY 1.

25-YEARS FOR SECOND REPOSITORY OPERATION, STARTING WITH SITE. SCREENING (DOE DRAFT 1987 MISSION PLAN AMENDMENT) 2.

BASIS FOR FINDING ON TIMING A.

DOE-FINDS YUCCA MTN UNSUITABLE IN THE YEAR 2000 B.

DOE REQUIRES 25-YRS TO PROGRESS FROM SITE SCREENING TO REPOSITORY OPERATION

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E.

INCREASED CONFIDENCE IN LONG-TERM STORAGE NEED:.

WITH POSSIBLE REACTOR LICENSE RENEWALS UP l

TO 30

YRS, CONSERVATIVE SCENARIO FOR EARLIEST i

SPENT FUEL GENERATED AT ANY REACTOR COULD BE A

REQUIREMENT FOR STORAGE UP TO 100 YRS.

-(40-YR i'

i INITIAL OPERATING

LICENSE, PLUS 30-YR

RENEWAL, PLUS 30-YRS WAITING FOR AVAILABILITY OF SUFFICIENT i

REPOSITORY CAPACITY FOR DISPOSAL OF ALL SPENT FUEL.)

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INCREASED CONFIDENCE IN LONG-TERM STORAGE (CONT'D) 1.

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS i

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l CONCERN FOR STORAGE POOLS OR DRY CASKS 1

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IF REPOSITORY AVAILABLE BY 2025, i

100-YR STORAGE WILL NOT BE REQUIRED i

l FOR ANY REACTORS 2.

INSTITUTIONAL CONSIDERATIONS L

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ORIGINAL AND RECOMMENDED 1989 FINDING 3 l

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"THE C079lISSION FINDS REASONABLE ASSURANCE THAT HIGH-i LEVEL RADI0 ACTIVE WASTE AND SPENT FUEL WILL BE MANAGED IN A SAFE MANNER UNTIL SUFFICIENT REPOSITORY CAPACITY i

IS AVAILABLE TO ASSURE THE SAFE DISPOSAL OF ALL HIGH-l LEVEL RADI0 ACTIVE WASTE AND SPENT FUEL."

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l i-ORIGINAL FINDING 4 1

t "THE COPflISSION FINDS REASONABLE ASSURANCE THAT, IF i

l NECESSARY, SPENT FUEL GENERATED IN ANY REACTOR CAN BE l

STORED SAFELY AND WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL F

IMPACTS -FOR AT LEAST 30 YEARS BEYOND THE EXPIRATION OF THAT REACTOR'S OPERATING LICENSE AT THAT REACTOR'S l

SPENT FUEL STORAGE BASIN,.OR AT EITHER ON-SITE OR OFF-l SITE. INDEPENDENT SPENT FUEL STORAGE INSTALLATIONS."

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L RECOMENDED 1989 FINDING 4 THE COPB4ISSION FINDS REASONABLE ASSURANCE THAT, i

IF NECESSARY, SPENT FUEL GENERATED IN ANY REACTOR CAN ~ BE STORED SAFELY-AND WITHOUT

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j SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT FOR AT LEAST 30 YRS BEYOND THE LICENSED LIFE FOR OPERATION 0F THAT REACTOR AT ITS SPENT FUEL STORAGE I

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BASIN, OR-AT EITHER ON-SITE OR OFF-SITE

-INDEPENDENT SPENT FUEL STORAGE INSTALLATIONS.

IF A REACTOR'S OPERATING LICENSE WERE RENEWED j

FOR 30

YRS, THIS WOULD EXTEND THE EXPECTED DURATION OF SAFE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE STORAGE TO AT LEAST 100 YEARS.

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i ORIGINAL AND RECOM4 ENDED 1989 FINDING 5 l

l "THE COM4ISSION FINDS REASONABLE ASSURANCE THAT i

SAFE ON-SITE SPENT FUEL STORAGE OR OFF-SITE l

l SPENT FUEL STORAGE WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE IF S'JCH STORAGE CAPACITY IS NEEDED."

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