ML20032E216
| ML20032E216 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/16/1981 |
| From: | Kammerer C NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Warner J SENATE |
| References | |
| FRN-45FR67018, RULE-PR-20-8110T6 NUDOCS 8111190858 | |
| Download: ML20032E216 (2) | |
Text
_
K
- UCR,
A 8,*,, y%
p g.
b UNITED STATES 5,
I' NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION o
wAsmwcrow, o. c.20sss
\\,...../
DC$ED
'81 NOV 13 All:28 e
0CT.16 19814 A
M s ct,Em
/N
~ ~ lG & SERVICE The Honorable John Warner Q
United States Senate NOV18 1981'm- -9 Washington, D.C.
20510
-v w g a y ou h
Dear Senator Wa ner:
7.,,f
'.....N0 1
R fo ?Ol? )g Tne following information is provided in response $f to'you 4 ry of September 30, 1981 concerning your constituent, Karen Irvin, and her interest in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) activities, in regard to deregulation for disposal of radioactive medical and research wastes.
' On March 11, 1981, NRC amended its regulation 10'CFR 20 to pennit licensees greater leeway in disposing of liquid scintillation media and animal carcasses containing tracer levels of hydrogen-3 (tritium) or Carbon-14 (for less than 0.05 microcuries per gram).
This rule change will primarily affect NRC licensed hospitals and medical research institu-s tions, and will help conserve waste burial capacity that is already in short supply.
The rule essentially removes any NRC restrictions on the disposal of liquid scintillation media and animal carcasses.
It does not authorize dis of liquid scintillation media (e.g. toluene) into sanitary sewerage,posal does it relieve licensees from complying with other applicable regulations nor of Federal, State, and local government agencies regarding the disposal of non-radioactive materials Scintillation media are toxic and flamable, and animal carcasses are s.ometimes pa thogenic.
These characteristics, which are a more important health problem than their radioactivity, may require them to be disposed of under applicable Federal, State, and local laws governing chemical and biological hazards.
Before this rule change was initiated by the Commission analysis by the staff concluded that such a change was a,ppropriate because:
a cost / benefit (a) it will not pose an unreasonable risk to the health and safety of the public; (b) disposal of these wastes in radioactive waste burial grounds is expensive and without benefit commensurate with the expense; (c) the flamability of liquid scintillation media and the decomposition of animal carcasses cause(a significantorganic solv problem in transporting these wastes to burial grounds; and (d) these wastes consume a significant portion of radioactive waste burial capacity which is in short supply.
9 A$ $0 0
hIMOB58811016 6\\
20 45ppsl018 PDR_
4 m,
y,-
.,..,..m-
,,.r--,,
-rm,,,..w.,
,,,om,-,.,-.%--,.me.,.
,,.%.c
,-+..-.m.--,
-F i. -- - s
.... u
,3.,, j= --i, i
, " ~
~
.g
- .-i!as
,..:... g, g....
.s
,.....;-.~. OCi 161981 y-Additional infonnation on this NRC regulatory change is described in the copy of the enclosed Federal'Regist:er Notice, 46 FR 16230..
~-
We hope this reply is responsive to the concerns of your constituent.
Should further infonnation on this subject be required, please do not hesitate to call us.
2 Sincerely
~
r
~
k M_
arlton ranrnerer, Director Office of Congressional Affairs
Enclosure:
e 9
1,V u. ;
1, JOHN W. WARNIn vehGtNIA 3Cnifeb States Senate WASHINGTON. D.C.
20510 September 30, 1981 Congressional Liason Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H.
Street, N. W.
Washing ton, D.C.
20555
Dear Sir:
I am writing to. bring to your attention the enclosed comments from my constituent, Karen B.
Irvin.
I shall appreciate your reviewing this correspondence and preparing a report on the stated problems.
Please send your reply in duplicate to the following address:
Office of Senator John W. Warner 1100 East Main Street Richmond, Vi rginia 23 219 My constituent and I appreciate your assistance in this matter.
I am grateful for all you can do to solve this matter within the existing laws, rules and regulations of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Thank you for your time and courtesy.
With best wishes, Sincerely, l
.E John W. Warner JWW/mv Enclosure 10/6..To OCA for 10/6..To OCA for Direct Reply.. Suspense: Oct 23.. Docket. 81-2157 J# 6 ena.coyce
.~
h
-a s
h I
elA; vw% w,'4 % #g h t-4{ 3 yja +$.t
~. t.
a s q
S'sg,kg $
b ik bg s
4 5h, 1Dtg '9 qig tillf%l%IdlN(%M9%}>
94hl
$$@k
%j l
3 f
i
}S 4Rw tar %a %a)b @4 09 b
A
'53443D i 'l 5
4 slFbO lii4P
+6
'A' BN 4
{3
' g$ $ q g 'd I
q g
I Ix.
f 914 b
b$
3 i
O H 1 %
d Yk '\\h %f}\\$ k bb s
j<QL 13
- U 5b N" k 4$N h{j.3 sg4 d
.i4-41
.s 4 t3 o
a 4y9%
w g,
M s.3 sq g
A 's f>hg-
% e *. g$ v g j t.d 4 sij a
3 4
14 SJ4 %
s.
3~S
=
4 a 1 ] N 4
s11 ) q{3
)?s:2 o
4 5y s
- 4+4 t
N >Q
$ 8 z
e3 g3a Es '4 4 414 e41%s, a x
-a e
S t
.