ML20043C629
| ML20043C629 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/07/1990 |
| From: | Bangart R NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Tipton T NUCLEAR ENERGY INSTITUTE (FORMERLY NUCLEAR MGMT & |
| References | |
| REF-WM-3 NUDOCS 9006050402 | |
| Download: ML20043C629 (2) | |
Text
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lay 71990 A:\\MT-TIPTO.LTR Thomas E. Tipton, Director Operations Management and Services Division Nuclear Management and Resources Council, Inc.
Suite 300 1776 I Street N.W.
Washington, D.C.
20006
Dear Mr. Tipton:
As indicated in the enclosed Information Netice, the NRC has become increasingly concerned about mishaps that have occurred during the solidification of low-level radwaste at nuclear power plants and other facilities.
These mishaps have included waste forms that have failed to solidify completely and that have swelled and/or disintegrated over relatively short periods of time following solidification, or that have resulted in vigorous
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exothermic reactions during processing.
These mishaps raise questions regarding whether the waste forms will satisfy 10 CFR Part 61 structural stability requirements.
The NRC does not currently have in place requirements for the routine reporting of waste form mishaps and must at present rely on the voluntary submittal of such information.
We would, therefore, appreciate any help that NUMARC could provide in
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obtaining the waste form mishaps information we need.
Your response as to whether your organization could aid in securing this information is requested.
We would be pleased to meet with 1
you to discuss this further.
Thank you very much for your consideration.
(SIGNED) FUCHARD L BANGART Sincerely,(properispacingyonyoriginal).
Richard L.
Bangart, Director" Division of Low-Level Waste Management and Decommissioning, NMSS
Enclosure:
As stated Distribution:, Centrals.FileC#i LLTB r/f NMSS r/f JSurmeier MTokar JAustin PLohaus JGreeves RBangart JLepre LAltoft PDR Yes:
>(
PDR No:
Reason:
Proprietary or CF Only ACNW Yes:
v" No:
SUBJECT ABSTRACT:
- SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE
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- JSurmeier
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DATE:05/02/90
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-TI PTO. LTR The as E. Tipton, Director tions Management and Services Division Oper \\ar Management and Resources Council, Inc.
Nucle Suite 3 0 1776 I S eet N.W.
Washingto D.C.
20006 Dear Mr. Tip n
As indicated in the enclosed Information Notice, the NRC has become increasin concerned about mishaps that have occurred during the solidi ation of low-level radwaste at nuclear power planta and other fa lities.
These mishaps have included waste forms that have failhQ to solidify completely and that have swelled and/or disintegrated over relatively short periods of time following solidifiM tion, or that have resulted in vigorous L
exothermic reactions dur g processing.
These mishaps raise questions regarding whethe the waste forms will satisfy 10 CFR Part 61 structural stabilit requirements.
The NRC does not currently hav in place requirements for the routine reporting of waste form ishaps and must at present rely on the voluntary submittal of suc information.
We would, therefore, appreciate any help tha NUMARC could provide in obtaining the waste form mishaps in rmation we need.
We would E
be pleased to meet with you to discus this further.
Thank you very much for your considerat n.
Sincerely, Richard L.
- Bangart, irector Division of Low-Level aste Management and Decommissioning, MSS
Enclosure:
As stated Distribution:
Central File #
LLTB r/f NMSS r/f JSurmeier MTokar JAustin PLohaus Greeves RBangart JLepre r/f LAltoft r/f PDR Yes:
N/
PDR No:
Reason:
Proprietary or CF Only ACNW Yes:
N/
No:
SUBJECT ABS'I'hACT:
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NAME:MTokar/lj
- JSur ier
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DATE: g'/ c. / 90
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OFFICIAL RECORD COPY E
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFCGUARDS WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555 May 4, 1990 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 90-31:
UPDATE ON WASTE FORM AND HIGH INTEGRITY CONTAINER TOPICAL REPORT REY!EW STATUS, IDENTIFICATION OF PROBLEMS WITH CEMENT SOLID!flCATION,>AND REPORTlhG OF WASTE MISHAPS Addressees:
All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power reactors, fuel cycle licenses, and certain byproduct materials licenses.
L grpose:
'A This information notice is being provided to inform addressees of recent develop-ments'concerning the stability of waste forms that co S in Class B or Class C low-level waste. The developments pertain tot the statas of reviews (of topical reports (TRs) on waste stabilization media and high integrity containers; the results of the Workshop on Cement Stabilization of Low-Level Waste held in Gaithersburg, Maryland, on Nay,31 to June 2,1989; the identification of con -
stituents that create problems with cement solidification of low-level wastes; and the notification to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission (NRC) of mishaps with waste stabilization, it is expected that addressees will review the information for applicability to:their facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid problems in solidification of wastes in cement and-in disposing of certain waste streams.
Addressees are encouraged to distribute the notice to responsible radiological staff and waste handling personnel.
However, suggestions contained in this information notice do not constitute NRC xequirements; therefore, no specific action or written response is required.
4 Discussion:
Update on Waste Form and High Integrity Container TR Review Status -
In Information Notice No. 89-27, " Limitations on the Use of Waste Forms and High Integrity Containers for the Disposal of Low-Level Radioactive Waste."
March 8, 1989, it is pointed out.that waste generators are required, under 10 CFR 20.311,- to certify that any Class B or C wastes that they send for disposal are structurally stable, in accordance with 10 CFR Part 61.
The information notice goes on to describe the NRC review of TRs on waste soli-dification media and high integrity containers for the disposal of Class B or Class C wastes.
The status of these NRC TR reviews is summarized.
A
?W 4
T 3
y'e IN 90-31 May 4, 1990 Page 2 of 4 k
description is provided on how the Agreement State authorities that host the three operating low-level waste disposal facilities have implemented NRC decisions on the TRs. The information notice states that the status of ap-proved waste stabilization media and high integrity containers will change periodically as TR reviews are completed, and as new TRs are submitted for The information notice states that NRC will periodically issue up-review.
dates of the status of topical report reviews, to keep licensees fully trformed of approved solidification media and high integrity containers for dispc.1 of Class B and C wastes. Attachment 1 provides the status of NRC topical r> ; ort m
reviews as of April 1, 1990.
Licensees are directed to Information Notu.e 89-27 i
Waste for further information that applies to disposal of Class B and C wastes.
generators are urged to contact the disposal facility operators for additional
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information and procedural details before pursuing disposal options for Class B and C wastes.
5 Ceme u ;olidification Workshop -
Information Notice 89-27 pointed out that NRC had not approved any topicalThis reports describing commercial cement stabilization of low-level wastes.
situation still exists (see Attachment 1). To gather information that would 5
provide an improved understanding of the compiex technical concerns regarding the use of cement for waste stabilization and that would lead to both short-term and long-term regulatory resolution of TR reviews on cement stabilization media, E
NRC hosted the Workshop on Cement Stabilization of Low-Level Radioactive Waste During the workshop, the following topics were dis-on May 31 - June 2, 1989.
lessons learned from small-and full-scale waste forms and observations cussed:
at nuclear power plants; implications of laboratory test experience with cement solidification and the application to problem waste streams; stabilized waste i
form testing guidance (including NRC's 1983 " Technical position on Waste Form"),
The results of the work-and process contro1' programs and waste characterization.
shop have been published as an NRC Conference Proceedings report, NUREG/CP-0103.
Licensees are encouraged to obtain a copy of this report and determine if any r
topics discussed will potentially improve their application of waste solidifi-Ei cation processes.
p Waste Constituents That Create Problems with Cement Solidification -
One important item that licensees should be fully aware of, which was dis-ca sed in detail during the workshop, is continuing concerns with deleterious chemical reactions during waste solidification using cement.
This subject was first brought to the attenti.on of licensees by Information Notice No. 88-08, March 14,1988, " Chemical Reactions with Radioactive Waste Solidification E
As a result of the continuing concerns with this subject, NRC has Agents."
developed the list in Attachment 2 of waste conctituents that could cause problems with solidification campaigns, particularly at nuclear power plants.
The first part of the list identifies " problem" constituents of wastes that Licensees should ensure are expected ingredients in'certain waste streams.
that proper formulations are being used for these types of wastes, especially if the wastes require structural stability. The second part of the list covers
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" problem" constituents of waste streams that are n_o,t expected ingredients in w
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IN 90-31 May 4, 1990 Page 3 of 4 the wastes, and may cause a problem with cement solidification if they ac-cidentally get into a waste stream, especially since the waste-processing vendor may not necessarily be using a formulation that would successfully Some of these constituents may be a problem for treat the waste stream.
successful cement solidification, even at parts per million concentrations, depending on the waste stream they are in and the synergistic effects that NRC has identified these as waste constituents that could be could arise.
controlled and possibly prevented from entering waste streams with good house-keeping, inventory control, use limits, or pretreatment, thereby minimizing NRC encourages licensees to the potential to affect cement solidification.
determine if they are using any of these items, and if they are, to determine if housekeeping, inventory, or use controls are adequate to prevent these
" problem" constituents from entering waste streams that are to be solidified; Licensees who especially waste streams that require structural stabOity.are aware of having their waste streams, and are using a proper solidtfication formula to treat the wastes, should be aware that changes in concentrations of these consti-Licensees are also encouragod to evaluate tuents may result in a problem.
the use of alternative products or chemical constituents, in order to reduce or eliminate the possibility of " problem" constituents entering the waste Licensees should inform solidification vendors of circumstances stream.
that may result in waste constituent changes, so that the vendor may determine the correct formula to use in solidification. This will help ir -avoiding pro-blems such as those reported in Information Notice No. 88-08.
Licensees should be aware that several of the waste constituents listed in may result in a situation that produces mixed hazardous and radioactive waste.
The currently operating low-level radioactive waste Licensees disposal facilities are not pe mitted to receive mixed wastes.
should contact the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for more information on what constitutes a mixed hazardous and radioactive waste and refer to the joint NRC Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidance document entitled,
" Guidance on the Definition and Identification of Comercial Mixed Low-Level Radioactive and Hazardous Waste and Answers to Anticipated Questions."
Notification of Waste Stabilization Mishaps -
NRC has become increasingly concerned about mishaps that have occurred during the solidification of low-level radwaste at power plants and other facilities.
These mishaps, some of which were described in Information Notice No. 89-27, have included waste forms that have failed to solidify completely and that swelled and/or disintegreted over relatively short times after solidification.
These mishaps result in questions as to whether the waste form will satisfy the Part 61 stability requirements. To maintain current information about problems encountered in solidifying wastes and placing wastes in high integrity containers for structural stability, HRC is evaluating mechanisms for obtaining reports of mishaps like the ones described above.
Licensees will become in-volved in the reporting process to the extent that the waste that is involved in mishaps reported to NRC is the ultimate responsibility of the weste generator.
Waste mishaps reporting will be addressed in a future information notice, l'l MlH ull
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May 4, 1990 Page 4 of 4 No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.
If.you have any questions regarding this information notice, please contact the technical contact listed below or the Regional Administrator of the appropriate regional office.
(((,g[ [,
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Richard L. Bangart, Director Division of Low-Level Waste Management and Decomissioning Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Technical
Contact:
Michael Tokar, NMSS (301) 492-0590 Attachments:
1..
Topical Report Review Status Sumary: Soliu1fied Waste Forms and High Integrity Containers (HICs)
List of Waste Constituents That May Cause Problems with cement 2.-
Solidification 3.
List of Recently Issued HMSS Information Notices 4.
List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
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IN 90-31 May 4, 1990 Page 1 of 1 TOPICAL REPORT REVIEW STATUS
SUMMARY
SOLIDIFIED WASTE FORMS AND HIGH INTEGRITY CONTAINERS APRIL 1, 1930 Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Disposition Vendor Docket No.
g Waste Chem WM-90 Solidification bitumen Approved General Electric WM-88 Solidification polymer Approved DOW WM-82 Solidification polymer Approved Chichibu WM-B1 Rev 2.1 Hlt poly impreg/ concrete)
Approved Approved ferralium/FL-50))
Approved Nuclear Packaging WM-45 HlC ferralium/ family Nuclear Packaging WM-85 HIC LN Technologies WM-93 Rev 1 HIC stainless / poly)
Approved Chem-Nuclear WM-18 HIC polyethylene)
Not Approved Westinghouse WM-80 HIC polyethylene)
Not Approved TFC Nuclear WM-76 HIC polyethylene)
Not Approved U.S. Gypsum WM-51 Solidification (qypsum.)
Not Approved U.S. Ecology WM-91 Solidification (bitumen)
Discontinued VIKEM WM-13 Solidification / oil (cement)
Discontinued Stock WM-92 Solidification (cement)
Discontinued Nuclear Packaging WM-71 Solid /Encap (cement /qypsum)
Withdrawn Chem-Nuclear WM-19 Solidification (cement /
Withdrawn Chem-Nuclear WM-96 Solidification (cement)
Withdrawn Westinghouse WM-79 Solidification (SG-95)
Withdrawn Nuclear Packaging WM-87 HIC 316-stainless /SDS)
Withdrawn LN Technologies WM-57 HIC polyethylene)
Withdrawn Chem-Nuclear WM-47 HIC fiberglass / poly)
Withdrawn Chem-Nuclear WM-101 Solidification cement #1 Under review Chem-Nuclear WM-97 Solidification cement #2 Under review Chem-Nuclear WM-97 Rev 1 Solidification (cement #2 Under review Chem-Nuclear WM-98 Solidification (cement #3)
Under review LN Technologies WM-20 Solidification cement)
Under review LN Technologies WM-99 Solidification cement /decon) Uader review Westinghouse WM-46 Solidification cement)
Under review U.S. Ecology WM-100 Solidification NSIbitumen) Under review Bondico WM-94 ti1C (fiberglass / poly)
Under review Dabcock & Wilcox WM-95 HIC (coated carbon steel)
Under review U.S. Ecology WM-102 Solidification (LLW bitunen) Under review Pacific Nuclear WM-103 HIC (enviroglass)
Under review
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IN 90-31 e
May 4, 1990 Page 1 of 1 LIST OF WASTE CONSTITUENTS THAT MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH CEMENT SOLIDIFICATION POTENTI AL PROBLEN CONSTITUENTS THAT MAY BE"ETPECTED IN THE WASTE STREAM
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Inorganic Constituents Organic Constituents - Aqueous Solutions j
Borates [1]
Organicacids[1]
Phosphates Formicacid(andformates)
" Chelates"[1],[3 Amonia and amonium salts Oxalic acid andoxalhtes) ferric salts Citric acid and citraces)
"Oxidizingagents"[1;(oftenproprietary)
Picolinic acid (and picolinates)
Permanganates.1, EDTA (anditssalts)
Chromates[2]
NTA(anditssalts)
Nitrates :1]
Sulfates ;1]
" Decor, solutions" [1]
Soaps [1]
Detergents [1]
Organic Constituents - Oily Wastes Benzene ~1], '2' l
Toluene'1],'2:
Hexane [i]
Miscellaneous hydrocarbons Vegetable oil additives POTENTIAL PROBLEM CONSTITUENTS THAT MAY BE AVOIDED BY HOUSEKEEPING OR PRETREATMENT [4]
Generic Problem Constituents Specific Probl_em Constituents - Organic [5]
011[1]andgrease Acetone [1],[2]
Methyl ethyl ketone [2]
" Aromatic oils" [1][1],;2;
[2]
" Organic solvents" Trichloroethanc[2]
Dry-cleaning solvents,.1.
Trichlorotrifluoroethane[2]
"Industrialcleaners"[1],[2]
Xylene [2]
Dichlorobenzene[2]
'Paintthinners[1],][2]
"Decon solutionst [1 l
Soaps [1]
Specific Problem Consituents - Inorganic l
Detergents [1]
Sodiumhypochlorite[I]
NOTES.
1.
These constituents have been specifically identified by vendors as having the potentia ~l to cause problems with cement solidification of low-level wastes.
L 2.
The presence of thew constituents inay result in the generation of mixed was Ps. Tf.
si ou >- *.9 Protection Agency should be contacted for more infor.atic1 3.
All ci t,-
.ne,: i. apr'ts could also be identified as " organic ccids."
4.
Good house,.reping ud pretreatrrent could also be effective in preventing problems with cement solidification for many of the constituents listed in the top list.
L 5.
These specific constituents also fall into several of the " generic" problem l
constituents " categories" listed at the left.
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IN 90-31 May 4, 1990 Page 1 of 1 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED NMSS INFORMATION NOTICES Information.
Date of Notice No..
Subject Issuance Issued to:
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90-24 Transportation of Model 04/10/90 All NRC licensees
(.
SPEC 2-T Radiographic authorized to use, Exposure Device transport, or operate radiographic exposure devices and source changers.
90-20' Personnel Injuries 03/22/90 All U.S. NRC licensees
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Resulting from Improper-who process or incinerate Operation of Radwaste radioactive waste Incinerators-90-16 Compliance with New 03/07/90 All materials licensees Decommissioning Rule 90-15 Reciprocity:- Notification 03/07/90 All holders of NRC of Agreement State Radiation materials licenses that Control Directors before authorize use of radio-Beginning Work in Agreement active material at States temporary job sites 90-14 Accidental Disposal of 03/06/90 All NRC byproduct Radioactive Materials.
materials licensees T
90-09 Extended Interim Storage of 02/05/90 All holders of NRC Low-Level Radioactive Haste materials licenses
-by Fuel Cycle and Materials Licensees 90-01*
Importance of Proper 01/12/90 All holders of NRC Response to Self-Identified materials licenses Violations by Licensees
- Correct Number for 90-01 should be 90010145.
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May 4, 1990 Page 1 of 1 LIST OF RECENTLY-ISSUED NRC INFORMATION NOTICES Informattun Date of Notice'No.
Subject Issuance Issued to 90-30 Ultrasonic Inspection 5/1/90 All holders of OLs Techniques for Dissimilar or cps for nuclear.
Metal Welds power reactors.
90-29 Cracking of Cladding and
- 4/30/90 All holders of OLs its Heat-Affected Zone in or cps for nuclear the Base Metal of a Reactor power reactors.
Vessel Head i
c 90-28 Potential Error in High 4/30/90 All holders of OLs l
Steamline Flow Setpoint or cps for BWRs.
90-27 Clarification of the 4/30/90 All uranium fuel Recent Revisions to the fabrication and Regulatory Requirements conversion facilities.
l for Packaging of Uranium i-Hexafluoride(UF)
I 6
Transportation 89-70, Possible Indications of 4/26/90 All helders of OLs Supp. 1 Misrepresented Vendor or cps for nuclear Products power reactors, i
4 90-26 Inadequate Flow of 4/24/90 All holders of OLs Essential Service Water or cps for nuclear to Room Coolers and Heat power reactors.
l Exchangers for Engineered Safety-Feature Systems l
90-25 Loss of Vital AC Power 4/16/90 All. holders of OLs with Subsequent Reactor or cps for nuclear Coolant System Heat-Up power reactors.
90-24 Transportation of Model 4/10/90 All NRC licensees Spec 2-T Radiographic authorized to use, Exposure Device transport, or operate radiographic exposure devices and source I
changers.
OL = Operating License CP = Construction Permit L
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