ML20043H250
| ML20043H250 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/06/1990 |
| From: | Rogers K NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Chilk S NRC OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY (SECY) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9006220307 | |
| Download: ML20043H250 (2) | |
Text
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N0TATI0N V Q TL"LEMw TO THE PDR""""";
nc RESPONSESNEET! lo/ra/4 o
.................t.h das I ir T0:
SAMUEL J. CHILK, SECRETARY OF THE C0044ISSION FROM:
C0W4ISSIONER ROGERS
SUBJECT:
SECY-90-098 - STAFF REQUIREMENTS - MARCH 15, 1989, BRIEFING ON ACCEPTANCE BY DOE OF GREATER-THAN-CLASS C WASTE, AND SEPTEMBER 21, 1989, BRIEFING ON STUDY OF ADEQUACY OF REGULATORY OVERSIGHT OF MATERIALS UNDER A GENERAL LICENSE j
wth APPROVED cennem DISAPPROVED ABSTAIN NOT PARTICIPATING REQUEST DISCUSSION COM4ENTS:
I approve the staff's proposed action, with the attached change to the proposed letter to David Waller which deletes a sentence that addresses material not at issue.
I also support Commissjoner l
Curtiss's comment.
t However, I continue to be concerned about our responsibilities in the ultimate identification of all GTCC sources in use and in the assurance of their safe disposition.
The 100,000 GTCC sources now in the field represent a huge potential for abandonment.
The small i
number of sources abandoned thus f ar could grow enormously, if there is no reasonable way for the small corporate users to divest themselves of them.
We should have some way of tracking all GTCC sources.
I await with interest the staff analysis of this matter due the end of lact month as ctated dn M990921.
SIGNATURE Q RELEASE VOTE
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k((ID DATE WITWl0LD VOTE
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n ENTERED ON "AS" YES NO DOT O f(
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CORRESPONDENCE PDC
Mr. David B. Waller these sources can result in contaminated steel or slag which subsequently needs to be controlled. kliv, RC use.in:11y Mas r.aquests. for pc ass?it.nce in contro i nng miirr i.i cer.t;2at:d dth redie;;; er eth;r utet%1y
.u 1...ter produced-eee4eaet4*e-meter 4al-(".A".), which-ara net
...,v1 W:;. w reaersi iuguleem NRC's regional offices are often able to identify a licensee responsible for the material and to require that a licensee arrange for timely recovery of the material.
In other instances, the radioactive material in an area such as a scrapyard or railroad car can be secured and stered safely away from the public. When a responsible licensee cannot be found and the radioactive material needs to be removed from public areas, such as a roadway, airport or vacant building, NRC needs a timely mechanism to assure such removal.
Although States have recovered and stored some abandoned radioective materials, there is increasing reluctance to do so because of limited capabilities and, with respect to GTCC sources, because there is no mechanism or known disposal charges in place for eventual disposal.
We believe that DOE is the appropna9 ano comretent Federal agency to assist NRC in these situations.
DOE has authority under the Atonic Eriergy Act of 1954, as amended, to acquire source, byproduct and special nuclear material and is an authorized recipient for transfers of radioactive material under the Comission's regulations.
Moreover, Section E02 of t!.e Derartment of Energ."
Organization Act (P.L. 95-91) assions DOE the responsibility for nuciar waste management, and specifically "...the establishment of control over all existing nuclear waste in the possession or control of the Government...." finally, DOE has existing facilities, eouipment and Dersonnel to handle, transport, stnre and, if necessary, dispose of abandoned radioactive material.
DOE has responded on a case-by-case basis to incidents involving abandoned radioactive material, when NRC has requested assistance to protect public health and safety.
While this approach has generally worked well, the case-by-case approach can result in radioactive material remainino in the