ML20045A361
| ML20045A361 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/27/1993 |
| From: | Lohaus P NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Birk S EG&G IDAHO, INC. |
| References | |
| REF-WM-3 NUDOCS 9306100157 | |
| Download: ML20045A361 (5) | |
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May 27,1993 Sandra Birk EG&G Idaho, Inc.
P.O. Box 1625 Idaho Falls, ID 83415-3960
Dear Ms. Birk:
Enclosed please find abstracts for two papers we are submitting to be presented at the 15th Annual Department of Energy Low-12 vel Radioactive Waste Management Conference on December 1-3, 1993. Biographies of the presente:.re also enclosed.
If you have any questions concerning the papers, please contact Andrew C. Campbell at (301) 504-2500.
Sincerely, Paul H. Lohaus, Chief Low-Level Waste Management Branch Division of Low-Level Waste Management and Decommissioning Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards-l
Enclosures:
As stated Distribution: (
) Central File LLWBr/f NMSS r/f LLWB t/f NMSS:
RBangart WBrach PLohaus JThoma JKennedy ACampbell RNelson FRoss MThaggard RES:
MSilberberg WOtt RCady TMcCartin TNicholson
]
PDR YES XX_
PDR NO _
Category:
Proprietary _ or CF Only _ _
ACNW YES XX_ NO __ _
SUBJECT ABSTRACT: Abstracts for 15th Annual DOE /LLW Management Conf.
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NAME ACampbell JTlWna Jhnh #PLbhaIs DATE 27/e5/93 oT/f1/93 0 d)/h/h3
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s AN ITERATIVE PROCESS FOR PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT MODELING OF LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITIES Andrew C. Campbell, Ralph E. Cady, Timothy J. McCartin, Thomas J. Nicholson, Frederick W. Ross, and Mark Thaggard U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is developing a branch technical position (BTP) on performance assessment for low-level waste disposal facilities. The BTP describes an iterative process for conducting performance assessment modeling that is integrated with site characterization and design activities, so that information and data necessary for demonstrating compliance with the 10 CFR Part 61.41 performance objectives are identified in the early stages of site evaluation. PA modeling is thus identified as an intrinsic part of the site characterization process. In this iterative process, PA starts with relatively simple conservative models using both generic as well as site information and becomes more facility and site specific as required to demonstrate compliance with 6 61.41 or to rule out a site. This strategy, which provides a specific endpoint to the PA process and criteria for determining when that endpoint has been reached, provides the basis for making a regulatory decision. Documenting the iterative PA steps is an important part of building confidence in the PA process used for making regulatory decisions. In addition, the process lends itself to a participatory framework.
The PA process described in the BTP provides a strategy for implementing the performance assessment methodology (PAM), which is founded upon a modular approach to low-level waste disposal facility systems modeling. The sub-modeling components of the PAM include: a) infiltration; b) source term; c) engineered barriers; d) transport via ground water, surface water, and air; and e) dose. This modular structure allows a mix of both complex and simple models to be used in the overall PA. The appropriate degree of modeling complexity within a module is determined by the availability of suitable data and its associated uncertainty. The iterative PA strategy incorporates a formal treatment of uncertainty as an intrinsic part of the PA decision making process and also to build confidence that there is reasonable assurance that the facility will meet the performance objectives.
NRC staffis conducting a test case analysis to implement the overall strategy and methodology.
The test case is focussing on a performance assessment of a hypothetical disposal facility and environs using, to the extent possible, real site characterization and inventory data, and a hypothetical engineered facility. The staff has developed an integrated PA model that links simplified models of the individual PAM sub-modeling components into a single systems code.
The integrated code incorporates an uncertainty analysis using stratified Monte Carlo (Latin Hypercube) sampling of parameter distributions and ranges. Subsequent linear regression analyses allow determination of the sensitivity of the result to different parameters. Specific approaches to PA modeling will be discussed with respect to some of the test case modeling results.
BIOGRAPHY FOR ANDREW C. CAMPBELL Division of Low-Level Waste Management and Decommissioning Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 (301) 504-2500 Andy Campbell is a Geochemist in the Low Level Waste Management Branch, Division of Low-Level Waste Management and Decommissioning, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. He is Project Manager for the Performance Assessment Program for Low-Level Waste at the NRC. His work is concerned with regulatory applications of geochemical and hydrogeochemical models and the development of guidance for LLW performance assessment. Andy came to the NRC in 1991 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was a Research Associate. At MIT, Andy conducted research in marine geochemistry and ran :he field and laboratory programs for sampling and analyzing hotspring fluids from submarine hydrothermal vents using the submersible ALVIN. Andy obtained a Ph.D. from Scripps Institution of Oceanography in 1985 and subsequently he went to MIT as a Postdoctoral Associate. Andy has an M.S. in Chemistry and a B.A. in Chemistry and Philosophy, with Honors in English from the University of Arizona.
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o INTERIM STORAGE OF LOW LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE Robert A. Nelson Division of Low-Level Waste Management and Decommissioning Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Com.nission Washington, DC 20555 (301) 504-2004 The Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1985 (LLRWPAA) established a series of milestones, penalties, and incentives to ensure that regional compacts and States make adequate progress toward being able to manage their low-level radioactive waste (LLRW), by 1993. However, no new LLRW disposal facilities were operational on January 1,1993, and the compact commissions that control the existing LLRW disposal sites either stopped accepting LLRW or set conditions on receiving LLRW from outside their regional compacts on January 1, 1993.
Therefore, some licensees who generate LLRW have been forced to store their LLRW on-site, until disposal capacity is available.
LLRW disposal facilities, accessible by all States, may not be available until 1999 or later. Although LLRW can be safely stored, the preference of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is that LLRW be permanently disposed of as soon after it is generated as possible.
The public health and safety is enhanced by disposal, rather than long-term, indefinite storage of wastes. The NRC considers LLRW storage to be a last resort measure.
This paper describes the current LLRW disposal and storage situation and discusses: (1) storage concerns, (2) experiences with LLRW storage, (3) Nuclear Regulatory Commission storage regulations and guidance, (4) procedures for increasing storage capacity, and (5) recent NRC rulemakings concerning LLRW storage.
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BIOGRAPHY ROBERT A. NELSON Mr. Nelson is a Project Manager with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in the Division of Low-Level Waste Management and Decommissioning, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards. His primary responsibility has been licensing and regulatory activities associated with low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) including the development of the proposed rulemaking for on-site storage of LLRW.
Prior to joining the NRC in 1991, Mr. Nelson was a staff advisor for Performance Development Corporation providing program management and integration support services to the Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management. Mr. Nelson worked for thirteen years at Essex Corporation where he was a Senior Vice President, Division Manager, and President of a wholly owned subsidiary, Essex Supportability Services, Inc. Mr. Nelson directed engineering, logistics, database management, computer programming, and financial management support services under contracts to DOE, Naval Sea Systems Command, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and General Dynamics Corporation. Mr.
helson served for six years in the Navy submarine service qualifying as Engineer Officer of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Plants.
Mr. Nelson received a BS degree in Physics from the Pennsylvania State University in 1972 and an MBA degree from George Mason University in 1984.
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