ML20055C948
| ML20055C948 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/03/1990 |
| From: | Taylor J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Schuette B HOUSE OF REP. |
| References | |
| FRN-53FR49886, RULE-PR-CHP1 NUDOCS 9007020176 | |
| Download: ML20055C948 (3) | |
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UNITED STATES "a
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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May 3, 1990
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The Honorable Bill Schuette United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congressman Schuette:
I am responding to your request of March 30, 1990, which asked for our consideration of issues raised by your constituent, Mr. Marvin P. Ostrander.
Mr. Ostrander's concerns involve the dispusal of low-level radioactive wastes and, in particular, those wastes characterized as "below regulatory concern" or "BRC."
I would first note that the Nuclear Regulatory Comission (NRC) has not waste (LLW) y proposed regulations which would allow disposal of low-levelunde published an AmendmentsActof1985(Pub.L.99-240). However, the Act directed the NRC to
... establish standards and procedures... and develop the technical capability for considering and acting upon petitions to exempt specific radioactive waste streams from regulation..
due to the presence of radionuclides in such waste streams in sufficiently low concentrations or quantities as to be below regulatory concern." In response to the legislation, NRC develo)ed and published in 1986, a Statement of Policy and Procedures which outlines tie criteria for considering such petitions.
I have enclosed a copy of the statement which you may find useful in responding to Mr. Ostrander I
(Enclosure 1).
l Besides this 1986 policy, the Commission continues to be active in pursuing the I
development of a broad policy that would identify the principles and criteria that govern Commission decisions which could exempt radioactive material frem some or all regulatory controls. This broad policy, the subject of the enclosed advance notice (Enclosure 2), would apply not only to BRC waste disposals but also to other decisions which would allow licensed radioactive material to be released to the environment or to the general public. Thus, the policy would also provide the basis for decommissioning decisions involving the release of lands structures, or recycled materials for unrestricted use as well as decisIonsregardingconsumerproductexemptions. We believe the nation's best I
interests would be served by a policy that establishes a consistent risk framework within which exemption decisions can be made with assurance that human health and the environment are protected. Such a policy would also contribute to the focusing of our limited national resources on those risks with greatest potential impact on public health and safety.
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The Honorable Bill Schuette 2
l In further addressing Mr. Ostrander's concerns regarding potential BRC l
waste disposals, I would point out that any LLW considered to be "below regulatory concern" under the provisions of Pub. L.99-240 would only involve In fact the level materials with the lowest levels of radioactivity content.
ofradioactivityforsomepotentialBRCwastesmaybesuchasmallIractionof natural background radiation that it may not be readily detectable.
It may be also helpful to summarize the typical exposures which we all routinely receive from a variety of sources of radiation. These exposures occur from radiation that is natural in origin as well as from sources which involve man-made uses of radioactive material, in total, as estimated by the National Council onRadiationProtectionandMeasurements(NCRPReportNo.93),theeffective dose equivalent received by an average Individual in the United States opulation is about 360 millirem per year. Of this total, over 83 percent p(about 300 millirem per year) is a result of natural sources, including radon and its decay products, while medical exposures such as x-rays when averaged over the U. S. population, contribute an estimated 15 percent (53 millirem per year). Other man-made sources, including nuclear fallout, contribute the remaining 1 to 2 percent of the total exposure.
The remaining 1 to 2 percent also includes the contribution from nuclear power plant effluents.
I am presenting this total exposure " picture" to provide a perspective on the 1ypothetical risks which may be associated with potential BRC waste disposal practices. This perspective is one of several t1at the Commission believes are relevant to its decisions involving regulatory resource allocations to control the potential radiological risks associated with the use of radioactive materials, in closing, I want to assure you that we take our mandate to protect the health and safety of the public very seriously.
As a result, the concerns expressed by your constituent are among those that we must carefully consider and address as we carry out our regulatory mission.
Sincerely,
/
4 Ja es M. To or (ecutive D rector for Operations
Enclosures:
- 1. Final Policy (51 FR 30839) 2.FederalRegister(53FR49886)
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I C?ngt00Cman Bill Schu'3tto 190g N9pM l
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,Whohington, D.C.
20515 March 9,1990 N
Rep. De)e Kildee US. House of Representetives g
4 Washington, DC 2055 W6 f
Deer Mr. Kildee I am writing to express my concern end support for severalitems that meg effect the well-being of my f amily, friends, and neighbors.
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I was eiermed to learn that the Nucleer Regulatory Commission will soon reclessify J
e' certain low level redoactive weste. They will be listed es 'Below Regulatory Concern", ellowing industry to desposed of them like evergoey trash This 15 unacceptable. Pleese do something to protect the people from this radioactive tresh I em elso concerned about our ozone being depleted by the use of the widely used chemicel, chloroflourocarbort I am sure you elready know that each atom of chlorine that reaches the ozone destroys about 100,000 molecules of our precious orone, kk
\\ pill would rapidly phase out mejor ozone depleting chemicals [C Please, help us by supporting the Stretospheric Ozone Protection Act (HR. 2699). This poduction cf HCFCs, and create the Sefe Alternettve Proyam to ensure that replacement substences are not toxic.
I would also like to ask you to support Rep. Wayne Owen's House resolution RJR 418 6u denouncing the Antarctic minerals treaty and celling for strong environmentel D.g 9'/ delicate ecosystem is well protected.d$ protection of the Anter?t
,g Lestly, I would like to ask you to support the Floride Keys Nationel Marine Sanctuary Act [HR. 3719) We need to keep deep-draf t ships from crossing the largest corel s
y p' reef ecosystem in the United States. Late lest year, three shes in three weeks, ran eground in these reefs. This must be stopped I would like to thenk you for taking the time to consider these concerns that are very important to my fcmily endi Since e fili, W t ervin P. Ostrander 4200 S. State Pd Durand, MI 48429 Pnnted on 100% recycled peper
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