ML20056E543

Summary of 920224-26 ACNW 51st Meeting in Bethesda,Md to Discuss Several Matters & Complete Listed Rept

ML20056E543
Person / Time
Issue date:	03/17/1993
From:	Moeller D NRC ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NUCLEAR WASTE (ACNW)
To:	Selin I, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
References
NACNUCLE-S-0051, NACNUCLE-S-51, NUDOCS 9308240239
Download: ML20056E543 (6)

Text

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UNITED STATES ACNWS-0051 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION c

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ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NUCLEAR WASTE PDR 38./93 o,

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20565

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i March 17, 1993 l

The Honorable Ivan Selin l

Chairman l

U.S.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission i

I Washington, D.C.

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SUMMARY

REPORT FIFTY-FIRST MEETING OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NUCLEAR WASTE, FEBRUARY 24-26, 1993 During its Sist meeting, February 24-26, 1993, held at 7920 Norfolk Avenue, Bethesda, MD, the Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste l

(ACNW) discussed several matters and completed the following report:

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Possible Imoacts of the Enerov Policy Act of 1992 on NRC Activities to Address Oncoina NRC Initiatives in the Hich-t Level Radioactive Waste Procram (Report to Chairman Ivan Selin from Dade W.

Moeller, Chairman, ACNW, dated March 3,

1993) i HIGHLIGHTS OF KEY ISSUES CONSIDERED BY THE COMMITTEE 1.

ZLssessment of the Flammability and Explosion Potential of Transuranic Waste The Commictee was briefed by Dr. Matthew Silva, New Mexico Environmental Evaluation Group, on eight incidents involving l

fires and explosions at U.S.

Department of Energy (DOE) l facilities during the transportation or handling of pyrophoric radionuclides, mixed radioactive wastes, and other volatile materials.

He concluded that, while these wastes were not i

compared against the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Waste Acceptance criteria or were not clearly identified as transuranic (TRU) waste, these types of accidents should be

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anticipated in the transportation, handling and emplacement of TRU waste for the WIPP site.

He stated that workers need to be aware of the potential hazards of working with these materials, and clear and consistent procedures should be in place and enforced to ensure adequate safety and to help prevent the future occurrence of such incidents before, 1

during, or after emplacement.

1 The members observed that these cited incidents occurred soon after the materials were placed in containers, usually less 9308240239 9303t7 03 l

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The Honorable Ivan Selin 2

March 17, 1993 l

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l than a week.

Since the waste materials going into the WIPP i

repository will have been in their containment drums for an extended period, the lessons learned from these incidents may j

not take on as much significance.

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This briefing was for information only.

No action was taken j

by the Committee.

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Acceotance of Scientific Evidence Based Primarily on Expert j

Judament 4

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The Committee was briefed by Mr. Donald Jose, J.D.

on the l

acceptance, in an adjudicatory review, of scientific evidence i

based primarily on expert judgment. He discussed the role and

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level of expert testimony in court-proceedings, the screening of scientific opinion testimony (Frye rule versus Federal j

Rules of Evidence), and what is " junk" science.

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This briefing was for information only.

No action was taken l

by the Committee.

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Possible Imoacts of the Enercy Policy Act of 1992 on NRC Activities to Address Oncoina NRC Initiatives in the Hiob-Level Radioactive Waste Procram l

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The Committee reviewed with the NRC staff possible impacts of the Energy Policy Act of 1992-on ongoing agency initiatives in 5

the HLW arena.

The Committee completed and issued a report l

that comments on the NRC staff's views and offers additional l

recommendations.-

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Gas-Phase Release of Radionuclides f* om Low-Level Radioactive Waste (LLW) Discosal Facilities The Committee was briefed by Dr.

Man-Sung Yim, Harvard University, on a computer model being developed for evaluating gas-phase radionuclide releases from LLW disposal facilities.

This briefing was for information only.

No action was taken i

by the Committee.

5.

Recent Chances to Reculations on the Conduct of Government Employees The Committee was briefed by Mr. John..Szabo, Office of-the-General Counsel, on the recent changes to the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch (includ-ing Part I of Executive Order 12674 and 5 CFR Part 2635) as they relate to special government employees.

4 The Honorable Ivan Selin 3

March 17, 1993 This briefing was for information only.

No action was taken by the Committee.

6.

Meetino with the Commissioners The committee met with the Commission to discuss items of mutual interest.

These included the ACNW reports on signifi-cant issues in the HLW repository program and the possible impacts of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (Section 801).

7 Clarification of a Previous Report The Committee issued a memorandum to Mr.

B.

Joe Youngblood, Director, Division of High-Level Waste Management, dated March 3,

1993, to clarify and offer additional comments on several items in the report to Chairman Selin on Issues Raised in the Energy Policy Act of 1992, Section 801 (dated February 5,

1993).

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ACNW Future Activities i

e The Committee agreed to cancel the Committee meeting scheduled for April 28-29, 1993, so that several members and staff can attend the 4th International High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference and Exposition on April 26-30, 1993, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Subject to the availability of resources, the ACNW staff i

e was asked to continue planning a June site visit to the Whiteshell Nuclear Research Laboratories and the Under-ground Research Laboratory, located in Pinawa, Manitoba,

Canada, The Committee requested that the ACNW staff reschedule e

the briefing on the decommissioning plans for the Fort St. Vrain Nuclear Power Plant (tentatively rescheduled I

for the ACNW meeting in May 1993) and the upcoming l

briefing on the Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant decommis-sioning.

Dr. Pomeroy requested that arrangements be made for him e

to meet with Commissioner Curtiss to discuss the role and i

level of expert testimony in court proceedings and other related items of mutual interest.

[A meeting has been tentatively scheduled for March 26, 1993.]

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The Honorable Ivan Selin 4

March 17, 1993 The appendix summarizes the proposed items endorsed by the Committee for the 52nd ACNW Meeting, March 24-25, 1993, and future Working Group neetings.

Sincerely, Dade W.

Moeller Chairman 1

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APPENDIX FUTURE SCHEDULE 52nd ACNW Committee Meeting March 24-25,1993 (Tentative Schedule)

Workina Groun Chairman's Report on Source Terms for LLW The Committee will hear a report from the Working Group Chairman on the recent meeting on source terms for LLW.

Reiection of an LLW Disposal Site The Committee will be briefed on the reasons surrounding the rejection of a proposed LLW disposal site by the LLW host State.

Representatives from the host State will participate.

NMSS and State Programs representatives will participate as deemed necessary.

State Radiation Control Procram The Committee will be briefed j

by representatives of the NRC Office of State Programs on its recent reviews of the radiation control programs in several states.

Rulemakina/ Clarification of Assessment Keouirements for Siting Criteria and Performance Obiectives The Committee will be briefed by represantatives of the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS), on rulemaking/ clarification of assessment requirements for siting criteria and performance objectives.

Committee Activities The Committee will discuss anticipated and proposed Committee activities, future meeting agenda, and j

organizational matters, as appropriate.

Also, the members will discuss matters and specific issues that were not completed during previous meetings.

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J Working Group Meetings Low-Level Radioactive Waste Discosal Facility Source Term, March 23, 1993, 7920 Norfolk Avenue, Bethesda, MD, The Working Group will meet with various groups to obtain information on the sources, quantities and characteristics of LLW being generated. The Working Group will review what percent of the waste is stored on-site by the generator as compared to that sent to disposal facilities.

Also, the Working Group will discuss methods for waste volume reduction and site performance assessment techniques including methods to ensure groundwater protection.

Reculatory Guides for Implementina Revisions to 10 CFR Part 20, March 26, 1993, 7920 Norfolk Avenue, Bethesda, MD, The ACNW Working Group and the ACRS Subcommittee on Occupational and Environmental Protection Systems will jointly review the following proposed final regulatory guides being developed for implementing the revised 10 CFR Part 20:

(1) DG-8006, " Control of Access to High and Very High Radiation Areas in Nuclear Power Plants," (2)

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DG-8009, " Interpretation of Bioassay Measurements," and (3) DG-

8013, "AIARA Radiation Protection Program for Effluents from Materials Facilities."

Characterization of the Unsaturated Zone Flow and Transoort ProDerties, May 1993, 7920 Norfolk Avenue, Bethesda, MD, The Working Group will examine the current understanding of processes controlling matrix and fracture-flow in the unsaturated zone at Yucca Mountain, existing approaches to model or bound fracture flow in the unsaturated

zone, insights gained from performance assessment activities regarding the sensitivity of infiltration and other parameters and assumptions, on-going site characterization studies, the relationship between performance assessment and site characterization activities, and significant data gaps.

Enaineered Barrier Systems, (Date to be determined), 7920 Norfolk Avenue, Bethesda, MD The Working Group will review the role of, and the degree of reliance that should be placed on engineered and natural barriers within an HLW geologic repository.

Use of Fractals for Fluid Flow at Yucca Mountain, (Date to be determined), Bethesda, MD The Working Group will examine the use of fractals in the development of conceptual and numerical models of fluid flow in unsaturated, fractured rock.

Studies show that the roughness characteristics of fracture surfaces can be simulated by the use of fractals.

DOE is considering the use of this approach in its study plan on fluid flow in unsaturated fractured rock systems.

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