ML20056E546
| ML20056E546 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/13/1993 |
| From: | Moeller D NRC ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NUCLEAR WASTE (ACNW) |
| To: | Selin I, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| References | |
| NACNUCLE-S-0052, NACNUCLE-S-52, NUDOCS 9308240246 | |
| Download: ML20056E546 (5) | |
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ADVISORY COMMITTEE oN NUCLEAR WASTE PDR 8/(,/fy WASHINGTON. D.C. 20555 k...../
s, April 13, 1993 The Honorable Ivan Selin Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 i
Dear Chairman Selin:
FIFTY-SECOND MEETING OF THE ADVISORY
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
REPORT COMMITTEE-ON NUCLEAR WASTE, MARCH 24-25, 1993 March 24-25,.1993, held at 7920 Norfolk-During its 52nd meeting, i
Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland, the Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste
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discussed several matters and-completed the reports noted below.
I REPORTS t
ProDosed Rulemakino on Amendments to 10 CFR Part 60 Clarifyino the Recuirements for Assessment of Sitina Criteria (Report to l
e James M. Taylor, Executive Director for Operations, from Dade W. Moeller, Chairman, ACNW, dated March 31, 1993)
Source Term and Other Low-Level Waste Considerations (Report l
to Ja=ce M. Taylor, Executive Director for Operations,.from
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e Dade W. Moeller, Chairman, ACNW, dated March 31, 1993)
HIGHLIGHTS OF KEY ISSUES CONSIDERED BY THE COMMITTEE 1.
Status of the State of Illinois Low-Level Radioactive Waste (LLW) Disposal Facility i
The Committee was briefed by representatives of the Illinois l
of Nuclear Safety on the hearings before the l
Department Illinois Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility Siting Commission and the reasons surrounding the Siting Commission's rejection of a proposed LLW disposal site near Martinsville in l
Clark County, Illinois. The Committee was also briefed on the recently passed legislation that repeals the existing statuto-j ry siting criteria'and creates a new LLW siting process.
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This briefing was for information only.
No action was taken j
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by-the Committee.-
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April 13, 1993 2
The Honorable Ivan.Selin 2.
ProDosed Environmental Protection Acency Standards for and Hich-Level Radioactive Waste Discosal of Transuranic (TRU) at Sites Other than Yucca Mountain (HLW)
The Committee was briefed by members of the Office of Nuclear (NMSS) staff on NRC comments Material Safety and Safeguards prepared for transmittal to the EPA on the proposed amend would apply to all transuranic waste and HLW disposal facili-to the ties other than Yucca Mountain, Nevada.
On the basis of the discussions with representatives of the NMSS staff and review of the supporting documents, the Although Committee agreed with the proposed staff comments.
the Committee recognized that a more thorough review of the Background Information Document (BID) is still in progress and additional comments on the BID may be proposed later, the Committee believed that the comments prepared to date have merit and, therefore, should be transmitted to the EPA for its The Committee so informed the staff consideration.
No other action was taken by the Committee.
representatives.
3.
State Radiation Control Procram The Committee was briefed by representatives of the NRC Office of State Programs on its recent oversight reviews of the radiation control programs in several states, including Iowa and Rhode Island.
The staff also discussed their role in assistance with technical expertise to the providingConference of Radiation Control Program Directors, Inc. in its reviews requested by various states of state radiation The Alaska radiation control program protection programs.
review was discussed in some detail.
No action was taken
~
This briefing was for information only.
l by the committee.
Proposed Amendments to 10 CFR Part 60 Clarifvino the Recuire-i 4.
ments for Assessment of Sitina Criteria The Committee was briefed by representatives of the Division of High-Level Waste Management on the proposed rulemaking to The NRC clarify the siting requirements in 10 CFR Part 60.
staff discussed the proposed rulemaking that is expected to (the meaning of "ade-reduce three regulatory uncertainties quately investigated", the meaning of " adequately evaluated",
of siting criteria to performance relationship and the These regulatory uncertainties were identified objectives).
through the staff's systematic regulatory analysis program.
The Committee endorsed issuance of the proposed amendments for 1
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i April 13, 1993 3
The Honorable Ivan Selin A report was prepared and issued by the public comment.
Committee as noted above.
Source Term Low-Level Radioactive Waste DisDosal Facility 5.
a working group met with the three LLW On March 23-24, 1993, disposal f acility operators, representatives from four states, and other organizations, including INEL, EPRI, and the LLW Forum, to obtain information on the sources, quanti-the NRC, The working ties and characteristics of LLW being generated.for waste volume reduct group discussed methodssource term data for site performance relevance of currentAs a result of this working group meeting and full Committee meeting, the assessments.
further discussions during the Committee prepared and issued a report on source term and other LLW considerations.
ACNW Future Activities 6.
The Committee and staff continued planning for their site l
visit on June 23-24, 1993, to the Whiteshell Nuclear e
Research Laboratories and the Underground Research t
Laboratory, located in Pinawa, Manitoba, Canada.
This site visit will be in lieu of a June Committee meeting.
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The Committee deferred until the 54th ACNW meeting the i
proposed briefing on decommissioning plans for the FortThis will be c e
St. Vrain Nuclear Power Plant.
with a briefing of the decommissioning plans for the Shoreham plant.
l As a result of the presentation given during the 52nd meeting on the proposed Martinsville,
l site experience, the Committee agreed to
' disposalschedule a working group meeting that will examine past radioactive waste facility siting and l
experience inThe working group will focus on technical operations.
and regulatory deficiencies.
The appendix summarizes the proposed items endorsed by the 1993, and future Committee for the 53rd ACNW Meeting, May 19-20, Working Group meetings.
Sincerely, Dade W. Moeller Chairman
APPENDIX FUTURE SCHEDULE Selected members and staff will attend the April 26-30, 1993 4th Annual International High-Level Rad' oactive Waste Management Conference and Exposition, Las Vegas, Nevada.
53rd ACNW Committee Meeting May 19-20, 1993 (Tentative Schedule)
The Committee will Revised Draft HLW Research Procram P14D review and comment on the revised Draft HLW Research Program Plan, NUREG-1406, and associated technical assistance.
The Committee will pOE Site Characterization Procress Reoorts be briefed by the NRC staff on NRC's responses and follow-up to the DOE Site Characterization Progress Reports for the proposed Yucca Mountain repository.
The Committee will also discuss the revised l
procedures for evaluating the DOE study plans.
The Committee will be briefed i
Systematic Reaulatory Analysis on the current status of the Systematic Regulatory Analysis, conducted by the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses, and resulting from this initiative, including technical i
products assistance efforts and the development of the License Application Review Plan.
The Committee will discuss an NRC staff Standard Review Plan Standard Review Plan for DOE Study Plans.
Standard Review Plan for the Review of Remedial Action of Inactive The Committee will be briefed by the NRC Mill Tailinas Sites staff on.a Standard Review Plan for the Review of Remedial Action of Inactive Mill Tailings Sites Under Title I of the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act, Revision 1.
The Committee will discuss anticipated l
Committee Activities and proposed Committee activities, future meeting agenda, and as appropriate.
Also, the members will organizational matters, discuss matters and specific issues that were not completed during previous meetings.
Selected members and staff plan to visit the 1993 June 23-24, Canadian Research Laboratories (Whiteshell and Underground Research l
Laboratories), Pinawa, Manitoba Province, Canada.
Working Group Meetings Lessons Learned in HLW and LLW Disposal Procrams, (July 20, 1993, tentative), 7920 Norfolk Avenue, Bethesda, MD (Howard Larson)
The Working Group will examine past experience in radioactive waste facility siting and operations.
Lessons learned will be sought from past experiences associated with LLW facility siting and operation as well as current efforts to site new LLW facilities.
The Experience in the HLW siting process will also be examined.
Working Group will focus on technical and regulatory deficiencies.
of the Unsaturated Zone Flow and Transport Characterization (Date to be determined), 7920 Norfolk Avenue, Bethesda, Procerties, The Working Group will examine the current MD, (Lynn Deering) l understanding of processes controlling matrix and fracture flow in the unsaturated zone at Yucca Mountain, existing approaches to J
model fracture flow in the unsaturated zone, insights gained from assessment activities regarding the sensitivity of performance infiltration and other parameters and assumptions, ongoing 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 The Avenue, Bethesda, MD (Giorgio Gnugnoli/Lynn Deering) and the degree of reliance Working Group will review the role of, that should be placed on, engineered versus natural barriers within an HLW geologic repository.
Use of Fractals for Fluid Flow at Yucca Mountain, (Date to be The Working Group will determined), Bethesda, MD (Lynn Deering) 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 DOE is consider-surf aces-can be simulated by the use of fractals.
ing the use of this approach in its study plan on fluid flow in unsaturated fractured rock systems.
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