ML20056E593
| ML20056E593 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/09/1992 |
| From: | Fraley R NRC ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NUCLEAR WASTE (ACNW) |
| To: | Taylor J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| References | |
| NACNUCLE, NUDOCS 9308240311 | |
| Download: ML20056E593 (8) | |
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December 9, 1992 MEMORANDUM FOR:
James M.
Taylor Executive Director for Operations
/
FROM:
.a Executive Director, ACN
SUBJECT:
48TH ACNW MEETING FOLLOW-UP ITEMS Based on discussions regarding methods for improving implementation and follow-up of ACNW recommendations, a summary of " Actions, Agreements, Assignments, and Requests" made during each ACNW meeting is sent to your office following each meeting.
Attached is a summary of the " Actions, Agreements, Assignments, and Requests" made at the 48th ACNW meeting, November 19-20, 1992, that deal with requests made of the NRC staff or matters that are pertinent to NRC staff activities.
Attachment:
As stated cc:
H.
L.
Thompson, EDO J.
L.
Blaha, EDO D. Martin, OCM/IS S.
M.
Coplan, OCM/KR J.
Kotra, OCM/JC R.
R.
Boyle, OCM/FR K. Whitfield, OCM/GD S.
J.
Chilk, SECY E.
L. Jordan, AEOD R. M.
Bernero, NMSS T.
E.
Murley, NRR E.
S.
Beckjord, RES G.
Sege, RES A.
L.
Eiss, NMSS H.
Pastis, NRR D.
M.
Crutchfield, NRR R.
H. Vollmer, OPP
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M ACTIONS, AGREEMENTS, ASSIGNMENTS, AND REQUESTS 48TH ACNW MEETING NOVEMBER 19-20, 1992 During its 48th meeting, November 19-20, 1992, held at 7920 Norfolk Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland, the Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste discussed several matters and completed the reports and memorandum noted below.
REPORTS Staff Technical Position on Consideration of Fault Displace-e ment Hazards in Geologic Repository Desian (Report to you, dated November 24, 1992)
Sionificant Issues in the Hich-Level Waste Repository Procram e
(Report to Chairman Selin, dated December 1, 1992)
MEMORANDUM e
ACNW Meetina Dates for Calendar Year 1993 (Memorandum to Listed Addressees from Raymond F.
Fraley, dated November 27, 1992)
HIGHLIGHTS OF KEY ISSUES CONSIDERED BY THE COMMITTEE 1.
Meetina with the Director General of the British Nuclear Forum The Committee met with the Director General of the British Muclear
- Forum, Dr.
John
- Gittus, and Public Relations Executive, Ms.
Jane Mullins, to discuss items of mutual interest.
Ms.
Mullins briefed the Committee on the British Nuclear Forum's public information program which is used to bring about greater public understanding of nuclear power and waste management.
Following this exchange, Dr. Moeller and other members of the Committee briefed Dr. Gittus and Ms. Mullins on the key high-and low-level waste, issues that have been addressed by the Committee over the past four years.
This briefing was for information only.
No action was taken l
by the Committee.
2.
Siting of a Low-Level Radioactive Waste Facility The Committee was briefed by Dr.
David Brown, State of Connecticut Department of Health Services, on the role and i
perspectives of a State Department of Health regarding the siting of a
low-level radioactive waste (LLW) disposal facility.
Also discussed was the role of the NRC in providing j
4 l
l 48th.ACNW Meeting 2
November 19-20, 1992 support to the state.
Mr. Joe Amarello, State of Connecticut Hazardous Waste Management Service, and Dr. Ivan White, an independent consultant, provided additional information during the discussion period.
This briefing was for information only.
No action was taken by the Committee.
3.
Draf t Staf f Technical Position on Fault Displacement Hazards The Committee was briefed by the NRC staff on a draft Staff Technical Position on Consideration of Fault Displacement j
Hazards in Geologic Repository Design.
The Committee had no objection to the staff's proposal to issue this technical position for public comment.
A report was sent to you on November 24, 1992.
The Committee will review the final draft of this technical position after reconciliation of public comments by the NRC staff.
4.
Ure of the Collective Dose Concent in the Licensing of a High__
Level Waste Repository The Committee discussed the proposed National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) guidelines regarding the application of the collective dose concept in the arena of licensing an HLW repository.
The Committee determined that its past recommendations were not inconsistent with the proposed NCRP guidelines.
No action was taken by the Committee.
5.
Chairman's Report on the Iroact of Lona-Range Climate Chance in the Area of the Southern Basin and Rance Working Group Meetina i
The Committee heard a report from Dr. Hinze, Chairman of the Working Group on the Impact of Long-Range Climate Change in l
the Area of the Southern Basin and Range, regarding a Working Group meeting held November 18, 1992.
l Dr. Pomeroy suggested that the NRC staff should follow this subject area closely.
Dr. Hinze recommended that the Commit-tee consider scheduling a session or working group meeting on unsaturated zone hydrology and the relationship between precipitation, infiltration, and flux through the vadose zone.
The Committee agreed to consider a working group meeting in April or May 1993.
The Committee prepared a draft report on the impact of long-range climate change in the southern Grcat Basin.
Discussions
14 I
48th ACNW Meeting 3
November 19-20, 1992 on this draft report will continue during the 49th ACNW meeting, December 17-18, 1992.
6.
Enhanced Participatory Rulemakina Process on Radiological Criteria for Decommissionina, SECY-92-249 The Committee was briefed by the NRC staff on the final plan for the proposed enhanced participatory rulemaking process on radiological criteria for decommissioning NRC-licensed facilities.
The members expressed interest in attending one or more of the six regional workshops or the National workshop in Washington D.C.
as observers.
Subsequent to the meeting, the Committee was made aware of a draft position statement on
" standards for permissible residual radioactive contamination" that has been prepared by I
the Scientific and Public Issues Committee of the Health Physics Society. The Committee plans to review this statement during its deliberations on this issue.
No other action was i
taken by the Committee.
7.
lieetina with the Director, Office of Nuclear Materials Safety l
and Safeguards (NMSS)
The Committee was briefed by Mr. Robert M. Bernero, Director, NMSS, on the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and its potential i
implications to the NRC.
Items of note included, NRC's obligation to develop standards and certify compliance of existing gaseous diffusion plants on an annual basis, and the mandated National Academy of Sciences' (NAS) study to develop i
and recommend public health and safety standards for protecting the public from releases of radioactive materials in the repository at the Yucca Mountain site.
A repre-l sentative of Nye County, Nevada, expressed his views on the mandated NAS study.
This briefing was for information only.
No action was taken by the Committee.
8.
Results of the National Profile of Radioactive Mixed Wastes.
SECY-92-30_1 The Committee was briefed by the NRC and EPA staff on the recently completed national profile of mixed wastes.
The 1991-1992 survey was conducted by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and covered more than 1300 mixed waste generators.
This briefing was for information only.
No action was taken s
by the Committee.
4 48th ACNW Meeting 4
November 19-20, 1992 9.
Systems Analysis Accroach The Committee completed its deliberations on a
systems analysis approach to reviewing the overall high-level waste program.
The final report was sent to Chairman Selin on December 1, 1992.
10.
Election of ACNW Officers The Committee reelected Dr. Dade W. Moeller and Dr. Martin J.
Steindler to the positions of Chairman and Vice Chairman, respectively, for calendar year 1993.
11.
ACNW Future Activities e
The Committee selected the ACNW meeting dates for calendar year 1993.
The Committee agreed to hold two of these meetings away from Bethesda, Maryland.
These meetings will be planned to previde members and staff an opportunity to tour radioactive waste management sites and to hold discussions, open to the public on domestic visits, on issues pertinent to local waste management activities.
Candidate locations are the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Savannah River Laboratory, Fort St. Vrain Nuclear Power Plant (Decommissioning), and the Whitoshell Laboratories (Atomic Energy Limited of Canada) including the Canadian Underground Research Laboratory.
Further discussions will be held on the merits of visiting these sites during 1993.
The Committee agreed to schedule a working group meeting e
on February 5,
1993, to review three draft regulatory guides being developed in support of the revisions.to 10 CFR Part 20.
Dr. Moeller recommended that Dr. John Cooper, an HLW specialist from the National Radiological Protection Board, be invited to brief the Committee on the United Kingdom's safety guidance.
The members concurred.
Atomic Energy Limited of Canada invited members of the e
NRC staf f to visit the Whiteshell Laboratories as well as the Underground Research Laboratory on November 3-4, 1992.
Dr.
Moeller and Steindler expressed interest having an informal report from the NRC staff on their site visit.
Subsequent to this meeting, it was decided to reschedule the meeting with the Commission until February or March, 1993, to give the Committee an opportunity to join with
i 48th ACNW Meeting 5
November 19-20, 1992 the NRC staff in addressing the implications of some of the requirements in the Energy Policy Act of 1992.
Dr. Moeller requested that the Ctmmittee be provided with e
a summary report on the October 29,
- 1992, DOE /NRC Technical Exchange Meeting on the Application of Systems Engineering to an HLW Repository Program.
Appendix A summarizes the proposed items endorsed by the Committee for the 49th ACNW Meeting, December 17-18, 1992, and future Working Group meetings.
f 48th ACNW Meeting 6
i November 19-20, 1992 APPENDIX A.
FUTURE SCHEDULE 49th ACNW Committee Meeting December 17-18, 1992 (Tentative Schedule)
Site Characterization Analysis:
Obiection 1
(Open)
The Committee will be briefed by the NRC staff on the staff's recent i
decision relative to DOE's requested resolution of Site Character-ization Analysis Objection #1 (ESF Title I design control process).
Geological Cross-Section Balancina Activities (Open)
The Committee will be briefed by the NRC staff on the results of geological cross-section balancing activities.
Workino Group Chairman's Report on the Performance Assessment Workina Group meetina (Open)
The Committee will be briefed by i
the Working Group Chairman on a recent meeting on Performance Assessment in HLW.
DOE-Soonsored Technical Exchance on the Use of Expert Judament (Open)
The Committee will hear a report by an ACNW Fellow on the activities of the DOE-sponsored technical exchange on the use l
of expert judgment in licensing a high-level radioactive waste repository.
Committee Activities (Open/ Closed)
The Committee will discuss anticipated and proposed Committee activities, future meeting agenda, and organizational matters, as appropriate.
Also, the members will discuss matters and specific issues that were not completed during previous meetings.
.1 Working Group Meetings Performance Assessment in Hich-Level Radioactive Waste, December 16, 1992, 7920 Norfolk Avenue, Bethesda, MD (Giorgio Gnugnoli)
The Working Group will be briefed by DOE representatives on the status of the DOE's Total System Performance Assessment.
- Also, this Working Group will discuss the progress of Phase 2 and planning for future phases of the HLW Iterative Performance Assessment effort by NRC.
Requlatory Guides for Implementino Revisions to 10 CFR Part 20, February 5,
- 1993, 7920 Norfolk Avenue, Bethesda, MD, (Giorgio Gnugnoli)
The Working Group will meet in a joint meeting with
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the ACRS Occupational and Environmental Protection Systems l
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48th ACNW Meeting 7
November 19-20, 1992 i
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Subcommittee to review, discuss and make recommendations on three draft regulatory guides.
i Syneraistic Data Needs for Resolvina Volcanic and Tectonic Concerns at Yucca Mountain, (Date to be determined), 7920 Norfolk Avenue,.
Bethesda, MD (Howard Larson/Lynn Deering)
The Working Group i
will attempt to determine what data are necessary to resolve and/or move toward closure in the subject areas.
An area of focus will be how data should be integrated, including those related to heat i
flow, strain, geophysics, and seismic monitoring.
Another area of concentration will be to determine how and by whom those data will i
be analyzed.
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