ML20058M796
| ML20058M796 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 07/20/1990 |
| From: | Carr K NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Monaco C CORTLAND COUNTY, NY |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20058K836 | List: |
| References | |
| REF-PROJ-M-12 NUDOCS 9008130069 | |
| Download: ML20058M796 (2) | |
Text
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. UNITED STATES C
= NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION.
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WASHINGTON, o. C. 20066 s
July ~20, 1990 j
CHAIRMAN m
Ms'..Cindy Monaco u
.Cortland County Planning Department
'69 Contral Ave.
P.G. Box 5590 t
Cortland, New York' 13045
Dear Ms. Monaco:
L1'amiresponding _to your June 4,1990 letter, in which you l
- questioned the basis for the Commission's statement that it will not look favorably-(on long-term, on-site storage of low-level
~
radioactive waste LLW) beyond' January 1,11996.
In view-of your j
concerns,1 will briefly explain our intent in formulating our m
1
,. position on this matter.
The Commission's: statement reflects.the intent -of Congress in the a
J low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1985, which fencour_ ages States to take a>propriate actions-to ensure that Ddisposal capacity-is availa)1e by January 1, 1996.
The Commission,.;11ke the States, is responsible for carrying out'the provisions of'this law._ NRC approval'of long-term,
.on-site storage a's a substitute for develoament of new disposal capacity would clearly be~ inconsistent wit 1 the 1985 Act.
I want-to' emphasize that our statement applies.to'long-term storage <used as a means to avoid the clear intent of the law.
The Commission recognizes that licensees'need-to.have interim
.(short-term) storage capability while~ disposal capacity is being.
developed by the States, in the interest of protecting the
- public health and ' safety. and. maintaining occupational ex )osure as l-low as. reasonably achievable, however, we believe that t1e length E
Lof time that LLW.islplaced in storage.should be minimized.
Enclosed -for your information is an assessment prepared for the NRC by. the Brookhaven National Laboratory of technical problems
' attendant to the extended storage of LLW.
4 E
Lf The~Commissien will continue to follow.the progress of the States L
inLdeveloping new LLW disposal facilities.
We will work to
.res'olve emergin'g issues to help ensure a stable-regulatory framework consistent with safety and timely compliance with the 9008130069 900807 jEM PROJ PDC e
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. Ms~. Cindy.iMonaco 2
1 Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act of-1985.
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.The Commission.is confident (that LLW. disposal. facilities licensed 1
in'accordance with NRC's regulations in 10 CFR Part 61 or s--
compatibleLState--regulations will fully protect the public health and safety and-the environment.
I' hope.thes'e commentsiand the enclosed information clarify our.
position on this matter.
Sincerely.
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. 9-Kenneth M. Carr
Enclosure:
9 u
NUREG/CR-4062 cc:
E. Gleason-NY State-Liaison Officer l.
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