ML20062D666

Responds to to D Rathbun Re Investigation of Disposal of LLW in worked-out U Mines.Nrc Has No Direct Role in Selecting Actual Disposal Methods or Sites for LLW

ML20062D666
Person / Time
Issue date:	11/02/1990
From:	Taylor J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:	Upton F HOUSE OF REP.
References
REF-WM-3, RTR-NUREG-CR-0680, RTR-NUREG-CR-680 CCS, NUDOCS 9011150055
Download: ML20062D666 (2)

Text

.

Sif>

4 f

%,,s..

9@Q*

UNITED sT ATEs k

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

?

F<

n-wAsmNOTON, D, C. 20665 x ** w,l-

[F November' 2,1990

?

The Honorable Fred Upton i

United States House of Representatives.

~ ~ Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman Upton:

n I v responding to your September 10, 1990, letter to Mr. Dennis Rathbun,

('

which forwards a concern of Mr. George Minert of South Haven,-Michigan.

In his letter to you, Mr. Minert asked whether the disposal of low-level i

radioactive waste (LLW) in worked-out uranium mines has ever been y

investigated.1 Mined cavities, which could include abandoned uranium mines, were investigated by the U.S.- Nuclear Regulatory Comission (NRC) in developing health and safe ll 1

regulations for'LLW. LIn a report entitled "E"aluation of Alternative Methods L

-l

..:for the Disposal of Low-Level Radioactive Wastes," (NUREG/CR-0680 enclosed),

NRC contractor examined:various methods of LLW disposal,' including' shallow and disposal in land burial,Labandoned mines, new mines, ocean dumping,litical, and economic Technical, sociopo engineered structures among others. factors were examined and assigned w

+

Mined

'Near-surfaceidisposal was found to be a more favorable alternative.

cavities were also found to be viable, but somewhat less favorable,' given the evaluation factors used.c finding suitable abandoned mines.is also difficult.

Transportation'of the wastes dominated the comparison am The biggest' C

near the sources of the waste were found-to be highly desirable.

l disadvantage of abandoned minescin'the Western U.S., where most are, was; transportation costs.

Table 4.5 on page 110 contains a y

uthe alternatives)can'be found in the report.

g

. summary of=the results.

j LAs a result of-this study, NRC promulgated regulations in'10 CFR Part 61Section~61.

(copy enclosed),'which apply to any method'of land disposal.

of-Part 61 indicates that while the technical requireme earth,approximately.30* meters)therequirementsmaybeadequatefordisposal i

Where the_ technical requirements for near

'at depths greater than 30 meters.' surface disposal ~ are not applicable'for bur Part 61 Subpart D have been reserved for regulation concerning alternate

'f L*

b methods of land disposal.:

/o HRC has no direct role in selecting the actual disposal methods or sites for LLW. 'That responsibility:has been assigned to the States s

i

-under the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act (LLRWPAA)

The States consider.a number of factors in selecting a of 1985.~

particular site and method for disposal including cost, publ Wm-3 l,

/

9011150055 901102 Y$ fp PDR WASTE L L N,

The Honorable Fred Upton and safety, licensability, and availability of a particular type of site within the State. Thus far, given all these considerations, States have chosen to focus on near-surfe.ce disposal techniques, even though other land-disposal nethods could be licensed by NRC. Only one State, New York, is investigating a mined cavity (not a uranium mine) at this time.

I trust I have responded to your constituent's concern.

Sincerely, Original Signed gy, 3 M F @flMylor Executive Director for Operations

Enclosures:

1.

NUREG/CR-0680 2.

10 CFR Part 61 1

l.

l Distribution:(EDO5835)CentralFile NMSS r/f EDO 5835 RBangart JGreeves JAustin JSurmeier PLohaus DMorris,EDO Dir, r/f EDO r/f CJenkins t/f LLWM t/f HThompson JTaylor SECY MFliegel GGnugnoli PDR YES X

TCombs,GPA/CA DRathbun OGC LLOB r/f PDR NO Category:

Proprietary or CF Only

-ACHW YES-X NO

• See Previous Concurrence SUBJECT AB3 TRACT: LETTER TEDM CONSTITUENT CONCERNING BURIAL OF LON LEVEL NUCLEAR WASTE OFC :LLOB*

LLOB*

LLOB*

GPA*

0GC*

TEDITOR* :LLWM*

NAME:JShaffner/jj :JKennedy

PLohaus

TCombs

RFonner

EKraus

JGreeves DATE:09/21/90

09/24/90

09/24/90

09/24/90

10/19/90 :09/24/90 :09/24/90

![I.[S. I.........[I!!*......... [$$!!. __..[I!$........[! p f.....__ EA. _______

l l

NAME:RBangart

GArlotto

RBernero

HTl on

JTaylor DATE:10/17/90'

09/25/90

10/19/90

g/ /90

/(j (J[/90 l

M/F.UPTON/9/19 0FFICIAL RECORD COPY l