ML20113F034
| ML20113F034 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/21/2020 |
| From: | Maurice Heath Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards |
| To: | Stephen Dembek, Marlayna Vaaler Doell, Adam Schwartzman, Melanie Wong Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards |
| M DOELL | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20113F032 | List: |
| References | |
| NRC-2018-0026 | |
| Download: ML20113F034 (2) | |
Text
1 Manley, Eileen From:
Heath, Maurice Sent:
Tuesday, April 21, 2020 4:52 PM To:
Doell, Marlayna; Wong, Melanie; Schwartzman, Adam; Dembek, Stephen
Subject:
FW: RE: Nuclear Regulatory Commission - Proposed interpretive rule related to very low-level radioactive waste disposal Attachments:
NRC VLLW Scoping Study FR Notice 2.14.18.pdf; VLLW Letter-Final to NRC Scoping Study.doc ReceivedfromSouthwestCompactafewminutesago.
From:KathyDavis<kathydavis@swllrwcc.org>
Sent:Tuesday,April21,20204:32PM To:Heath,Maurice<Maurice.Heath@nrc.gov>;BrianGoretzki,ViceChairAZ<brian.goretzki@azdhs.gov>;'DalePatrick, CommissionerND'<dpatrick@nd.gov>;DonnaEarley,Chair<donna@donnaearley.com>;KathyDavis,Southwest Compact<kathydavis@swllrwcc.org>;NickEmme,AlternateCommissionerSD<nick.emme@state.sd.us>;Peter Baldridge,LegalCounsel<pbaldrid53@hotmail.com>;PeterBrierty,AlternateCommissionerforCA<pbrierty@me.com>
Cc:DonnaEarley,Chair<donna@donnalearley.com>;DanShrumLLWForum<dshrum@llwforum.org>;BrandonHurley, TXVTCompact<brandon.hurley@tllrwdcc.org>
Subject:
[External_Sender]RE:NuclearRegulatoryCommissionProposedinterpretiverulerelatedtoverylowlevel radioactivewastedisposal
ThankyouMaurice.IwillforwardthisofftomyCommissioners.WedidsendalettertotheNRCsometimeagowhen thisissuefirstcameup.Iwillattachit.IwellalsoforwardthistoDanShrum,ExecutiveDirectoroftheLLWForum.The ForumgrouphasbeendiscussingthissubjectinordertohavemeaningfulinputfromallthecountrysCompactsand Statesregardingthisrule.
AsyouremoveVLLWmaterialsandfeesfromtheauthorizedLLWdisposalfacility(WCS)locatedinTexas,youdo jeopardizethefinancialviabilityoftheoneandonlyLLWsitethatoffersB&CLLWdisposalforthecountry.Ofcourse,I understandWCSwouldliketooffertheoptiontosendmaterialstotheirRCRAsite.Thisoptionshouldbeconsidered andhowthisimpactsthebalanceofWCSoperationsvs.Texasfundingofthissitewhilecontinuingtoofferadequate protectiontothecitizensofTexas.ThiswouldalsoencourageUtilityGenerators/DecommissioningCompanies(as advocatedbyNEI)tosendmaterialstotheWCSRCRAfacilityconsideringitwillreducedisposalfeestobe spentfromtheirdecommissioningfundscertainlymajorfinancialconsiderationsforbothCompanies.Yet, anotherconsiderationisadiscussionwiththeStateofTexasregardingtheirfinancialneedstoprotectthelongterm viabilityofthisLLWsiteandstillallowsensitivitytotheirWCSpartnersfinancialstability.
IbelieveCompactsviewthisfacilityasanationalassetforourCountry,andassuch,theNRCshouldseriouslyviewthe importanceofthislocationprovidingaservicetoallofourCountry.ThisLLWfacilityisacommitmenttoallour citizenstoprotecttheirhealthandsafetyaspromisedthrutheleadershipoftheNRC.Lossofkeepingthisfacilityopen couldresultinbreakingthatpromiseandallowB&Cwastetobestoredallacrossthiscountry.Thisfacilitywas specificallydevelopedandsupportedbyTexasandwasnotbuiltundertheassumptionofhavingtodivertaportionof LLWtoaRCRAsiteforanyfinancialbenefits overhealthandsafetybenefits.
Thankyouforallowingforanextensiononthecommentperiodduringthesedifficulttimes.OurCompactisconcerned aboutanumberofpotentialimpactsandhopeallotherCompactswillparticipatesubmittingcommentsonthis proposedinterpretiverule.IknowwehadhopedtohavetimetodiscussthisatourLLWForummeetingthatwas scheduledearlierthismonth,butduetotheunforeseencircumstances,we
2 havecancelledthisevent.Ournextmeetingisstillscheduledinthefallandwearebringingforwardthisissue.Hopeto seeyouthereinSanAntonio,Tx.
- Thankyou, KathyDavis ExecutiveDirector
Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2020 6:49 AM To: kathydavis@swllrwcc.org
Subject:
Nuclear Regulatory Commission - Proposed interpretive rule related to very low-level radioactive waste disposal
Kathy Good morning to you. I am Maurice Heath and I work in Division of Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery, and Waste Programs at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). On March 30, 2020 the NRC held a public meeting (via WebEx) to the discuss the Federal Register Notice announcing a proposed interpretive rule related to very low-level radioactive waste disposal and a request for public comment.
On April 9, 2020 NRC issued a FRN extending the comment period to July 20, 2020. The NRC will continue to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic to determine if an additional extension may be warranted.
I am reaching out to Low-Level Waste Compacts to bring attention to NRC FRNs, provided clarification on how this could impact Compacts, and answer any questions that may arise. We would like to hear from Compacts on any potential impacts from NRCs proposed interpretive rule.
If you are available I would like to discuss the NRCs FRN with you or any interested member at Southwestern Low-Level Waste Compact. Please let me know if you are interested.
Thank you for your time and have a great day!
MauriceHeath DivisionofDecommissioning,UraniumRecovery, andWastePrograms OfficeofNuclearMaterialSafetyandSafeguards U.S.NuclearRegulatoryCommission Washington,DC20555 OfficePhone:(301)4153137 Email:Maurice.Heath@nrc.gov