ML20137K125
| ML20137K125 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/01/1997 |
| From: | Paperiello C NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Cotsworth E ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY |
| References | |
| REF-WM-3 NUDOCS 9704040245 | |
| Download: ML20137K125 (3) | |
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UNITED STATES j
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION f
WASHINoTON. D.C. 20555-0001 o
April 1, 1997 iy Ms. Elizabeth Cotsworth, Acting Director Office of Solid Waste U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 401 M Street, SW Washington, D.C. 20460
SUBJECT:
COMPARABILITY OF REGULATIONS FOR URANIUM MILL TAILINGS
Dear Ms. Cotsworth:
Section 84a(3) of the Atomic Energy Act (AEA) of 1954, as amended, requires that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's regulations for uranium mill tailings be comparable to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) t requirements that are applicable to possession, transfer, and disposal of.
similar wastes under the Solid Waste Disposal Act (SWDA).
Section 84a(3) also requires that EPA concur in NRC's determination of comparability.
In 1989, NRC completed its evaluation of the comparability of the relevant EPA and NRC regulatory programs and concluded that, with a few exceptions, overall there was comparability.
NRC transmitted its report to EPA on August 8, 1989, and October 11, 1989.
Since that time, we have not heard from EPA as to whether it agrees that NRC has made its regulations comparable with EPA's requirements.
Over the past seven years we have discussed this issue with EPA management and staff from the Office of Radiation Programs.
On December 20, 1996, we met with representatives from the Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (ORIA) and the Office of Solid Waste in Crystal City to discuss the comparability issue.
At the meeting, both agencies concluded that the effort required to address the comparabi..ty issue would not be justified by the benefits to be derived and it would not be a productive use of resources to pursue action on comparability at this time.
I We see no need to revise NRC regulations at this time for purposes of comparability in accordance with Section 84a(3).
Since NRC's 1989 evaluation, the regulation of uranium mill tailings has continued with no significant health, safety, or environmental problems identified as attributable to the NRC regulatory framework.
NRC's regulation of mill tailings reclamation has been closely coordinated with representatives of ORIA.
In addition, a limited review of the existing regulations has not identified any gaps in what is
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needed to protect public health and safety.
Therefore, the purpose of this O
letter is to document the agreement reached by NRC and EPA that no additional Mk' work on the comparability of'NRC mill tailings regulations to the SWDA will be pursued.
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9704040245 970401 hI PDR WASTE x
WM-3 PDR RETURN TO REGULATORY CENTRAL. FILES 9 7#
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~E. Cotsworth 2
April'1, 1997 If you have any questions please call me at (301) 415-7800 or Joseph J.
Holonich, Chief, Uranium Recovery Branch, at (301) 415-7238.
Sincerely, (Original' signed by)~
Carl J. Paperiello, Director Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards cc:
R. Travoto, EPA G. Bonnano, EPA L. Weinstock, EPA V. Housman, EPA J. Rosenberg, EPA DISTRIBUTION:
K ; FILE CENTERt PUBLIC DWM r/f MBell NMSS D0 r/f JAustin CCain, RIV DGillen JHickey NMSS r/f CAbrams MFederline URB r/f CNWRA ACNW DOCUMENT NAME:
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- SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE CP/M00 FED /mRCH 31,1M 0FC URB
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NMSS/2)r d NAME MFliegel JHolonich JGreeves CPahr[ello DATE 03/26/97 03/26/97' 03/28/97 f/[/97 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY k
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.E. Cotsworth 2
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If you have any questions please call me at (301) 415-7800 or Joseph J.
-l Holonich, Chief, Uranium Recovery Branch,.at (301) 415-7238.
i Sincerely, j
l Carl J. Paperiello, Director office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards j
cc:
R. Travoto, EPA G. Bonnano, EPA L. Weinstock, EPA j
V. Housman, EPA l
J. Rosenberg, EPA i
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i DISTRIBUTION:
FILE CENTER PUBLIC DWM r/f MBell NMSS D0 r/f JAustin CCain, RIV DGillen JHickey NMSS r/f CAbrams MFederline URB r/f CNWRA ACNW DOCUMENT NAME:
S:\\DWM\\ URB \\MHF\\ COMP 84A3. EPA 0FC URB S
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