ML20147B404
| ML20147B404 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 09/28/1978 |
| From: | Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Neel J U.S. ECOLOGY, INC. (FORMERLY NUCLEAR ENGINEERING |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20147B409 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7810110008 | |
| Download: ML20147B404 (5) | |
Text
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C@M (.G M
, UNITED STATES
- [,dP "8,%'% .
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Q Q WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 5 E
%,..... Septeinber 28, 1978 P ;
OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN {
r Mr. ' James N. Neel, President t Nuclear Engineering Company, Inc. ' >
Suite 526 9200 Shelbyville Road P.O. Box 7246 Louisville, Kentucky 40207
Dear Mr. Ndel:
Thank you for your July 18, 1978 letter expressing concern about commercial !
low-level waste disposal end our letcers providing information to Congres-sional Committees and asking the Department of Energy (DOE) to develop a contingency plan.
You have misinterpreted the purpose and intent of our letters. Our letters were not intended to lead to the federalization of the commercial low-level waste disposal industry, but rather as an expression of concern and need for contingency planning regarding the question of adequate capacity for disposal of commercial low-level wastes. Our purpose in writing Dr. Schlesinger was:
-- To inform DOE of the present status regarding the commercial low-level waste disposal sites;
-- To raise the question of whether adequate regionally dis-tributed disposal capacity for the nation's commercial low-level wastes will be available at the currently oper-ating facilities; and ,
To express our opinion that standby capacity should be ;
available.
Dur letter to Dr. Schlesinger was not a direct expression of intent that I
j.
the DOE take over the disposal of commercial low-level wastes but that they be prepared to accept commercial wastes should the need arise. We L expect the industry to utilize effectively existing commercial disposal h
) capabilities and resources. With the present public concern and uncer- t tainties regarding institutional roles; development, operation, and
' ownership of disposal sites; cost; and regulatory standards and require-ments regarding low-level waste disposal, we belie ~e it prudent not to 7t1# 11WWW r
Mr. James N. Neel wait until crisis conditions develop in low-level waste disposal capacity before taking action. We realize, as noted in your letter, that many activities would need to be undertaken before the DOE could implement a policy to accept commercial wastes, if such action were to be necessary.
We believe that the DOE has national responsibilities to plan for low-level waste disposal capacity, and should consider the issue now and develop a contingency plan to address disposal options for low-level commercial wastes. You may wish to contact Dr. Goetz Oertel, Acting Director, Division of Waste Products, Office of Nuclear Waste Management, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, D. C. 20545, regarding their plans.
The question of Federal ownership and operation of the commercial burial sites is a matter being addressed by the Presidential Task Force on Nuclear Waste Management as part of its efforts to develop a national waste management program. We are a non-voting member of this Task Force. We plan to review the Task Force report expected later this year. We believe you should make your views on the capability of the nuclear industry to provide low-level waste disposal capacity known to this Task Force. You should contact Dr. John Deutch, Director, Office of Energy Research, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, D. C. 20545.
We appreciate your offer to provide further information on your position regarding this matter and commercial low-level waste disposal in general.
We would be pleased to receive your views.
Under separate cover we have sent you a copy of SECY-78-256, " Low-Level Waste Disposal Capacity," which provides background information in con-
- r. action with our letters to Dr. Schlesinger and Congress.
Sincerely,
'g~ j}[ -
oseph C Hendrie Chairman t
cc: Dr. James R. Schlesinger Dr. John M. Deutch Dr. Goetz Oertel l