ML20150D835
| ML20150D835 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/08/1988 |
| From: | Zech L NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Hecht C SENATE |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8803250164 | |
| Download: ML20150D835 (2) | |
Text
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sa atam*o, UNITED STATES
'g NUCLE AR REGULATORY COMMISSION j
WASHINGTON D. C. 20555 g
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%..... *d March 8, 1988 CHAIRMAN The Honorable Chic Hecht United States Senate
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Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Hecht:
l I am responding to your inquiry of February 2, 1988, regarding J
safety standards for disposal of spent nuclear fuel in a deep geologic repository.
You questioned whether the derivation of those standards assumed that plutonium would be removed from spent fuel (by reprocessing) before disposal and whether disposal of spent fuel containing plutonium would be consistent with the 10,000 year period for application of those standards.
The basic safety standards for disposal of high-level radioactive wastes and spent nuclear 'uel were promulgated by the U. S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The technical support for those standards states that "[s]ince reprocessing is not being pursued for commercial nuclear power applications, a radionuclide inventory that is equivalent to that associated with direct disposal of spent fuel has been assumed."
(See page 8-14 of j
Chapter 8 of EPA's "Background Information Document for Final Rule," enclosed.)
Thus, EPA did assume disposal of spent nuclear fuel, including plutonium, when developing its environmental radiation protection standards.
EPA also discussed the 10,000 year time period for application of its standards on page 8-4 of the Background Information Document and on page 38076 of the Federal Register notice which promulgated l
the standards (enclosed).
In EPA's view:
compliance with quantitative standards for a substantially longer period would have entailed considerably more uncertain calculations.
There was no intention to indicate that times beyond 10,000 years were unimportant, but the Agency felt that a disposal system capable of meeting the proposed containment requirements for 10,000 years would continue to protect people and the environment well beyond 10,000 years.
The NRC has also reviewed the question cf disposal of spent nuclear fuel without reprocessing in reaching its "Vaste Confidence Decision."
(See 49 FR 34658, enclosed.)
While recognizing that ".
there is evidence that the disposal of reprocessed high-level waste may pose fewer technical challenges 8803250164 880300 PDR COMMS NRCC CORRESPONDENCE PDR s
t
. than the disposal of spent fuel
" (49 FR 34670), the Commission found ".
. reasonable assurance that safe disposal of high level radioactive waste and spent fuel in a mined geologic repository is technically feasible."
The Commission also committed to ".
review its conclusions on waste confidence should significant end pertinent unexpected events occur, or at least every 5 years.
The Commission anticipates initiation of such a review within the next year.
I hope this information will be of assistance to you.
Sincerely, do U/.
Lando W.
Ze
,Jri
Enclosures:
- 1. Chapter 8 of EPA's "Background Information Document for Final Rule,"
EPA 520/1-85-023, August, 1985.
- 2. EPA's "Environmental Standards for the Management and Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel, High-Level and Transurenic Radioactive Wastes," 50 FR 38066, J
September 19, 1985.
3.
NRC's "Waste Confidence Decision,"
49 FR 34658, August 31, 1984.