ML20151C672

Forwards Comments Re Review of Rev 4 to DOE/RW-006 Concerning Draft Integrated Data Base Rept for 1988.Little Confidence Expressed in Citing Rept as Representing Commercial Disposal of Low Level Waste or U Mill Tailings

ML20151C672
Person / Time
Issue date:	07/14/1988
From:	Johnson T NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
To:	Altomere P NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
References
REF-WM-39 NUDOCS 8807220102
Download: ML20151C672 (6)

Text

i P'A NOTE =%L i I .Ws l Distribution: LLWM 88-126 Central File PDR LLRB r/f NMSS r/f GRoles TJohnson MBell PLohaus JGreeves JSurmeier MKnapp MFliegel DSollenberger MEMORANDUM FOR: Philip A. Altomere, Section Leader Systems Engineering Section Systems Engineering and Evaluation Branch, HLWM FROM: Timothy C. Johnson, Section Leader Special Projects Section Regulatory Branch, LLWM l

SUBJECT:

REVIEW 0F DRAFT DOE INTEGRATED DATA BASE REPORT FOR 1988 In response to your July 5 request, we have quickly reviewed portions of the I draf t DOE Integrated Data Base (IDB) report for 1988 (D0E/RW-006, Rev. 4). l Specifically, we reviewed those portions of Chapter 4 (Low-Level Waste) addressing commercial low-level waste disposal, as well as Chapter 5 l (CommercialUraniumMillTailings). Our comments are enclosed.  !

l We have little confidence in citing the report as representing commercial disposal of low-level waste or uranium mill tailings. This is mainly because ,

we have difficulty distinguishing listed values representing measured or l reported values from listed values representing projections and estimates. In some cases the presented information contains significant inaccuracies. We believe that to the extent possible, values through 1987 should be based on ,

measured or reported values and that all projections should be clearly labeled I as such.  !

l We helieve that the authors of the report can improve the usefulness of )

the annual reports by incorporating actual data on waste characteristics and disposed radionuclide inventories as obtained from the disposal site operators.

Copies of shipment manifests, plus computer summaries of the data in these I manifests, can be obtained (from site operators) for less than $50K for all l commercial disposal sites.

l Based on current resources, we do not plan to send an observer to the July 26 meeting in California.

Reviewers consisted of G. Roles (20595) and D. Sollenberger (20579).

o Timothy C. Johnson, Section Leader 3 Special Projects Section g@ Regulatory Branch, LLWM m

Enclosure:

@ Comments on draft D'0E/RW-0006, Rev. 4 /C

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l ID9COM LLWM Coments on the Commercial Low-Level Waste (Chapter 4) and Uranium Mill Tailings (Chapter 5) Portions of Draft DOE /RW-0006, Rev. 4 General Coments

1. We fi..d it difficult to distinguish between listed values that represent reported or measured data and values that represent projections.

Therefore, we have little confidence in citing the document as a source of information for disposal of low-level wastes and uranium mill tailings.

For example, Table 4.18 (p.167) presents volumes and radioactivity from disposed nonroutine wastes (activated metal wastes). Apparently, the  !

listed values are all based on projections. Has consideration been given 4 to annually confirming the previous year's projections using semi-annual I release reports or shipment information obtained from disposal site operators? We note that the activities listed in Table 4.18 for  ;

nonroutine wastes for 1986 and 1987 exceed the total activities disposed 1 in all comercial disposal sites during these years, l l

As another example, several tables in Chapter 4 indicate that the i radioactivity has been decayed "from year of addition." We are not sure I of all the assumptions but apparently, the "standard radionuclide j distribution" presented in Table A.8 was used. If this is the case, then l the listed decayed values do not reprcsent calculations based on l radionuclides actually reported as disposed in low-level waste sites, but l calculations based on applying the standard radionuclide distribution to i the listed waste volumes and activities.

as a third example, in several tables "thermal power" is presented. None of the listed values have been actually measured, although the reader is led to believe that data up to 1987 is accurate. All values are apparently based on projections. These projected, as opposed to measured or reported, values should be clearly referenced as such. In any case, we believe that "thermal power" can be safely delett.i.

In addition, we spot-checked the listed 1986 and 198/ low-level waste volumes and activities and observed inconsistencies and errors in a number of tables in Chapter 4 The observed errors and incons'stancies are noted in our specific coments. These errors and inconsistencies reduce our confidence in the other information presented in the repcrt.

We believe that to the extent possible, information presented through 1987 should represent data that has been actually reported or measured.

Projections beyond 1987 should be clearly indicated as such. We suggest that the authors of the annual report make more use of actual shipment records to 1cw-level waste disposal facilities. Copies of shipment records, plus computer sumaries of the information in the records, can be obtained from the disposal site operators for an nominal cost (less than L

IDBCOM

$50K/yr for all three sites). Using such data, actual reported volumes and radionuclide distributions could be presented.

2. Table S.2, "Status of Conventional Uranium Mill Sites at the End of 1987,"

contains a number of inaccuracies. We have enclosed a mark-up of this table for your information. The mark-up was prepared by Dr. D.

Sollenberger. Perhaps use of Reference 11 in Chapter 5 should be reconsidered.

3. In a number of tables in Chapter 4 (e.g., Tables 4.16,4.17,and4.18),a statement is made that the annual volume and radioactivity additions A 1987 ORNL document by Kibbey and De through 1986 are "rep (orted values."Reference 14 in Chapter 4). The title of this Paoli is referenced document, " A Compilation of the Electricity Generated and Low-Level Radioactive Wastes Shipped for Disposal by U.S. Nuclear Power Plants, 1959-1985," indicates that the reported values extend not to 1986, but to i 1985.

As a general question, how were the "reported values" compiled in this l reference? Was the data, for example, taken from semi-annual release '

reports submitted pursuant to Regulatory Guide 1.217 l

We would appreciate obtaining a copy of this report.  ;

i

4. We understand that the projections of wastes from nuclear power plants are i baseo on ratioing waste volumes to e'ectrical capacity. This approach has )

also been used by NRC contractors. More recent data, however, indicates l that such an approach may contain inaccuracies. We suggest that you l review the EPRI reports NP-3370 ("Identification of Radwaste Sources and Reduction Techniques," January 1984) and NP-5526 ("Radwaste Generation Survey Update," February 1988). These reports review the factors influencing waste generation rates at nuclear power plants and present a considerable amount of survey data.

Specific Connents

1. p. 135, Section 4.1 In the second paragraph, a statement is made that more than 17,000 licenses have been issued by NRC and the Agreement States. This value appears to be low. The 1986 NRC Annual Report (NUREG-1145, Volume 2) totals 9,100 NRC licenses and 14,000 licenses issued by 27 Agreement States.

2. p. '51, Table 4.2 The values for LLW volune and acti;ity for 1986 and 1987 are in error. In 1986, the total volume and activity disposed at the Richland, Beatty, and Barnwell commercial disposal sip r wss 51,100 m8 and 233,740 C1. In 1987, n

- I IDBCOM l l

l the total volume and activity disposed at .he Richland, Beatty, and Barnwell commercial disposal sites was 52,2t9 m3 and 259,500 C1. Also l note that the 1987 volune listed in Table 4.2 (p.151) contradicts those j listed in Table 4.13 (p. 162) and Table 4.14 (p. 163). The 1987 activity '

listed in Table 4.2 contradicts that listed in Table A 7 on p. 251.

3. pp. 164-169, Tables 4.15-4.20.

The volumes and activities listed in these tables should add to the totals l presented in Table 4.2 (p. 151). As noted above, Table 4.2 contains i errors for 1986 and 1987 (at least). This means that Tables 4.15 through 4.20 must also be corrected. We note that activities listed in Tables 4.15 (I/I waste) and 4.18 (nonroutine waste) either equal or exceed the l activities in all commercial low-level waste disposed during 1966 and i 1987. l l

3. p. 164, Table 4.15.

Footnote c appears to be inaccurate. Data for 1987 is similar to that for i 1986. The report authors apparently mean that 1986 data, not 1987 data, shows a "large decrease from previous ysars." )

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