ML20151Q796

Informs That Chairman Desires More Specific Comment on Encl Version of Reply Re HR 8119

ML20151Q796
Person / Time
Issue date:	10/31/1980
From:	Jennifer Davis NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
To:	Martin J NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
References
TASK-TF, TASK-URFO NUDOCS 9808250319
Download: ML20151Q796 (6)

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October 31, 1980 1

NOTE T0:' J. B. Martin-FROM:

John G. Davis

SUBJECT:

' COMMENTS ON H.R. 8119--SURVEY OF PAST OCEAN DUMPING OF RADIOACTIVE j

MATERIAL.

1 FC (since it handled the' testimony and had worked) on the sea disposal issue originally comments on the subject bill. A portion of the NMSS proposed comment recommended that the waste category definitions of the bill be con-sistent with current proposed definitions.

~ O The, Chairman desired more specific comment (see the comments on the attached version of the reply).

From discussions with you it appears that the Chairman's desire to. define waste by concentration is not a proper nor desired approach.

Since " waste categorization" falls under your purview, please see if you can devise an expression of the Chairman's concerns (or other appropriate expression) concerning this.-

I believe Cunningham has the background information on this. I will appreciate priority attention.

dh71btl John'G. Davis

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y WASHINGTON. D. I:. 20G05 L2 October 29, 1980 OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY Tom:

Per our conversation, attached is the Chairman's comment on the proposed response to. Rep. Ashley's request for NRC connent on H.R. 8119.

As I stated, and based on my conversation with the Chairman, there are three staf f options:

1) provide a concentration figure to delineate between high-and low-level wat;tes;

2) provide a paragraph for inclusion into the proposed response which addresses staff's efforts to formulate a concentration figure; or

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3) ' recommend that the second paragraph of the proposed response be deleted but still inform the Chairman /

Comissioneis of what staff is doing to formulate a concentration figure.

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.7 The Honorable Thomas L. Ashley

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Acting Chairman Comittee on Merchant Marine &

Fisheries United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C.

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Dear Mr. Chairman:

This is in response to the Comittee's request for the Nuclear Regulatory Comis-sion's (HRC) views on H.R. 8119, a bill to reauire the Secretary of Comerce to em undertake a study to determine the effects of certain past ocean dumping of radio-V active wastes.

records of the ocean disposal of radioactive waste.Section 203(f)(2)M would di The NRC will be glad to assist predecessor agency, the Atomic Energy Comission (AEC).the Secr Those records are not of ocean disposal by unlicensed AEC contractors. complete, however, be

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that Section 203(f)(2)M be amended to include DOE.Accordingly, the NRC rec % e A y ~ p t J,J.* b.weite.*.wt.It u.r} a w

Mtb the-cer-c".t proposed dt,ir.it-ions-ef rcdictctivHeMe.The NRC also

ke. f t cemisterg Hign-level radioactive waste usually refers to spent nuclear fuel or the products of nuclear fuel repro-cessing.dwpgr, the legislative history of this bill indicates that the term H

high-leveT containing[wasteisnotintendedtorefertothesematerialsbuttomate material considered low-level waste.

126 Ceng. Rec. H 8901 (Sep ember 1 To avoid potential confusion the Comission recomends that the rYem;6,1980).

(7hich-level radioactive waste be replaced by the phrase "materiais contaminated j

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T with high concentrations of/ radioactive elements.

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k Thank you'for this opportu$ity to provide the Comi::sfon's views on these catters.

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j Sincerely, a h no M(t)(i)

John F. Ahearne u

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w ar vini; em IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES sp...i.t.t.i. M..m.,5... .y. SEPTEMBER 16,1980 '.!V

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IIF Mr..LVDERSON of California introduced the following bill; which was referred. nd joimir to the Committees on Merchant Marine and Fisheries and Science and n + in:u um a.u Technology .nrc unut 'hiih5CN' NDinnu.

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iiiii ~' O 1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-4.i.: un: 2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

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