ML20151S721

Provides Rept on Actions Completed Re Low Level Radwaste Policy Amend Act of 1985.Method Established for Disposal of Low Level Radwaste Other than Shallow Burial

ML20151S721
Person / Time
Issue date:	04/01/1988
From:	Stello V NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:	Sharp P HOUSE OF REP., ENERGY & COMMERCE
References
REF-WM-3 NUDOCS 8808160081
Download: ML20151S721 (3)

Text

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j I gg GP 3/22 DUP 2 The Honorable Philip R. Sharp, Chairman Subconnittee on Energy and Power Comittee on Energy and Comerce United States House of Representatives l

Washington, D.C.

20515 l

Dear Mr. Chairman:

Under the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1985 (LLRWPAA),

the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission (NRC) was assigned a number of responsibilities. This letter provides a resort on the actions we have completed to date, to fulfill those responst.1111 ties (authority citations are bracketed).

l 1.

The NRC has established standards and procedures and developed the l

technical capability for acting upon petitions to exempt specific waste l

streams from NRC regulation.

This was completed in August 1986, by publishing a Comission Policy Statement and staff implementation plan.

The procedures provide for expeditious determinatiuns and actions to exempt waste stieams found not to require NRC regulation.

[Section10(a) and(b))

2.

The NRC established procedures and developed the technical capability for processing licensing applications for low-level waste disposal facilities.

This was completed in January 1987, by two actions; (1) providing a "Standard Format and Content of a License Application for Low-level Radioactive Waste Disposal"; and (2) providing a "Standard Review Plan for the Review of a Liccase Application for a Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility." These procciures, to the extent practicable, provide hearing) within 15 months after receipt of en application.for completion of all proce

[Section9 3.

In consultation with States and other interested parties, the NRC has identified cethods, other than shallow land burial, for the disposal of low-level radioactive waste and issued technicai! guidance on licensing of these alternative disposal methods. This was completed in December 1986, by autlishing the Branch Technical Position, "Licensing of Alternative Met 1ods of Disposal of Low-Level Radioactive Waste."

LSection8(a)]

4.

The NRC has identified and sublished all relevant technical inforcation that must be subnitted to NRC to pursue an alternative disposal method, together with the technical requirements for licensing alternative disposal facilities. This was completed by the staff in January 1988, by revising the Standard Format and Content and Standard Review Plans to include detailed technical information on alternative disposal nethods.

[Section8(b)]

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o GP 3/22 DUP 2 Having ccopieted these major actions, the hRC's LLW management program is now focused on preparing to implement its other responsibilities under the LLRWPAA, which include making determinations on requests for emergency access (LLRWPAA Section 6), responding to petitions for waste streams below regulatory concern (LLRWPAA Section 10), and others.

The HRC progran is also continuing to provide assistance to the 13 regional compacts and host states, as they develop and license low-level radioactive waste disposal sitts, according to the tight LLRWPAA milestor,es.

I hope the information contained here is useful to you.

Should you have any questions or require further information, do not hesitate to call on re.

Sincerely, Victor Stello, Jr.

Executive Director for Operations cc: Rep. Carlos J. Mcorhead l

l DIS'RIBUTION:

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APR 0i goa GP 3/22 DUP 2 Having completed taese emjor actions, the NRC's LLW management program is now focused on preparing to implement its other responsibilities under the LLRWPAA, which include making determinations on requests for emergency access (LLRWPAA Section 6), responding to petitions for waste streams below roy.r.latory concern (LLRWPAA Section 10), and others. The NRC program is also cont nuing te provide assistance to the 13 regional compacts and host states, as they develop and license low-level radioactive vaste disposal sites, according to the tight LLpMPAA milestones.

I hope the information contained here is useful to you.

Should you have any questions or require further information, do not hesitate to call on me.

Sincerely, hugh L. Thompson, Jr., Director office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards cc:

Rep. Carlos J. Moorhead DISTRIBUTION:

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