ML20153C085
| ML20153C085 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Maine Yankee |
| Issue date: | 09/16/1998 |
| From: | Callan L NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Brack H CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL MONITORING, INC. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20153C088 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9809230335 | |
| Download: ML20153C085 (6) | |
Text
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'j NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 8
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September 16, 1998 l.
L Mr. H. G. Brack Center for Biological Monitoring, Inc.
P.O. Box 144 Hull's Cove,- ME 04644-0144
Dear Mr. Brack:
. Senator Susan M. Collins of Maine asked the Nuclear Hegulatory Commission to respond to the e-mail message you sent to her on July 23,1998, raising several concerns about the
- disposal of the reactor vessel from the Maine Yankee Atomic Power Station. In particular, you were concerned about the disposal of materials classified as " greater than Class C" l
- (GTCC) waste.
Regulations 10 CFR 20.2006 and 10 CFR Part 20, Appendix G, state that low-level waste i:
shipments must be classified in accordance with 10 CFR 61.55. The 10 CFR Part 61 waste classification system is used to define low-level wastes that are generally suitable for disposal at a near surface disposal facility, such as the low-level waste disposal site in
- Barnwell, South Carolina. Wastes with a cla:sification of GTCC are generally not suitable for disposal at a near surface disposal site. According to 10 CFR 61.58, the Commission may. approve other provisions for the classification and characteristics of waste, on a case-specific basis,if, after an evaluation of the specific characteristics of the waste, disposal site, or method of disposal,'it finds reasonable assurance of compilance with the performance objectives.in Part 61, Subpart C. The NRC role in this case is to ensure that l
the waste generator properly classifies its weste shipment. The State of South Carolina would be responsible for ensuring that the wastes are suitable for disposal at the Barnwell site.
L
- A need for guidance on how to determine the concentrations of radionuclides by averaging over the volume or mass of the was.es was identified. Branch Technical Position (BTP) 3.1, L
" Bra.nch Technical Position on Concs.7tration Averaging and Encapsulation," was developed L
L and issued to address this interest. St.3 tion 3.3 of the BTP gives specific guidance on averaging such activated materials as the. Internal components of reactors. The guidance includes a series of ratio tests that are intended to limit intruder doses from individual activated metal shipments. The BTP (Section 3.9) also accepts the use of alternate provisions. This section would accept alternate averaging approaches, as long as it is derr nstrated, with reasonable assurance, that the performance objectives of Subpart C of k
Part 61 are met and, thus, the wastes are acceptable for near-surface disposal. The f
physical form of the wastes, the specific characteristics 'of the disposal site, and the method of disposal would be considered in specific evaluations performed under the M
. aforementioned Section 3.9.
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Mr. H. G. Brack The NRC has made no generic decision that it is acceptable for all reactor vessels with internal components to be classified as Class C. Classification of shipments would be on a case specific basis taking into account the physical form of the wastes, the specific characteristics of the disposal site, and the method of disposal.1hese matters, as they pertain to Maine Yankee would be coordinated with the State of South Carolina.
Thank you for sharing your concerns with Senator Collins. I hope this letter is helpful.
Sincerely, L. Ja.3eph Callan Exe<udtive Director for Operations cc: Senator Susan M. Collins
~
Mr. H. G. Brack The NRC has made no generic decision that it is acceptable for all reactor vessels with internal components to be classified as Class C. Classification of shipments would be on a case-specific basis taking into account the physical form of the wastes, the specific characteristics of the disposal site, and the method of disposal. These matters, as they ~
pertain to Maine Yankee would be coordinated with the State of South Carolina.
Thank you for sharing your concerns with Senator Collins.. I hope this letter is helpful.
Sincerely, Ongun Me #4 L.J. Callan L. Joseph Callan Executive Director for Operations cc: Senator Susan S. Collins DISTRIBUTION: See next page
'PREVIOUSLY CONCURRED 99 8[g PDND:PM TECH ED.*
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HERD COPY E-MAIL COPY Docket File 50-309 (w/ incoming)
RBurrows (RAB2)
PUBLIC (w/ incoming)
RDudley (RFD)
EDO# GT980501 MFairtile (MBF)
LCallan (016-E15)
TFredrichs (TLF)
WTravers (016-E15)
PHarris (PWH1)
HThompson (016-E15)
AMarkley (AWM)
PNorry (016-E15)
JMinns (JLM3)
JBlaha (016-E15)
Pray (PMR)
SBurns, OGC (015-B18)
LThonus (LHT)
CPaperiello (T8-A23)
LWheeler (DXW)
HMiller, RI LReyes, Ril j
RBangart (03-H2O)
SCollins/FMiraglia (05-E7)
BBoger (05-E7)
BSheron (05 E7)
JRoe (012-E5)
RZimmerman (05 E7)
TCarter, NRR Mail Room (EDO#GT980501 w/ incoming) (05 E7)
SWeiss MMasnik MWebb PDND r/f (w/ incoming)
OGC (015-B18)
OPA (02-G5)
OCM (016-C1)
MBoyle (E-Mail MLB4)
MClark (GT501) (012 E5)
EHylton (w/ incoming)
.1 ACit0N
,4e EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROM DUE: 08/27/98 EDO CONTROL: G980501 DOC DT: 08/04/98 FINAL REPLY:
- S
- nstor Susan M. Collins
. TO:
Rathbun, OCA FOR SIGNATURE OF :
ROUTING:
MAINE YANKEE -- REACTOR VESSEL DISPOSAL Callan (H. G. Brack)
Travers Thompson Norry Blaha Burns DATE: 08/18/98 Paperiello,NMSS Miller, RI ASSIGNED TO:
CONTACT:
Reyes, RII Bangart, SP NRR Collins SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:
NRR ACTION:
DRPM. Roe NRR RECEIVED: August 19, 1998 NRR RCUTING:
Collins /Miraglia ACTION Boger ger n DUE TO NRR DIRECTOR'S OFF Zimerman
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E gy
/ g NRR Mailroom j
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kN
-o OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET PAPER NUMBER:
CRC-98-0763 LOGGING DATE: Aug 17 98 ACTION OFFICE:
EDO AUTHOR:
SUSAN COLLINS AFFILIATION:
U.S.-SENATE ADDRESSEE:
RATHBUN LETTER DATE:
Aug 4 98 FILE CODE: IDR 5 MAINE YANKEE
SUBJECT:
MAINE YANKEE ACTION:
Signature of EDO DISTRIBUTION:
CHAIRMAN, COMRS, SECY/ RAS
~
SPECIAL HANDLING: OCA TO ACK CONSTITUENT:
H.G. BRACK NOTES:
DATE DUE:
Aug 31 98 SIGNATURE:
DATE SIGNED:
AFFILIATION:
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EDO -- G980501
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