ML20196B749
| ML20196B749 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/18/1988 |
| From: | Chilk S NRC OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY (SECY) |
| To: | NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| References | |
| FRN-53FR44014, RULE-PRM-20-17 PRM-20-17, NUDOCS 8812070020 | |
| Download: ML20196B749 (4) | |
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 10 CFR PART 20 i (Docket No. PRM-20-17] ?.2.
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The Rockefeller University; Receipt !
of Petition for Rulemaking .
t AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. '
ACTICN: Petition for rulemaking: Notice of receipt. ,
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SUMMARY
- The Commission is publishing for public comment a notice ,
of receipt of a petition for rulemaking dated July 22, 1988, which
- was filed with the Commission by The Rockefeller University. The i petition was docketod by the commission on August 15, 1988, and has I
j been assigned Docket No. PRM-20-17. The petitioner requests that [
i the Ccmmission amend its regulations under which a licensee may j j dispose of animal tissue containing small amounts of radioactivity '
t without regard to its radioactivity by expanding the list of I
radioactive isctopes for which unregulated disposal is permitted.
The petitier.or also requests that the Commission make the i
j unregulated disposal of these wastes a matter with which all jurisdictions must comply-i DATE: Submit commenta by December 20. 1988,
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! Comments received after this date will be considered if ;
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812070020 881018 1 DR PRM i r 20-17 PDR,
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it is practical to do so but the Commission is able to assure
- j. consideration only for comments received on or before this date.
3 ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to the Secretary of the Commission, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555, Attention Docketing and Service Branch.
For a copy of the petition, write the Regulatory Publications Branch, Division of Freedom of Informat,on and Publications Services, Office of Administration and Resources Management, U.S.
Nuc1 car Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555.
The petition and copics of comments roccived may be inspected and copied for a fee at the NRC Public Document Room, 2120 L Street NW., Lower Level, Washington, DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael T. Lesar, Acting Chief, Rules Review Section, Regulatory Publications Branch, Division of Freedom of Information and Publications Servicas, Office of Information and Resources Management, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555, Telephone: 301-492-8926 or Toll Free 800-368-5642.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has established regulations that permit a licensee to dispose of animal tissue contaminated with small amounts of certain radioactive isotopes without regard to its radioactivity (10 CFR 20.306(b)). Under this provision a licensee may dispose of animal tissue containing 0.05
microcurie or less of Hydrouen-3 or Carbon-14 per gram, averaged over the weight of the entire animal, as long as the tissue is not disposed of in a manner that would permit its use as food for humans or in animal feed.
In addition to disposing of animal tissues containing Hydrogen-3 or Carbon-14, the petitioner disposes of animal tissue containing small amounts of Sulfur-35, Calcium-45, Chromium-51, Iodine-125, and Iodine-131. In 1987, the petitioner disposed of nine 30 gallon drums in 55 gallon overpacks that contained animal tissue contaminated with small amounts of radioactive isotopes.
The total content of radioactive isotopes in this material was 1.35 mil 11 curies of Hydrogen-3, 4.35 millicuries of Carbon-14. 0.1 millicurie of sulfur-35, 1.1 millicuries of Chromium-51, 1.0 millicurie of Calcium-45, and 0.01 millicurie each of Iodine-125 and Iodine-131. The petitioner states that each individual animal contained less than microcurie amounts of any radioactive isotope and that, averaged over the year, the overall amount of radioactive isotopes in animal tissue was 0.0078 microcurie per gram. The l costs incurred by the pntitioner in disposing of the material under the current regulations was $450 per drum.
f{ The petitioner believes 1
that the costs involved are unnecessary expenditures in view of the l low levels of radioactivity involved.
( The petitioner requests that the NRC add Eulfur-35, l Calcium-45, Chromium-51, Iodine-125, and Iodine-131 in l
concentrations not exceeding 0.001 microcurie per gram to the list of radioactive isotopes set out in 10 CFR 20.306(b). This would allow the petitioner to incinerate or otherwise dispose of animal
tissue containing small quantities of these radioactive isotopes without regard to its radioactivity. The petitioner ir currently incinerating 100 pounds of non-radioactive animal tissue per day in a permitted, controlled air incinerator.
The petitioner also requests that the NRC make the unregulated disposal of animal tissue containing radioactive isotopes under 10 CFR 20.306(b) a practice with which all jurisdictions must comply.
According te the petitioner, the New York City Health Department does not recognize de minimis levels of radioactivity so that this provision must be made a matter of compatibility with "agreement agencies" in order to benefit the petitioner.
This petition har, been reviewed in relation to the Commission's policy statement on petitions for disposal of radioactive waste streams below regulatory concern, Appendix B to 10 CFR Part 2 (51 FR 30839; August 29, 1986). It has been found that the petition does not contain sufficient information to qualify for expedited handling in accordance with this policy statement and its staff implementation plan (51 FR 30840; August 29, 1986).
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 18 th day of October ,
1988.
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FrtheNuclept Regulatory Commission.
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Wamuel J. 1 ,
- Secretary o the Commission.
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