ML20196J012
| ML20196J012 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/14/1997 |
| From: | Pomeroy P NRC ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NUCLEAR WASTE (ACNW) |
| To: | Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| References | |
| NACNUCLE-S-0087, NACNUCLE-S-87, NUDOCS 9708010253 | |
| Download: ML20196J012 (4) | |
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Sg 7/5//9/
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- E ADVISORY COMMITTEE oN NUCLEAR WASTE WASHINGTON. D.C. 20566 April 14,1997 i
1 l-The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 i
Dear Chairman Jackson:
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SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
REPORT - 90TH MEETING OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON j
NUCLEAR WASTE, MARCH 20-21,1997, AND OTHER RELATED ACTIVITIES
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-+--a During its 90th meeting on March 20-21,1997, held at Two White Flint North,11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland, the Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste (ACNW) discussed several matters and completed the following report.
REPORT Report to Shirley Ann Jackson, Chairman, NRC, from Paul W. Pomeroy, Chairman, ACNW,
" Reference Biosobere and Critical Group issues and Their Acolication to the Proposed Hiah-Level Wrcte Recository at Yucca Mountain. Nevada." dated April 1,1997 HIGHLIGHTS OF KEY ISSUES CONSIDERED BY THE COMMITTEE 1.
Meetina With the Directors of the Division of Waste Manaaement and the Spent Fuel Project ONicq ONice of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeauards Margaret V. Federline, Deputy Director, Division of Waste Management (DWM), Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS), and Charles J. Haughney, Deputy Director, Spent Fuel Project Office (SFPO), NMSS, discussed the near-term priorities for their respective divisions and indicated potential issues that they might wish the Commit-tee to consider during the coming months.
These discussions of potential DWM and SFPO interactions will provide a foundation for coordinating interactions during the remainder of the year.
I Conclusions / Actions; The Committee suggested that because of the value of this type of interaction, similar presentations be given to the Committee earlier in the fiscal year. This woulri enhance
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1) the coordination of meetings and working group topics.
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,c The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson 2
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Options Paper for 10 CFR Part 960. Sitina Guidelines I
Dr. Pomeroy noted that the presentation on this topic would, of necessity, be quite general as the Commission had not yet approved the options proposed by the staff.
Michael P. Lee, NMSS, provided a brief background and discussed the changes pro-posed by the Department of Energy (DOE). He also noted that the public comment j
period hed been extended for a second time, and the current period is scheduled to end j
on April 16,1997. The staff intends to submit its comments before that time.
Mr. Lee discussed the four options that the staff had identified for the Commission's consideration and the staff's logic underlying their selection. The options were as follows:
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- 1. Take no action.
- 2. Defer concurrence.
- 3. Give conditional concurrence.
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l Thus far, DOE has received about 50 sets of public comments. At the conclusion of the public comment period, DOE will then prepare an analysis of the comments and decide i
i whether to proceed with the completion of the rulemaking. Mr. Lee noted that the current l
DOE time line provides for a six-month review by the Commission.
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Conclusion / Actions:
l The Committee intends to continue its review of this topic with a presentation by a state of Nevada representative, which is scheduled for the next meeting, as well as, possibly, a i
presentation by DOE at the conclusion of its comment period and subsequent analysis.
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Defense-in-Depth Philosophy Dr. Janet Kotra, NMSS, briefed the C5mmittee on the history and role of defense-in-depth and subsystem requirements in the development of 10 CFR Part 60. The staff's regula-tory philosophy and experience have evolved over time. The subsystem requirements were originally intended to provide added assurance and were considered to be a reasonable way to manage inherent uncertainty associated with performance assess-ment. Currently, the staff is developing an options paper to revise 10 CFR Part 60 and is considering modifying the existing subsystem performance criteria. The ACNW com-l mented that the staff has an opportunity to apply probabilistic risk assessment to quantify the effectiveness and uncertainty of each barrier.
Conclusion / Actions:
i The Committee discussed the possibility of inviting representatives from the nuclear j
industry and academia in April 1997 to discuss attemative views on the subsystem performance criteria and plans to meet with DOE in May 1997 to discuss its views.
1 The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson 3
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Biosphere Model Validation Study. Phase 11 Christepher A. McKenney, NMSS, brie % the ACNW on the Biosphere MOdel yalidation Study, Phase II (BIOMOVS-II) project, as did Dr. John Kessler, Electric Power Research Institute, who is chairing the Critical Groups Task Group of the Biosphere Modeling and Assessments (BIOMASS) project. These projects are intemational activities focused on
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i the development of reference biosphere methodologies and critical group concepts and on application of these projects to dose modeling for compliance with radioactive waste standards. The NRC staff has represented the United States as an active observer in j
both projects.
Conclusions / Actions:
1 The ACNW issued a letter to the Commission on the " Reference Biosphere and Critical Group issues and Their Application to the Proposed HLW Repository at Yucca Mountain, 3
Nevada." The Committee will continue to fol low the BIOMASS Project Program as i'.
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Proposed Schedule for the 91st ACNW Meetino The Committee agreed to consider the following issues during the 91st ACNW meeting, April 22-24,1997:
laneous Activity - The Committee will review NRC staff and DOE investigations of this potentially adverse condition on the acceptability of the proposed high-level waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. The review will focus on the status of results and the paths toward resolution derived from these studies of potential volcanism.
Plannina for Commission Meetina - The Committee will prepare for its next meeting with the Commission currently scheduled for May 20,1997, at 2:00 p.m.
Convention on the Safety of Radioactive Wate Manaaement - The Committee will hear a report from the NRC's DWM on this intemational treaty which NRC is considering.
Screenina Methodoloav for Assessina Prior Land Burials - The Committee will review the NRC staff's final branch technical position (BTP) on this screening methodology, including its disposition of public comments received.
State of Nevad_a - The Committee will hear from a representative of the state of Nevada, who will discuss the Nevada perspective as to the difference between DOE's viability assessment and the site suitability determinations for the proposed Yucca Mountain repository. Comments will also be offered on the proposed amendments to DOE's 10 CFR Part 960. The amendments would focus Part 960 as to its use in evaluating the suitability of the Yucca Mountain site for development as a repository.
Meetina with the Director. DWM. NMSS - The Committee will hold a current events discussion with the Director of DWM.
The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson 4
Defense-in-Dooth The Committee will hear presentations from representatives of industry that will address the topic cf subsystem requirements in 10 CFR Part 60 as a means on implementing the defense-in-depth concept.
Preparation of ACNW Reports - The Committee will discuss potential reports, including a report on igneous activity related to the proposed Yucca Mountain repository, a BTP en a Screening Methodology for Assessing Prior Land Burials, and other topics discussed during the meeting, as necessary.
OTHER RELATED ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE The Committee plans to meet with the Commission during its 92nd meeting, May 20,1997, at
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2:00 p.m.
1 Sincerely, Ln-* b ~** *~~~>
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