ML20198M013
| ML20198M013 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant |
| Issue date: | 10/15/1997 |
| From: | Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Whitfield E HOUSE OF REP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20198M017 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9710270276 | |
| Download: ML20198M013 (2) | |
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October 15, 1997 0y g<$D CHARMAN The Honorable Ed Whitfield United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 1701
Dear Congressman Whitfield:
I am responding to your letter of September 5,1997, which expressed concems about the termination of special nuclear material (SNM) waste chipments from the Paducah gaseous diffusion plant to the Envirocare of Utah dispc. sal facility. You also requested that the U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) consider formulation of an interim rule that would allow ao exemption from the 350-gram limit for mixed wastes with low SNM concentrations.
Envirocare is currently licensed by Utah, an Agreement State, to posset small quantities of SNM. Agreement States, such as Utah, have entered into formal agreements with the NRC, and have authority to regulate SNM in quantities that are not sufficient to form a critical mass; that is,less than 350 grams of uranium-235.
Envirocare often processes mixed wastes to treat the hazardous constituents in the wasts prior to disposal. Such treatment of material containing SNM in quantities greater than 350 grams raises a number of concems that are addressed as part of NRC's specific licensing process. Such concems focus on the diversity of the waste stream and the chemical reactions during processing to anticipate hazards associated with inadvertent criticality. Utah recently determined that Envirocare had violated its SNM possession limit, and reported this matter to the MRC. Facilities that possess larger quantities of SNM are required to obtain an NRC license. Envirocare does not possess such a license.
Following notification by the State of Utah, NRC conducted an inspection which confirmed that Envirocare had violated NRC regulations related to the possession of SNM. Therefore, NRC lasued a Confirmatory Order on June 25,1997, which required Envirocare to stop
))f receiving SNM waste until Envirocare had reduced its SNM inventory below the regulatory limits. Envirocare notified the NRC on July 18,1997, that it had certified that the SNM gply inventory was below the regulatory limits and that it would resume acceptr.] waste containing -
SNM on July 24,1997. The Order also required Envirocare to submit a compliance plan for continued compliance with NRC regulations', which it did on Ju!y 23,1997. NRC approved the compliance plan on August 1,1997, srUU43 l!lE E Ellljl0llNlllllll 9710270276 971015 PDR COMMS NRCC CORRESPONDENCE PDR
2-Envirocare has proposed several long-term solutions which would allow possession of larger quantities of SNM. In addition to several non-licensing approaches, such as exemption and rulemaking requests, we understand Envirocare will submit a license application to NRC in late October or early November of this year. Envirocare has reduced the SNM inventory and has resumed accepting waste containing SNM. Envirocare informed NRC that, to remain in compliance with its possession limit, it has temporarily suspended accepting mixed waste shipments requiring treatment from several generators, while it processu mixed waste from another source. The Paducah plant is one of the generators affected by this temporary suspension. NRC will continue to work expeditiously with the State of Utah to resolve this matter.
I trust this letter responds to your concems, Sincerely, N
[M Shirley Ann Jackson A