ML20199H811
| ML20199H811 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 01/15/1998 |
| From: | Paperiello C NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Hamlett K External (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20199H817 | List: |
| References | |
| REF-WM-3 NUDOCS 9802050128 | |
| Download: ML20199H811 (15) | |
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gtY %g f' ft UNITED STATES i[* B NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
"! WASHINGTON D.C. 20$&f4001 k ... ,/
January 15, 1998 Ms. Kathleen Hamlett P.O. Box 9 Whitmore, CA 96096
Dear Ms. Hamlett:
I am responding to your letter dated November 4,1997, to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Browner concerning water contamination from nuclear wau sites. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and some states regulate the management, storage, and disposal of radioactive waste produced as a result of civillan uses of nuclear material. Although NRC is responsible for regulating the nation's repository for high level radioactive waste, NRC has entered into agreements with 30 states, called \greement States, to allow these states to regulate activities related to other types of radioactive waste, in addition, you should be aware that NRC does not regulate radioactive waste disposal at Department of Energy facilities, with the exception of the high level waste repository and long term care at certain uranium mill tailings disposal sites. . I am enclosing several documents including two brochures and three technical information papers (TIPS) to further explain NRC's regulatory program and the management of radioactive waste.
Regarding your concerns about public health, the NRC has three principal regulatory functions designed to protect the public health and safety: (1) establish standards and regulations; (2) issue licenses for nuclear facilities and users of nuclear materials; and (3) inspect facilities and
} users of nuclear materials to ensure compliance with the requirements. These functions relate to nuclear waste sites as well as other uses of nuclear materials. Agreement States have similar functions. These functions are described in the first brocnure.
The NRC has not been authorized by Congress to enforce the provisions of the Safe Drinking -
Water Act. However, NRC regulations provide protection to the public from all pathways of exposure including surface and ground water that could impact drinking water systems.
Programs and regulations related to nuclear waste are described in the second brochure and the TIPS.
Your letter also asked for information concerning improvements. NRC recently published a final rule establishing radiological criteria for cleanup of contamination prior to license termination at NRC-licensed facilities. This rule specifically addresses ground water, in addition, NRC has recently proposed a similar rule for uranium recovery facilities. A copy of each rule is included in Enclosure 6.
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January 16, 1998 i
K. Hamlett 2 1 trust th'at this information responds to your concerns. If you have additional questions, please contact Mr. Robert Nelson of my staff at (301) 415 7298.
Sincerely, (Original signed by)
Carl J. Paperiello, Director Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
Enclosures:
- 1. NRC Regulator of Nuclear Safety
- 2. Radioactive Wasta: Production, Stora9e, Disposal
- 3. TIP 14: High Level Radioactive Waste
- 5. TIP 20: Low Level Radioactive Waste
- 6. Federal Register Notice of July 21, 1
1997, Radiological Criteria for License Termination cc: S.L. Hudnall, US EPA D1SIRIBUTION: G970896 Fne Center LLDP r t/f DWM r/f& t/f NMSS r/f JCallan HThompson SBurns CPaperiello JGreeves MWeber JKennedy RJohnson CPoland EDO r/f PTre:sler PUBLIC NMSS Dir. Off. r/f SECY-CRC-97-1210 T3 receive a copy of thle document in small box on "OFC:" line enter: "C" = Copy without attachmentlenclosure; "E" = Copy with attachment / enclosure;"N" = No copy Path & File Name:A:\HAMLETT.LTR
- See previous concurence df fropd 1/t 3/N OFC LLDP* lLDP* OGC* DWM* NMS@s O NACE RNelson JHickey BReamer MFWeber CPaYri llo DATE 1/7/98 1/8/98 1/12/98 1/13/98 1//f98 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY ACNW: YES 1 NO _ Category: Proprietary _ or CF Only _
IG : YES _ NO 1 LSS : YES _ NO -1 Delete file after distributhn: Yes 1 No _
A c
K. Hamlett 2
- I trust thit this'information responds to your concerns. If you have additiorial questions, please contact Mr. Robert Nelson of my staff at (301) 415 7298.
Sincerely, Carl J. Paperiello, Director Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
Enclosures:
- 1. NRC Regulator of Nuclear Safety
- 2. Radioactive Waste: Production, Storage, Disposal
- 3. TIP 14: High Level Radioactive Waste
- 5. TIP 20: Low Level Radioactive Waste
- 6. Endstal Begister Notice of July 21, 1997, Radiological Criteria for License Termination cc: S.L. Hudnall, US EPA TICKET: G970896 DISTRIBUTION: Central File LLDP r-t/f DWM r/f NMSS r/f JCallan AThadeni HTh::mpson PNorry JBlaha SBurns CPapereLlo JGreeves MWeber JK:nnedy RJohnson CPoland PUBLIC Etc rL e P.Truske T@ receive a copy of this document in small box on "OFC:" line enter: *C" = Copy without attachment / enclosure; "E" = Copy with attachment / enclosure;"N" = No copy ath & File Name:A:\HAMLETT.L_TP.
OFC LLM LLDP U DWM ,
NMSS NA!:E Rhelson Jhey CPaperiello DATE / li/98 l ,'$ /98 / /98 / /98 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY ACNW. YES 1 NO _ Category: Proprietary _ or CF Only _
IG , YES _ NO 1 LSS:YE6 _ NO 1 Delete file after a;stribution: Yes 1 No _
- - - _ -)
K. Hamlett 2 I trust th'at this inforrnation responds to your concerns. If you have additional questions, please contact Mr. Robert Nelson of my staff at (301) 415 7298.
Sincerely, Carl J. Paperiello, Director Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
Enclosures:
- 1. NRC Regulator of Nuclear Safety
- 2. Radioactive Waste: Production, Storage, Disposal
- 3. TIP 14: High Level Radioactive Waste
- 6. Federal Register Notice of July 21, 1997, Radiological Cr;teria for License Termination ec: S.L. Hudnall, US EPA l lb '
DISTRIBUTION: G970896 '
File Center LLDP r t/f DWM r/f& t/f NMSS r/f JCallan HThompson SBurns CPaperielb JGreeves MWeber JKennedy RJohnson CPoland EDO r/f PTressler PUBLIC To recolve a copy of this document in small box on "OFC:" line enter: "C" = Copy without attachment / enclosure: "E" = Copy with attachmentlenclosure:"N" = No copy P:.th & File Name:A:\HAMLETT.LTR
- See previous concurence OFC LLDP* LLDP' OGC* DWM O NMSS NAME RNelson JHickey BReamer hFWeber CPaperiello DATE 1/7/98 1/R/9o 1/12/98 1/l3/98 il /98 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY ACNW: YES 1 NO _ Category: Proprietary _ or CF Only _
IG :YES _ NO 1 LSS : YES _ NO 1= Delete file after distribution: Yes 1 No _
K. Hamlett 2 I trust th'at this information responds to your concerns, if you have additional questions, please contcct Mr. Robert Nelson of my staff at (301) 415 7298.
Sincerely, Carl J. Paperiello, Director Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
Enclosures:
- 1. NRC Regulator of Nuclear Safety
- 2. Radioactive Waste: Production, Storage Disposal
- 3. TIP 14: High Level Radioactive Waste
- 5. TIP 20: Low Level Radioactive Waste
- 6. Eedatal Reaister Notice of July 21, 1997, Radiological Criteria for License Tennination cc: S.L. Hudnall, US EPA DISTRIBUTIQB: G970896 Fib Center LLDP r t/f DWM r/f NMSS r/f JCallan HThompson SBums CPaperielb JGreeves MWeber JKennedy RJohnson CPo'and EDO r/f PTressler PUBLIC To recelse a copy of this document in small box on "OFC:" line enter: "C" = Copy without attachmentlenclosure; "E" Copy with attachmentlenclosure;"N" = No copy Prth & File Name:A:\HAMLETT.LTR S Y SN previous concurence OFC LLDP* LLDP* Q@hkl bWM [ NMSS NAME RNelson JHickey i Reamer ([ [ CPaperiello DATE 1/7/98 1/8/98 \ 47//98 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
/ /98_ [ / /98 L
ACNW: YES 1 NO _ Category: Proprietary _ or CF Only _
IG -: YES _ NO 1 LSS : YES _ NO 2L Delate file after distribution: Yes 1 No _
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