ML20214E399
| ML20214E399 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 02/28/1986 |
| From: | Linehan J NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20214E394 | List: |
| References | |
| REF-WM-1 NUDOCS 8603260162 | |
| Download: ML20214E399 (4) | |
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7590-01 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION AVAILABILITY OF FINAL GENERIC TECHNICAL POSITION IN HIGH-LEVEL WASTE PROGRAM AGENCY:
Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION:
Notice of Availability.
SUMMARY
- .The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is announcing the availability of the " Generic Technical P.osition on Borehole and Shaft Sealing of High-Level Nuclear Waste Repositories."
ADDRESSES: This document is.available for public inspection and copying at the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Public Document Room, 1717 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20555, telephone 202/634-3273.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Mysore Nataraja, Section Leader, Engineering Branch, Division of Waste Management, U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555, telephone 301/427-4319.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (NWPA) (Public Law 97-425) and the Commission regulation 10 CFR Part 60 promote interaction between the Department of Energy (00E) and NRC prior to submittal of a license application for a geologic repository. These interactions are to fully inform 8603260162 860228 PDR WASTE WM-1 PDR
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7590-01 DOE about the level of information that must be provided in a license.
application to allow a licensing decision to be made by NRC.
The principal mechanism for providing guidance to the DOE is completion by the NRC staff of Site Characterization Analyses (SCA) which document staff reviews of DOE Site Characterization Plans (SCP) submitted according to the NWPA and 10 CFR Part 60.
Additional means have been developed to supplement the guidance provided in the SCA's.
These include staff technical positions on both generic and site specific issues.
Generic Technical Positions (GTP) establish the staff's position on broad technical issues that would be applicable to any site.
STP's establish the staff's position on a site specific technical issue.
A number of GTP's will be developed by the staff to establish staff positions on generic issues or information requirements for their resolution.
On July 11, 1983, the NRC published for comment a draft' version of the " Generic Technical Position on Borehole and Shaft Sealing of High-Level Nuclear Waste Repositories" (48 FR 31761).
Public comments on the draft version were received.
Changes and clarifications have been made in the final GTP as a result of comments received.
Copies of comments may be examined in the U. S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Public Document Room - 1717 H Street. NW.
Washington DC 20555.
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7590-01 The DOE is required by 10 CFR Part 60 to seal boreholes and shafts at permanent closure of a nuclear waste repository.
Further, the DOE is required to design the seals so that following permanent closure, they do not become pathways that will compromise the ability of the geologic repository to meet the performance objectives.
In addition, the DOE is required to select materials and placement methods for seals to reduce, to the extent practicable (i) the potential for creating a preferential pathway for groundwater; or (ii) radioactive waste migration through existing pathways.
The design of borehole and shaft seals should be based on proven technical knowledge and capabilities, and performance assessments of the sealing system as part of the overall repository system. Changes in the design due to changes in either of the above may occur throughout the timeframe of sealing studies.
Sensitivity analyses as well as sound engineering judgment should be utilized in.the sealing program to establish the importance and amount of work necessary in resolving sealing issues at a particular site. However, other work in the sealing program such as materials studies, equipment development, placement techniques, etc., should not be delayed or eliminated based solely on these sensitivity analyses. These analyses will utilize a data base with high uncertainties and therefore may give an inaccurate indication of the importance of each component in the repository system. Such a determination as to the importance of each subsystem can be made after the Site Characterization Program has been completed when a data base with a higher level of confidence can be utilized.
k 7590-01 An adequate program for borehole and shaft seal development should include development of design criteria, laboratory and field testing of materials, equipment, and placement techniques for seals, " verification program of seal performance," quality assurance program for sealing studies, and methods for integration of the sealing program to other activities, such as excavation and construction of the underground openings.
The GTP summarizes guidance which has been given to DOE through technical correspondence, documented technical meetings, and other mechanisms provided by the NRC/00E Procedural Agreement (48 FR 38701, Dated August 25, 1983).
The Borehole and Shaft Sealing program must be addressed in the SCP's for each site.
Dated at Silver Spring, Maryland, this JPf% day of /Is4rency 1986.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
h 4 } 5 ^= % a John J. Linehan, Acting Chief Repository Projects Branch Division of Waste Management Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards