ML20236W371
| ML20236W371 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 07/30/1998 |
| From: | Garrick B NRC ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NUCLEAR WASTE (ACNW) |
| To: | Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| References | |
| NACNUCLE-R-0136, NACNUCLE-R-136, NUDOCS 9808050235 | |
| Download: ML20236W371 (1) | |
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~g UNITED STATES g
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION PDR g
ie ADVISORY COMMnTEE oN NUCLEAR WASTE WASHINGTON, D.c. 20555-0001 July 30,1998 The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001
SUBJECT:
NRC STAFF RESEARCH ON GENERIC POST-DISPOSAL CRITICALITY AT LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
Dear Chairman Jackson:
In response to an April 29,1998, Staff Requirements Memorandum on SECY-98-010, " Petition for Envirocare of Utah to Possess Special Nuclear Materialin Excess of Current Regulatory Limits," the NRC staff was directed to. consult with the Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste (ACNW) on whether to pursue a research project on the potential for post-disposal criticality as a result of hydrogeochemical processes (including reconcentration) at licensed low-level radioactive waste disposal facilities.
' The xCNW agrees, on the basis of the information provided by the NRC staff during the 102nd I
meeting, July 20-22,1998, that the likelihood of such reconcentration is remote. The consequences of any resulting criticality appear similarly minimal. Based on the presentations and the material presented to the ACNW at its 102nd meeting, we cannot conclude that any significant research on post-criticality is warranted. However, we do believe that much could be learned from limited additional research, namely a quantitative risk assessment of a specific site. The analyses performed to date contain elements of risk assessment but lack consistency of application in the propagation of realistic uncertainties through the analytical models. It is further recommended that the resulting analysis undergo external peer review.
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The Committee looks forward to reviewing the recommended analysis should it be performed.
L Sincerely,
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B. John Garrick y
Chairman 0
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