Text

Responds to Recipient Apr 1989 Ltr Forwarding Legislative Resolutions 434 & 479 Passed by State of Ny Assembly Re Low Level Radwaste Issues.Nrc Believes That Class C Waste Can Be Disposed of Safely as Low Level Radwaste
	ML20244C957
Person / Time
Issue date:	06/06/1989
From:	Stello V; NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:	Tonko P; NEW YORK, STATE OF
Shared Package
ML20244C959	List: ML20244C957; ML20244C961;
References
	REF-WM-3 NUDOCS 8906150222
	Download: ML20244C957 (11)
	v • d • e

3 o

k

+

s c

4 JUN 0 6,1989L J

The Honorable Paul D. Tonko New York Assembly Albany, NY 12248

Dear Mr. Tonko:

I am responding to your April 1989 -letter to Mr. John Bradburne, Director,

. Congressional Affairs, Office of Governmental' and Public Affairs, U.S. Nuclear two. legislative resolutions '(Assembly Numbers 434 and 479, respectively) pies _o Enclosed with that letter. you provided co Regulatory Commission (NRC).

passed-by the New York State Assembly, dealing with low-level radioactive waste-(LLW)!

f issues. The following are our comments on those resolutions.

{

With respect to the first resolution (Assembly No. 434), NRC's regulations in 10 CFR Part 61' established requirements for licensing facilities for disposal of LLW by land disposal. The regulation includes a classification system based on concentration limits'of radionuclides and. corresponding' disposal

-i requirements. Since Class C waste has the highest allowable concentration limits, it must be disposed of.under the most restrictive waste form'and-disposal requirements. From the standpo_ int of public health and safety, NRC believes that Class C waste can be disposed of safely as low-level radioactive waste. Waste with concentrations exceeding the Class C limits is considered' generally unacceptable for near-surface land disposal, and under the-Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act (LLRWPAA) of 1985, the disposal of this

" greater-than-Class-C" waste is made a responsibility of the Federal government.

We note that shifting the responsibility for Class C waste to the Federal government would not "...substantially reduce the amount of low-level..

radioactive waste, of which New York State must dispose...." On a nationwide basis, the volume of Class C waste disposed of accounts for; about 0.5 percent -

of the waste.by volume.

In New York, Class C waste. in 1987-totalled only 437 cubic feet, or about 0.6 percent of total volume. Moreover, as far as total' activity (curies) is concerned,_in 1987, disposal of. Class C waste accounted-for approximately 67 percent.of activity in LLW nationwide, whereas in New' York, Class C waste accounted for only 12.5 percent of activity. These figures were derived from "The 1987 State-by-State Assessment of Low-Level Radioactive Wastes Received at Commercial Disposal Sites," prepared by the.U.S.

]

Department of Energy,. Report No. 00E/LLW-69T.

Congress considered making Class C waste a Federal responsibility during its deliberations on the LLRWPAA and declined to do so. Since passage of the LLRWPAA, the States and Compacts have embarked on development of disposal capacity in accordance with the milestones, penalties and incentives of the Amendments Act. We believe that a redefinition by the Congress of Low-Level 1

Maste in the LLRWPAA to exclude Class C waste from State-responsibilities'is z

unnecessary and would introduce a substantial measure of ~ uncertainty at a critical time in the development of new disposal capacity.

j 8906150222 890606 i

PDR WASTE WM-3 PDC a

- AaluL

1 4

GP/NYLTR With respect to the issue of " dilution" or " transformation" of Class C waste into either Class A or B waste, NRC does not encourage such practices.

l If trash type wastes are included in a container of filter cartridges, the classification would be based on the highest classification of either the trash or the filter cartridges (e.g., mixing Class A trash waste with Class B cartridge waste will result in a waste mixture which must be classified Class B, similarily, mixing Class B cartridge waste with Class C trash waste must result in a waste mixture classified Class C). However, if, wastes are similar in chemical and physical characteristics and were generated from similar radiation processes, wastes can be mixed and the total activity averaged over the total i

mass or volume of the wastes.

For example, ion excbange resins from separate ion exchange beds can be mixed.

In your April 1989 letter to Speaker Wright, you note that radionuclides, especially those present in Class C waste, possess half-lives many thousands of times longer than the legally mandated 100. year life span of the disposal facility. You further note this contradiction raises _ serious' questions as to New York State's capability to effectively and safely dispose of its LLW.

Each waste class (Class A, B, or C) may contain both short and long half-lived i

radionuclides. The concentration limit (not the half-life) increases from Class A to Class C as do the controls exercised in disposal for each waste class.

(Class A waste has the lowest concentration limits and the least restrictive waste form and disposal requirements. Class C waste has the highest allowable concentration limits and the most restrictive waste form and disposal requirements).

In addition, the classification system establishes low concentration limits for long-lived radionuclides. Thus, even tnough certain Class C wastes may contain long half-lived radionuclides, the low concentration limit allowed in NRC and New York State regulations for disposal of long half-lived radionuclides together with the greater requirements to disposal of Class C waste will ensure that the wastes are safely disposed of in conformance with the overall safety performance objectives, j

With respect to the second resolution (Assembly No. 479), regarding an extension of access to the existing sites, we recognize that some States and Compacts may encounter individual difficulties in their progress toward meeting the milestones of the LLRWPAA. However, we do not believe that, I

J 1

1 I

l l

J

~

GP/NYLTR 3-these individual difficulties warrant a delay.in the end date of interim access. Moreover, an effort to secure such a delay may. add uncertainty to the disposal development process nationwide, and cause unwarranted slippages.

We appreciate the opportunity to comment on the legislative resolutions that you provided.

Sincerely, Orido 2.1cd ir/

Hqh LTMmpun,.v.

i 9j Yictor Stello, Jr.

Executive Director for Operations Distribution:

(ED04443) gCentrall11e 7 (f uCl. 33 RBangart HThompson JBlaha

'NMSS Dir. Off. r/f JGreeves VStello, E00 JTaylor EDO r/f JFunches CJenkins NMSS r/f RFonner, OGC MBell AHenry FCombs,GPA/SLITP JJSurmeier PLohaus JJones JBradburne,GPA/0CA SECY DMorris, EDO (4443) OB rf

% /

PDR YES / Y/

PDR NO

/ / Category: Proprietary / /

or CF Only / /

1 ACNW YES / D NO / /

SUBJECT AB5 TRACT:

lTEISLAlIVE RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING LL RADI0 ACTIVE WASTE

{

See Previous Concurrence

)F C :LLOB*

LLOB*

TEdit*

LLkM*

LLvM*

NMSS*

j SAME :GPangburn/jj:JShaffner

Plohaus

EKraus JGreeves

RLBangart

CPaperiello

)

3....:............:...___......:.....__....:............:......___...:.....____...: ____......

i RATE :05/15/89

05/15/89

05/16/89

05/17/89

05/18/89 1

i

)FC :NMSS*

GPA/0CA*

GPA/SLITP*

0GC

DEDS.

ED Ig._:...........

3....:............:............:......__....:

SAME :RBernero

JBradburne :FCombs er

H t son

VStello s....:....__......:....____....:............:............:......_____:....__......:...___......

$ ATE:05/18/89

05/18/89

05/16/89

b/\\/89

(g/.(/89

Q/[,/89 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY l

i

s g, i j

GP/NYLTR i

With respect to.the issue of " dilution" or " transformation" of Class C waste into either Class A or B waste, NRC does not-encourage such practices.

However, depending on waste form, it does allow the concentration of radionuclides to.be averaged over the volume of the container. Although this-j may allow waste to be classified at a lower classification, it is acceptable j

only in ose cases where the waste is stabilized within a container using a s

solidific tion medium that results in a solid mass within the container.

With respect to the second resolution (Assembly No. 479), regarding an extension of a cess to the existing sites, we recognize that States and i

Compacts may en unter individual difficulties in their progress toward meeting the miles nes of the LLRWPAA. However..we do not believe that, in the aggregate, they arrant a delay in the end.date of interim access.

j Moreover, an effort t secure such a delay may add uncertainty to the disposal i

d:velopment process na ionwide, and cause unwarranted slippages.

We appreciate the opportu ity to comment on the legislative resolutions that I

you provided.

Sincerely, l

l l

Victor Stello, Jr.

Executive Director for Operations

(

,EDO4443)

Distribution:

7 Central File"iO92333*

RBangart HThompson JBlaha NMSS ' die ~0ff. }/f" JGreeves VStello, EDO JTaylor j

EDO r/f JFunches CJenkins.

NMSS r/f RFonner, OGC MBell AHenry FCombs,GPA/SLITP JJSurmeier PLohaus JJones JBradburne,GPA/0CA i

SECY DMorris, EDO (444 OB rf PDR YES / /

PDR NO

/ / Category: Proprietary L/

or Only / /

ACNW YES / /

NO /-' 7

. SUBJECT AB5 TRACT:

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTIONS CONCERNI LL RADI0 ACTIVE WASTE

See Previous Concurrence 1

lLLOB*

LLOB*

TEdit*

LLWM*

NM55 4GPa

....../ :...periello Bangart

'JGreeves

GPangburn/jj:JShaffner

PLohaus

EKraus 05/15/89

05/15/89 05/15/89

05/15/89

05/16/89

05/1 89

f/ g/89

\\

GPA/SLITP*

DEDS

EDO NM55 EPA /DCA g

,Bern:ro

JBra urne :FCombs

HThompson

VStello l

o...........:............:............:............:............:............:..

S'//g/89

f//f/89

05/16/89

/ /89

/ /89 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY,

V 1

(

o 1

i GP/NYLTR 2

With respect to the issue of " dilution" or " transformation" of Class C waste

- into either Class A or 8 waste, NRC does not encourage such practices.

However, depending on waste form, it does allow the concentration of radionuclides to be averaged over the volume of the container. Although this may allow waste to be classified at a lower classification, it is acceptable only fri those cases where the waste is stabilized within a container using a j

solidification medium that results in a solid mass within the container.

With respects to the second resolution (Assembly No. 479), regarding an extension of access to the existing sites, we recognize that States and Compacts may encounter individual difficulties in their progress toward meeting the milestones of the LLRWPAA.

However, we do not believe that, in the aggregate, they warrant a delay in the end date of interim access.

Moreover, an effort to secure such a delay may add uncertainty to the disposal 1

development process nationwide, and cause unwarranted slippages.

We appreciate the opportun'ity to comment on the legislative resolutions that you provided.

Victor Stello, Jr.

Distribution:

(ED04443)

Central File RBangart HThompson JBlaha NMSS Dir. Off. r/f JGreeves VStello, ED0 JTaylor EDO r/f JFunches CJenkins NMSS r/f I

RFonner, 0GC MBell AHenry N FCombs, GPA/SLITP JJSurmeier PLohaus JJones N JBradburne, GPA/0CA SECY DMorris, EDO (4443) OB rf PDR YES / /

\\

PDR NO

/ / Category: Proprietary / /

or CF Only / /

\\

s ACNW YES / /

N0 / /

\\

SUBJECT AB5 TRACT:

EEUISLATIVE RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING LL RADI0 ACTIVE

WASTE

See Previous Concurrence

\\

n

\\

'C

LLOB*

TEdit*

LLWM*

LLWM/jy

NMS(

c..:__..........:.......__...:............:-___________:.___........:

...._ g...__

NE :GPangburn/jj:JShaffner

PLohaus

EKraus

JGreeves

RLBangart

CPaperib(lo c..:.....__....:....___.....:_________.._:_..___.....:.......__..:...__......:.........

JE :05/15/89

05/15/89

05/16/89

0$////89

/ /89

'C

NM55

GPA/0CA

GPA/SLITP* :DED5

EDO KE :RBernero

JBradburne :FCombs

HThompson

VStello ME :

/ /89

05/16/89

/ /89

/ /89 0FFICIAL RECORD COPY g

i 4

GP/NYLTR 2

With respect to the issue of " dilution" or " transformation" of Class C waste into either Class A or B waste, NRC does not encourage such practices.

However, depending on waste form, it does allow the concentration of radionuclides to be averaged over the volume of the container. Although this may allow waste to be classified at a lower classification, it is acceptable only in those cases where the waste is stabilized within a container using a solidification medium that results in a solid mass within the container.

Withrespecttothesecondresolution(AssemblyNo.479),regardingan extension of access to the existing sites, we recognize that States and Compacts may encounter individual difficulties in their progress toward meeting the milestones of the LLRWPAA. However, we do not believe that, in the aggregate, they warrant a delay in the end date of interim access.

Moreover, an effort to secure such a delay may add uncertainty to the disposal development process nationwide, and cause unwarranted slippages.

We appreciate the opportunity to comment on the legislative resolutions that you provided.

Victor Stello, Jr.

Executive Director for Operations Distribution: (EDO4443)

Central File RBangart HThompson JBlaha NMSS Dir.. Off. r/f JGreeves VStello, EDO JTaylor EDO r/f JFunches CJenkins NMSS r/f RFonner,OGC MBell AHenry FCombs,GPA/SLITP JJSurmeier PLohaus JJones JBradburne, GPA/0CA SECY DMorris, EDO (4443) OB rf PDR YES /7 PDR NO

/ / Category: Proprietary L / '

or CF Only / /

ACNW YES

/-~~7 NO / /

SUBJECT AB5 TRACT:

ITGISEATT E RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING LL RADI0 ACTIVE WASTE

See Previous Concurrence

LLOB*

TEdit*

LLWM

NMSS 0.:............:............:............:............:..

G:GPangburn/jj:JShaffner

PLohaus

EKraus es

RLBangart

CPaperiello e.:............:..........__:..___.......:............:

W :05/15/89

05/15/89

f7/689x

/ /89

\\

NMSS

GPA/DCA

G

. TP

DEDS

EDO c.:............:...__...___.:.

E:RBernero

JBradburne

.HThompson

VStello

N e.:............:............:.

\\

/ 6/89

/

/ /89

/ /89 E: / /89

/ /89 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

GP/NYLTR x

2-N N

With respect to the issue of " dilution" or " transformation" of. Class C waste into either Class A or B waste, NRC does not encourage such practices.

However, depending upon waste form, we do allow the concentration of

. radionuclides to be averaged over the volume of the' container. While this may allow waste to be classified at a lower classification, it is acceptable only in those cases where the waste is stabilized within a: container using a s

solidification medium'which results in a solid mass within the container.

With respect to the second resolution (Assembly No.-479), regarding an extension of access to the existing sites, we recognize that States and' Compacts'may encounter. individual difficulties in their progress toward meeting the milestones of the.LLRWPAA.

However, we do not believe that, in the aggregate, they warrant a' delay in the end date of interim access.

Moreover, an effort to secure su_ch a delay may add uncertainty to the disposal-development process nationwide a'nd cause unwarranted slippages.

We appreciate the opportunity to comment on the-legislative resolutions which you provided.

Vickor Stello, Jr.

Executive Director for Operations Distribution:

(EDO4443)

Central File RBangart HTh'ompson JBlaha NMSS Dir. Off. r/f JGreeves VStello, EDO-JTaylor :

EDO r/f JFunches CJenkins HMSS r/f RFonner, OGC MBell AHenry FCombs,GPA/SLITP JJSurmeier PLohaus JJones

\\

JBradburne, GPA/0CA' SECY DMorris, EDO (4443)

\\

s PDR YES / /

N

'\\

PDR NO

,/_/ Category: Proprietary / /

or CF Only /~7 %

ACNW YES / /

NO / /

SUBJECT AB5 TRACT:

lTUISLATIVE RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING LL RADI0 ACTIVE WASTE m /~)

an

'N g

TEdit

LLWM

NMSS

LLO Q.....::.....p M LLOB

LLO FC

.Eh..:............:............:........g....:...........

0...:......

$E :GPangburn/jj:JShaffner

PLo aus

EKraus

JGreeves

RLBangart'N :CPaperiello-

...:.g...,......:............:............:............:............:............:...........

0 pTE: 5/l6/89

5 //J/89

f/jf/89

/ /89

't

/ /89 s

FC :NM55

GPA/DCA

GPA/SLITP

DEDS

EDO N

o

\\

$E :RB2rnero

JBradburne :FCombs

HThompson

VStello s...:............:............:............:............:............:............:...........

%TE:

/ /89

/ /89 4

0FFICIAL RECORD COPY

4

.i

.r GP/NYLTR 3-Distribution:

(Ticket # EDO 0004443)

Central File #

RBangart, LLWM JGreeves, LLWMN NMSSDir.0ff.rfK; EDO rf JFunches, HMSS

\\

RFonner, OGC

\\

MBell, LLRB JSurmeier, LLTB PLohaus, LLOB

\\

CPaperiello, NMSS

'\\

RBernero, NMSS-

\\

HThompson, NMSS

\\

VStello, NMSS EKraus, HMSS CJenkins, NMSS

\\

AHenry, LLWM

\\

JJones, LLOB tf s

TCombs,GPA/0CA

\\

SDrogittis,GPA/SLITP

'N j

JJones, LLOB rf j

NMSS rf 1

POR YES L/

\\

l PDR NO L/ Category: Proprietary / /

or CF Only-/ /

\\

ACNW YES /~/

NO O K

q SUBJECT ABSTRACT:

\\

OFC :LLOB

LLOB

TEdit.

LLWM N:NM55

NM55 j

NAME:GPangburn/jj :JShaffner:PLohaus :E

JGreeves :RB,angart :CPaperiello DATE:

/ /89

/ /89 :

/ /89 : t/s5/89 :

/./89 :

/

89 : '/ /89 N

\\

OFC :NM55

NM55

GPA/DCA :GPA/5LITP

.l

.....................................................................N..........

\\

q NAME:RBernero

HThompson

VStello :JBradburne:FCos s'

\\

DATE:

/ /89

/ /89 :

/ /89 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY i

GP/NYLTR 2

With respect to the issue of " dilution" or " transformation" of Class C waste into either Class A or B waste, NRC does not encourage such practices.

However, depending on waste form, it does allow the concentration of radionuclides to be averaged over the volume of the container. Although this may allow waste to be classified at a lower classification, it is acceptable only ir. those cases where the waste is stabilized within a container using a solidifi ation medium that results in a solid mass within the container.

With res ect to the second resolution (Assembly No. 479), regarding en extensio of access to the existing sites, we recognize that States and Compacts m encounter individual difficulties in their progress toward meeting the ilestones of the LLRWPAA. However, we do not believe that, in the aggregat they warrant a delay in the end date of interim access.

Moreover, an e fort to secure such a delay may add uncertainty to the disposal development pro ss nationwide, and cause unwarranted slippages.

We appreciate the portunity to comment on the legislative resolutions that you provided.

Sincerely, Victor Stello, Jr.

Distribution:

(EDO4443)

Central File RBangar HThompson JBlaha NMSS Dir. Off. r/f JGreeves VStello, EDO JTaylor EDO r/f JFunches CJenkins HMSS r/f RFonner, 0GC MBell AHenry FCombs,GPA/SLITP JJSurmeier PLohaus JJones JBradburne, GPA/0CA SECY DMorris, ED0 (4 3) OB rf PDR YES /- 7 PDR NO

/ / Category: Proprietary / /

or F Only / /

ACNW YES

/-~7 HO / /

SUBJECT AB5 TRACT:

[EEISLATIVE RESOLUTIONS CONCERNIh LL RADI0 ACTIVE WASTE

See Previous Concurrence I

L

L t'

W*

Lh

i AME :GPangburn/jj:JShaffner

PLohaus

EKraus

JCreeves

RL ngart

CPaperiello ATE :05/15/89

05/15/89

05/16/89

05/17

/ /89

\\

FC :NM55

GPA/DCA

GPA/SLITP* :0GC

DEDS

EDO i

AME :RBernero

JBradburne :fCombs

RFonner

HThompson

VStello ATE : / /89

/ /89

05/16/89

/ /89

_ _ - ~ ~ - ~ ~ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - - - - - - - - _ -..

- ~..

)

I UNITE 3ST TES

~

8 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION g

h WASHetN TON,D.C.20066 j

% q,,,

EDO Principal Correspondence Control DUE: 05/17/89

'EDO CONTROL: 0004443 FROM:

i DOC DTs' 04/00/89 FINAL REPLY:

PAUL D. TONKO NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY TO:

JOHN BRADDURNE, OCA FOR SIGNATURE OF:

- GRN CRC NO: 89-0419:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DESC:

ROUTING:

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING LOW-LEVEL

,STELLO RADIOACTIVE WASTE TAYLOR-THOMPSON DATE: 05/01/89 BLAHA ASSIGNED TO:

CONTACT:

NMSS BERNERO l

l SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:-

COORDINATE RESPONSE WITH GPA/DCA

~i

)

a IVt*k coyw Swe J/ ;yW e\\

wwn~is<.uon t

a

-pp..o e-

.. z I

i

~

Isy._.. 5. I 2_ ' E q

.+

~ ~ ~ ~

.,~. _

8m l

1

'r u

q.

..., _ ;. 'x-

}

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY::

CORRESPONDENCE, CONTROL TICKET 3'.

' PAPER NUMBER:~

CRC-89-0419 LOGGING DATE: May' 1~89.

ACTION OFFICE' EDO AUTHOR: '

P.D. Tonko.

.. AFFILIATION:.

NY,' STATE ASSEMBLY

.a LETTER DATE:.

- - - - f FILE CODE:

SUBJECT:

legislative Resolutions concerning, low-level radioactive waste

.0 ACTION:

Direct Reply-DISTRIBUTION:

.RF, GPA j

i SPECIAL HANDLING:

NOTES:

EDO'to-Coordinate Response with GPA/OCA.

]

DATE DUE:

May 15 89

.j 1

SIGNATURE:

DATE SIGNED:

AFFILIATION:

l j

I I

.I gg ~~73 knC/PL nme &'q.se 6 *n3 EDO---D04443

ML20244C957

Text

Dear Mr. Tonko:

SUBJECT:

Navigation menu

Search