ML20245G529
| ML20245G529 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/19/1989 |
| From: | Moeller D NRC ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NUCLEAR WASTE (ACNW) |
| To: | Zech L NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| References | |
| NACNUCLE-S-0009, NACNUCLE-S-9, NUDOCS 8908160065 | |
| Download: ML20245G529 (5) | |
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UNITED STATES
' If, NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION'
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Y WASHINGTON, D.C. 20666 May 19, 1989 The Honorable Lando W. Zech, Jr.
Chairman U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission Washington, D. C.
20555
Dear Chairman Zech:
SUBJECT:
NINTH MEETING OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NUCLEAR WASTE, APRIL 26-28, 1989 The Advisory Comittee on Nuclear Waste (ACHW) held its 9th meeting in Bethesda, Maryland, on April 26-28, 1989.
A sumary of actions is presented below.
REPORTS, LETTERS AND MEMORANDA The Comittee completed letters on the following subjects:
1.
Draft Technical Position on Postclosure Seals in an Unsaturated Medium 2.
Proposed Waste Confidence Decision by the Waste Confidence Review Group 3.
Proposed Comission Policy on Exemptions from Regulatory Control 4.
Management of Mixed Hazardous and Low-Level Radioactive Wastes Reports on the subjects noted above were sent to you on May 3, 1989.
5.
In response to an inquiry during the meeting with the Commissioners on April 27, 1989, Dr. Moeller completed a memorandum to Commissioner Curtiss on the Activities of the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board. A copy of this memorandum has been sent to you.
6.
The Comittee completed a memorandum to Mr. Victor Stello, Executive Director for Operations, on ACNW Meeting Follow-up Items.
A copy of this memorandum has been sent to you.
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The Honorable Lando W. Zech, Jr. May 19, 1989 OTHER ACTIONS, AGREEMENTS, ASSIGNMENTS AND REQUESTS Technical Position on Post Closure Seals in an Unsaturated Medium The Committee was briefed by the NRC staff on the borehole and shaft sealing conceptual design, the regulatory requirements that pertain to the seal design, performance requirements, performance confirmation testing, and the need for the Technical Position.
The Committee was also briefed on the proposed resolution of related public coments.
The Comittee discussed the approach and adequacy of the guidance provided in the draft Technical Position and prepared a letter report to you.
Preliminary Findings of the Waste Confidence Review Group Dr. Moeller briefed the Comittee on the Working Group meeting on this topic held on April 19, 1989.
The Comittee discussed the review of waste confidence proceeding findings and provided a report to you.
The draf t finding is expected to be published in June for public comment.
It is likely that it will be ready for the Comittee to revisit (n November 1989.
Hanagement of Mixed Hazardous and Radioactive Low-Level Wastes The Comittee was briefed by the NRC and NUMARC staff on the management of mixed hazardous and low-level radioactive wastes.
Industries involved in low-level radioactive wastes disposal are claiming a burden due to the dual regulation of mixed waste by NRC and EPA.
Committee coments have been provided to you.
Status of the Site Characterization Plan (SCP) Review and the Production of the Site Characterization Analysis (SCA)
Mr. Robert Browning, NMSS, stated that the Branch Draft SCA is scheduled to be completed by May 8, the Division Draf t SCA by May 22, and the final Office Draft SCA is scheduled to be provided to ACNW by June 2, 1989.
l Exemptions from Regulatory Control The Committee was briefed by the NRC staff on the proposed policy statement on exemptions from regulatory control.
The NRC staff discussed the current schedule for major policy improvements.
The Comittee prepared a letter l
report.
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The Honorable Lando W. Zech, Jr. May 19, 1989 l
On a separate topic, the Comittee was briefed by the NRC staff on procedures for handling petitions for disposal of radioactive waste streams which are
.below regulatory concern that qualify for expedited handling.
Expedited handling means reviewing these rulemaking packages and having them ready for Comission approval in 7 to 12 months. The Comittee agreed to examine the first few expedited petitions on a trial basis.
The Comittee will schedule briefings during the 60-day initial comment period, and again at 120 days following the public comment period.
LicensingSupportSystem(LSS)
The Comittee was briefed by the NRC staff on the negotiated rulemaking and development of the LS$ in support of the HLW repository licensing proceeding.
The LSS is expected to facilitate document discovery in advance of the license application.
This was an information briefing only.
No Comittee action was taken.
Future ACNW Activities The Comittee agreed to review the programs of the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses (CNWRA) in the near future.
The Comittee does not plan to visit the Center anytime soon.
The Comittee. reconfirmed its intention to visit the West Valley Demonstra-tion Project in October 1989.
The Comittee discussed the proposed schedule for conduct of rulemaking activities associated with the High-Level Waste Program for FY 1989.
The ACNW expressed interest in participating in a number of the ongoing rule-makings.
The Comittee requested that Mr. Blaha, Assistant for Operations, be advised of the Comittee's interest.
FUTURE ACTIVITIES The Committee agreed to the tentative future agenda as shown in Appendix A.
Sincerely, k
Dade W. Moeller Chairman l
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i APPENDIX A FUTURE AGENDA 10th ACNW Meeting on May 11, 1989 i
Update on the Site Characterization Plan (0 pen) - The Comittee will be briefed on the status of the NRC review of the SCP and will review selected sections of the Branch Draft Site Characterization Analysis (SCA).
Final Technical Position on Environmental Monitoring (0 pen) - The Comittee will be briefed on the final technical position of environmental monitoring of LLW disposal facilities.
Comittee Activities (0 pen) - The Comittee will discuss anticipated and proposed Committee activities, future meeting agenda, and organizational matters, as appropriate.
lith ACNW Meeting on June 13, 1989 (tentative)
Site Characterization Analysis (SCA) (0 pen) - The Comittee will be briefed on the status of the NRC review of the Site Characterization Plan (SCP) and will continue its review of the SCA.
Comittee Activities (0 pen) - The Comittee will discuss anticipated and proposed Comittee activities, future meeting agenda, and organizational matters, as appropriate.
12th ACNW Meeting on June 28-30, 1989 (tentative)
Waste Management Research Program and Strategy Plan (0 pen)
The Comittee will be briefed on the HLW and LLW research programs, including the activ-ities of the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses.
Status of Cementatious Waste Forms (0 pen)
The Comittee will be briefed on the status of cementatious LLW forms and the reporting of mishaps involv-ing LLW forms prepared for disposal, SECY-89-116, (H. Thompson).
Site Characterization Analysis (0 pen) - The Comittee will finalize coments on the SCA/SCP, if not completed on June 13, 1989.
The Comittee will be Greater-Than-Class C Radioactive Wastes (0 pen) briefed on the DOE storage and disposal of Greater-Than-Class C radioactive wastes.
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6, APPENDIX A 13th ACNW Meeting on July 26-27, 1989 (tentative)
Neeting with the Commission (0 pen)
Performance Assessment (0 pen)
The Committee will be briefed on the NRC approach to performance assessment and status of (internal) activities (NMSS/RES Memorandum of Understanding).
EPA Low Level Waste Standards (0 pen) - The Committee will be briefed on radionuclides release standards for LLW disposal sites.
Status of NRC/D0E Interactions on DOE Quality Assurance (0 pen) 14th ACNW Meeting on September 13-15, 1989 (tentative)
'The Committee will be briefed on the Retrievability Demonstration (0 pen)
Technical Position on demonstration of retrievability during site characteri-zation.
Tectonic Models (0 pen)
The Committee will be briefed on the technical position on tectonic models.
The Committee will invite representatives of DOE Data Availability (0 pen) and USGS to discuss problems related to delays in making data available and coming to closure.
Meeting with Director of Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) (0 pen) -
The Committee will be briefed by NRR on the licensing program for LLW han-dling systems, fuel compaction, decontamination and decommissioning.
The Committee will discuss any crossover issues with representatives of NMSS and the EDO.
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