ML20246F066
| ML20246F066 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/08/1989 |
| From: | Bernero R NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Pasternak A CALIFORNIA RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS MANAGEMENT FORUM |
| References | |
| REF-WM-3 NUDOCS 8903160444 | |
| Download: ML20246F066 (7) | |
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Alan Pasternak, Ph.D.
fE Technical Director
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Dear Dr..,
Pastebesk:
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q I am pleased to respond 'to your letter of February 2, '1989, to Chairman Iech,' '
U.S. -Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). We note that your letter was' also -
addressed to Lee. Thomas, Administrator,' U.S. Environmental Protection g'
Agency (EPA), in response to-an EPA request. for comments,,
Y You' express E strong _ concern, which we share, that th9 objectives of the.
Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act.(LLRWA) be met. You also state your J
belief that dual regulation by HRC and EPA of the disposal of mixed low-level 1
radioactive and hazardous waste is a "very serious ; institutional. obstacle" to.
fmeeting these' objectives. As a solution,Jyou ask thatt EPA'and NRC make a broad fin: ling that EPA's regttlations fo: haardous raste disposal are l
with'HRC's regulations for low-level radioactive waste disposal. inconsistent;
, within the 1
l-meaning of-Section 1005(a) of the' Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
(RCRA), Such a finling would void ' application of EPA regulations to the-i disposal of mixed waste and allow disposal of mixed waste at any site authorized to dispose of ordinary low-level radioactive waste.-
7n We must agree that there are differences'in the: regulatory approaches j
takch by NRC and EPA.- However, we also believe that"it is feasible tu develop a program meeting both sets of, req'uirements., This dual regulatory approach is consistent with the intent of_ Congress; It will also meet Congressional objectives of protecting the>public fr # the' effects-of radioactive materiah and at the same time protecting the public from hazardous s
materials in the manner pressribed by Congress.
In support of your. request you idcutify several, perceived technical and-1 l
procedural incons'istencies between the two sets of regulations', and argue that L
applicationco? NRC's regulations alone provides.ade(rjate protection of public-health and safety. These issues are addressed individually in the enclosure to this letter.
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Should you wish to discuss this further, please call Mr. John,T. Greeves, Actitig Director, Division of Low. Level Waste Management and Deconnissioning..at 1
(301)4923342.
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L Sincerely, j
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R. L. Browning for:
l-1 Robert'M. Bernero, Director j
Office of Nuclear Material Safety o
and Safeguards
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cc: Sylvia Lowrance, U.S. EPA Betty Shackleford, U.S. EPA f
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Distribution:
(E004252) scouranMiet NMSS SUBJ 207.4, 411.4 l: '
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l SUBJECT ABSTilACT:
RESPONSE'TO A. PASTERNAK ON MIXED WASTE
- SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE DTC :LLRB *
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NAME:DMartin/lj:TJohnson:MBell
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DATE:03/03/89= 03/03/89 :03/03/89 :03/03/89-:03/03/89 :03/ 3/89 :
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
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Should y (wish to discuss this further, please call Mr. John T. Greeves, l
Acting Direct.or, Division of Low-level Waste Management and Deconnissioning, at (301)492-3342\\
Sincerely',
Robert M.'Bernero, Director
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Office of Nuchar,Matertal Saf.ety q
and Safegue"Js l
cc: ' Sylvia Lowrance, U.S. EPf.
j Betty Shackleford, U.S. EPA
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'I Distribution:
(E00 4202) j Central File: NMSS SUBJ 207.4, 411.4
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HMSS r/f 1.LRB r/f MBell, LLRB TJchnson, LLRB DMartin, LLRB JSurmeier, LLTB PLohaus, LLGB DMorris(EDO4252)
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PDR/NUDOC5 Yes /// Ho.
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ACNW Yes 6f No
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SUBJECT ABSTRACT:
RESPONSE TO A. PASTERNAK 0 MIXED WASTE l
- SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENC yE 1
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DATE:03/03/89
- 03/03/89 :03/03/89 :03/03/89 :03/03/89 :03/ /89.:-
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- Should'you'w1sh. to discuss this furthe'r, plcase call Mr. John T. 'Greeves,.
M Acting Director, Division of tow. Level Wste Hanagement and Decommissioning, at J
(30j)492-3312.
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Sincerely,
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Robert M.' Berneror Director l
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Office of kuclear Material Snfety
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Betty Shackleford, P S'1 EPA -
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L Sheuld pish to discuss this furth6r, please call Mr. John T. Greeves,.
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.(301)g Director,'Divisicn of! Low-Leral Waste Management and Decommissioning, a 402-334.
Sincerely, t
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- Robert M. Bernere, Director Office of Nuclear. Material Safety 4
and Safeguards 1
cc: Sylvie Lowrance, U.S. EPA Betty S.hackleford, U.S. EPA Distribution:
Central File:- NMSS SU3J 207.4, 411.
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PDR/NUDOCS Yes / N No L/
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OFFICIAL RECORD COPY j
i RESPONSE TO MIXED WASTE ISSUES _ RAISED BY ALAN PASTERNAK
-Inconsistency: EPA Requiredient tor Double Bottom Liners You characterized EPA's requirement for double liners with integral leachato monitoring and collection'as an inconsistency under Section 1006(a) of RCRA.
Youl point to NRC's'and EPA's, " Joint NRC-EPA Guidance onLa Conceptual Design Approach for Commercial Mixed :.ow-Level Radioactive and Hazardous Waste
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Disposal Facilities" as further avidence of inconsistency. On the contrary,
- he joint NRC-EPA conceptual design illustrates.that it is-feasible'to have EPA-required double liners in a design which also meets NRC regulations and will avoid the " bathtub" effect. Therefore, the EPA double. liner requ.irement-is notinconsistentunderSection1006(a).
Also, there.are four designated host States actively planning to incorporate' mixed waste disposal capacity at their. low-level waste disposal sites in full Nebraska, Pennsylvania; and Texas)quirements. These States (Illinois, compliance with all RCRA design re 1
all anticipate success in developing designs.which will meet both sets of regulations.
Inconsistency:
EPA Requirement for Waste Inspection at Disposal Site EPA regulations appearing at 40 CFR 264.13 would require disposal site operators to obtain detailed chemical and physical analyses of representative-l samples; the analyses may include " existing published or documented data,"
which may allow the use of generator-supplied manifest information. Operators a
must " inspect and, if necessary, analyze each hazardous waste movement received at the facility to determine whether it matches the -identity of.the waste specified on the manifest." These analyses and inspections must be performed according to a " written waste analysis plan" which the operator would be required to develop and follow.
i Depending on how these requirements are implemerited which is yet to be determined, there may or may not be additional radiation exposures significantly above those resulting from current requirements in license.
conditions for inspection and random verification testing of low-level waste packages by disposal site operators. A generic conclusion that' these EPA requirements are inconsistent cannot be supported at this time because there.is no factual basis upon which to reach such a conclusion.
EPA and NRC intend to develop joint guidance on sampling and testing to address this issue.
Procedural Inconsistencies Under the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act (LLRWPAA), the NRC must attempt to complete license application reviews for low-level t
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waste disposal sites in fifteen months, exclusive of hearings. As you point out, EPA has nu similar requirement, but we do not agree that this constitutes an inconsistency under Section 1006(a)' of RCRA.
Public Health and Safety P'rotection Whether or not application of EPA regulations to mixed waste disposal will provide a substantial increase in health and. safety protection has not l
been detcraina?. Certain features, such as the double liner (with leachate detection and collection) and 30-year. post-closure care period,
. appear tc ofi'cr enhanced protection of groundwater, at least temporarily.
. i The joint.NRC/E.oA mixed waste df tposal. facility design provides for the l
minimization of water contact wfth wastes and therefore, long-term
. protection against releases.
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