ML20247D820
| ML20247D820 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 07/21/1989 |
| From: | Stello V NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Horton F HOUSE OF REP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20247D825 | List: |
| References | |
| REF-WM-3 NUDOCS 8907250312 | |
| Download: ML20247D820 (7) | |
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UNITED STATES 8-NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION o
E WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 k*.****
July 21, 1989
. The Honorable Frank Horton United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C.
20515
Dear Congressman Horton:
On June 10, 1989 you forwarded to NRC concerns raised by New York State
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Assemblyman Clarence Rappleyea in his recent. letter to you. Mr. Rappleyea is -
I concerned that New York may not be able to meetLits responsibility to ensure the disposal of its commercial low-level radioactive waste as assigned by.
Federal statutes, the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act (LLRWPA) of 1980 and Amendments Act (LLRWPAA) of 1985.
These statutes. afford States substantial flexibility.in implementing strategies for managing and disposing of their low-level waste. Since 1980 the LLRWPA has provided States with the opportunity to join interstate. compacts or to make contractual agreements in order to reduce the number of disposal facilities.
The revision in 1985 ainended the LLRWPA' and set deadlines and conditions for.
continued use of existing disposal facilities. The extension of access to the currently operating disposal sites-from 1986 to 1993 was considered a major concession by the States with operating disposal sites during the.. negotiations l
that led to the passing of the LLRWPAA.
New York State is well aware of these provisions and has been taking steps to implement the LLRWPAA for some time.'
Mr. Rappleyea identifies a number of issues that argue against al facility being' built in New York State. His concerns relate more to institutional issues rather than technical issues. He has not raised any. public health and safety-issues that cannot be dealt withiduring the licensing process.
One of Mr. Rappleyea's concerns is' the number of disposal facilities that are expected to be built. For some time it has been clear that increasing the-
. number of facilities will increase _the cost of disposal per unit.. volume.
However, Congre". permitted States to form Compacts of their own choosing to.-
meet the requirements of the LLRWPAA. A number of-. States:and Compacts see.
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advantages in building their own exclusive facilities or forming small compact regions.
It would. require Congressional action to change the emerging pattern and number of potential sites.
Another concern raised by Mr. Rappleyea is' the' suitability of New York's' j
l terrain and geology. We have no indication that New York lacks suitable' sites j
1 for low-level waste disposal facilities.
New York State'is considering a a
number of alternative disposal concepts including mined cavities.-
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'The memo attached to Mr. Rappleyea's letter raises the concern of recisssifying.
1 Class C low-level waste as.high-level waste. NRC's regulations in 10 CFR Part 61 establish requirements for licensing facilities 'for disposal of 1
low-level waste by land disposal. The regulation includes a classification system based on concentration limits of radionuclides and corresponding disposal requirements. From the standpoint'of public health and safety, Class C waste can be disposed of safely as low-level radioactive waste.. Although 1
Class C waste has the highest allowable concentration limits under Part 61 for l
low-level waste, it must be disposed of under restrictive waste form and disposal requirements. Congress considered making Class C waste a Federal responsibility during its deliberations on the LLRWPAA but declined to do so. Waste with concentrations exceeding the Class C limits is considered generally unacceptable for near-surface land disposal, and onder the LLRWPAA, the disposal of this " greater-than-Class-C" waste is made a responsibility of the Federal government.
l In summary, Mr. Rappleyea suggests extending the date for denial of access beyond 1993 in order to gain additional time for New York to evaluate its approach. So far the milestone dates have been effective in bringing about political and technical progress toward providing adequate low-level waste disposal capacity. The milestone dates and the consequences attached to them are the result of deliberate Congressional action. New legislation would be required to change them.
Sincerely, Ong;n:J sigdi VdsrSWb#/-
Victor Stello, Jr.
Executive Director for Operations
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.I Distribution:
(EDO.0004571)
A entral File # 409.33 JSurmeier, LLTB
.JGreeves, LLWM
.MBell, LLWM
VStello, EDO j
EDO.' r/f DMorris,ED0(4571)-
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RFonner, DGC CJenkins, PHPI_
JLepre, LLWM JJones, LLOB t/f SECY St.or?/
JShaffner,LLOB-MDunkelman, LLOB JJones, LLOB r/f VMiller, GPA NMSS r/f:
I PDR NO
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or CF Only / /
1 ACNW YES /T7 NO L/
SUBJECT ABSTRACT:
ED0 TICKET-4571-N.Y. ASSEMBLYMAN RAPPLEYEAT
- See previous concurrence OFC :LLOB *
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>1 NAME:MDunkelman/jj
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-JGreeves, LLWM
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JAustin, LLRB JSurmeier LLTB.
j NMSS Dir.0ff r/f PLohaus, LLOB HThompson, DEDS VStello. ED0
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DMorris,EDil(4571)
GArlotto,NMSS/D0 RBernero,NMSS/D0
.l RFonner, 0GC CJenkins, PMPI Jtepre, LLWM JJones, LLOB t/f SECY JShaffner,LLOB MDunkelman, LLOB JJones, LLOB r/f.
l VMiller, GPA.
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ACNW YES /T"7..
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i SUBJECT ABSTRACT:
EDO TICKET 4571.N.Y2 ASSEMBLYMAN RAPPLEYEA.
j QUESTIONS ON LLW FROM REP. FRANK HORTON-
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NAME:MDunkelman/jj :JShaf ner
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DATE:07/ 7/89
- 07/ 7 /89
- 07/ 7 /89-
- 0//'l/89
- 07/ /89 0FC :NMSS
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- EDO NAME:RBernero
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DATE:07/ /89
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- 07/ /89;
- 07/ /89 0FFICIAL RECORD COPY
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Author's Name:
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Document. Comments:
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(ED0-4571)N.Y.Assmbly.Rappleyea Q.LLW frm. Rep. Frank Horton
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FROM:
DUE: 07/07/89 EDO CONTROL: 0004571 i
DOC DT: 06/10/89 FINAL REPLY:
REP. FRANK HORTON
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TO:
CHAIRMAN ZECH m '2 FOR SIGNATURE OF
- GRN CRC N : 89-0571 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DESC:
ROUTING:
ENCL. LETTER FM NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLYMAN CLARENCE RAPPLEYEA RE LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE SITING PROCESS IN NEW YORK DATE: 06/26/89 b
ASSIGNED TO:
CONTACT:
NMSS SERNERO SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:
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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
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PAPER NUMBER:
CRC-89-0571 LOGGING DATE: Jun 15 89
$ DG ACTION OFFICE:
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[Q AUTHOR:
F. Horton--Const Ref AFFILIATION:
U.S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES N >
LETTER DATE:
Jun 10 89 FILE CODE:
N D
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SUBJECT:
Express concern that the federal stature requirihg Q states to take responsibility for diposal of low W i
level nuc waste will lead to problems og ACTION:
Direct Reply DISTRIBUTION:
OCA to Ack SPECIAL HANDLING: None
-i NOTES:
Clar ce Rappleyea DATE DUE:
Jun 89 SIGNATURE:
DATE SIGNED:
AFFILIATION:
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