ML20247G865

Summary of 97th Meeting of ACNW on 971216-17 & Other Related Committee Activities Re Highlights of Key Issues Considered by Committee

ML20247G865
Person / Time
Issue date:	01/22/1998
From:	Garrick B NRC ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NUCLEAR WASTE (ACNW)
To:	Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
References
NACNUCLE-S-0094, NACNUCLE-S-94, NUDOCS 9805200361
Download: ML20247G865 (5)

Text

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION g

e ADtfiSORY COMMITTEE ON NUCLEAR WASTE PDR D

WASHINGTON. D.C. 20555 f /g g January 22, 1998 l

The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission Washington. D.C.

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SUMMARY

REPORT - 97TH MEETING OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NUCLEAR WASTE. DECEMBER 16-18. 1997 AND OTHER RELATED COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES

Dear Chairman Jackson:

During its 97th meeting on December 16-18, 1997, at Two White Flint North. 11545 Rockville Pike. Rockville Maryland, the Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste (ACNW) discussed several matters and completed the following report:

REPORT Report to the Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson Chairman. NRC. from Dr. B. John

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Garrick. Chairman. ACNW. *1998 Strategic Plan and Priority Issues for the Advisory Comittee on Nuclear Waste." dated December 23, 1997.

HIGHLIGHTS OF KEY ISSUES CONSIDERED BY THE COMMITTEE 1.

Health Effects From Low Levels of Ionizina Radiation Drs. Myron Pollycove and Carl Paperiello. Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS), and Drs. Vince Holahan and Shlomo Yaniv. Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, provided the Committee with an update on the status of several activities in the area of health effects from low levels of ionizing radiation.

Dr. Pollycove discussed the recent International Atomic Energy Agency conference held in Seville. Spain. on this topic and discussed an earlier relevant conference at the Wingspread conference center in Racine. Wisconsin.

Both conferences discussed the biological effects of low levels of ionizing radiation and whether sufficient information was available at this time to determine an acceptable threshold level. (Neither conference attained a consensus on this topic.) Dr. Pollycove also discussed several other pertinent studies, some from the recent past and some currently underway.

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The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson 2

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e Dr. Holahan provided an update on the status of two NRC-sponsored projects:

the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements

• Subcommittee SC1-6 study on the linear, no-threshold (LNT) theory and the study underway by the National Academy of Sciences on the potential efficacy of producing a BEIR VII study on the effects from low levels of ionizing radiation.

Dr. Paperiello discussed several aspects of the regulatory perspective of the LNT theory with the Committee. He expressed concern about the current polarization of opinions of those in the field as to the applicability or non-applicability of the current LNT theory. He also indicated interest in mechanisms that could bring the experts on both sides of the issue to the table for meaningful discussions.

Conclusions / Action It=c The Committee indicated its intent to sponsor a working group on the topic in the near future as the results of several of the current studies become available. The intent of such a working group will be to facilitate a technical exchange between several of the experts in the field and will place particular emphasis on the field of molecular biology.

2.

Meetina with the Denuty Chairman of the Nuclear Reaulatory Crunnission's Task Force on the External Reaulation of Denartment of Enerav Facilities Dr. John Austin. NMSS briefed the Committee on the history and the current status of the pilot programs on the external regulation of certain Department of Energy (DOE) facilities.

Conclusions / Action Itac The ACNW will continue to monitor this effort. ACNW will review waste-related activities associated with NRC's regulation of DOE facilities if NRC assumes this responsibility.

This portion of the meeting was part of a regularly scheduled information exchange between the Committee and NMSS.

3.

Licensino Requirements for Land Disoosal of Radioactive Waste Dr. Andrew Campbell. ACNW staff, presented an overview and a tutorial to the Committee of the licensing requirements in 10 CFR Part 61 for the disposal of low-level radioactive waste in the near-surface environment. Dr. Campbell i

l discussed the background and applicability of Part 61, described the structure of the regulation, reviewed its key technical requirements and performance objectives, and concluded with a discussion of some of the supporting guidance documents for the rule.

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The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson 3

Conclusions / Action Itant There is no followup required.

4.

Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Mr. Richard Major, ACNW staff, summarized a status report on the Yucca Mountain project, which was sent to the Committee by Ms. Carol Hanlon of DOE's Yucca Mountain project office. Among the items of interest were the follow-ing: the status of the viability assessment (VA), the pending publication of the waste containment isolation strategy, the start of the drift scale heater tests, and the beginning of the east-west transect.

Conclusions / Action Itame This portion of the meeting was part of a regularly scheduled information exchange between the Committee and DOE.

5.

Hioh level Waste Resolution Status Reoorts and Accentance Criteria Representatives from NMSS briefed the ACNW on the progress made to date and l

the progress expected in 1998 in the high-level waste (HLW) issue resolution process. The staff representative discussed the purpose and context of Issue Resolution Status Reports (IRSRs). the structure and content of the IRSRs, the IRSRs issued or to be issued in Fiscal Year-1998, and progress toward issue resolution documented in those IRSRs already issued. The NMSS staff believes that significant progress toward issue resolution has been made on those issues most significant to performance. The NMSS staff expects that progress i

on issue resolution should facilitate its review of the VA and liinit the likelihood of NRC's identifying unanticipated problems in the VA.

The ACNW was impressed with the staff's IRSR activities, but was concerned about how the staff will comprehensively evsluate complex issues, such as coupled effects, prior to the fall of 1998 when the IRSRs are to be completed before the VA.

Conclusions / Action Itamt c

The ACNW plans to begin working on a report on this subject at the next meeting.

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. The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson 4

PROPown SCHEDULE FOR THE 9BTH AC W MEETING The Comittee agreed to consider the following issues during its 98th meeting on February 24-26, 1998:

Meetina with NRC's Director. Division of Waste Manaaement. Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeauards - The Committee will meet with the Director to discuss recent' developments such as developments at the Yucca Mountain project, rules and guidance being developed, available resources, and other items of mutual interest.

Viability Assessment - Representatives of DOE's Yucca Mountain project office will discuss the status of the viability assessment being performed for the proposed HLW repository. This effort will make an informed assessment of the viability of licensing and constructing a repository at Yucca Mountain.

Decommissioning Guidance - The Committee will review proposed guidance for implementing the recent final rule on radiological criteria for license termination. Topics to be discussed will include criteria for license termination under restricted conditions and the application of the ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) goal.

Risk-Informed Performance-Based Reaulation - The Committee will review a proposed Commission paper on the use of risk-informed, performance-based, and less prescriptive regulation by NMSS.

Imolementina Rule for the Prooosed Yucca Mountain Recositorv - The Committee will review the NRC staff's proposed strategy for development of regulations governing disposal.of HLW at the proposed HLW repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada.

Nuclear Waste Related Research - The Committee will review various aspects of waste-related research that is underway or planned in preparation for sending a report to the Comission.

Preparation of ACNW Reoorts - The Comittee will discuss planned reports, including comments on the staff's HLW Issue Resolution Status Report, nuclear waste research activities, and other topics discussed during this and previous meetings as the need arises I

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o The H:norable Shirley Ann Jackson 5

e OTHER REtATED ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE The 99th ACNW meeting is scheduled to be held on March 24-26, 1998.

Sincerely, F

1 B. John Garrick Chairman j

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