ML20247G867

Summary of 98th Meeting of ACNW on 980224-26 & Other Related Committee Re Highlights of Key Issues Considered by Committee

ML20247G867
Person / Time
Issue date:	03/31/1998
From:	Garrick B NRC ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NUCLEAR WASTE (ACNW)
To:	Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
References
NACNUCLE-S-0095, NACNUCLE-S-95, NUDOCS 9805200362
Download: ML20247G867 (6)

Text

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Marcn 31, 1998 The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson Chairman '

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001

SUMMARY

REPORT - 98TH MEETING OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NUCLEAR WASTE. FEBRUARY 24-26, 1998, AND OTHER RELATED COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES During its 98th meeting on February 24-26, 1998. at Two White Flint North, 11545 Rockville Pike. Rockville, Maryland, the Advisory Committee on Nuclear l i

Waste (ACNW) discussed several matters and completed the following reports:

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REPORTS Report to the Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson. Chairman, NRC, from Dr. B.

John Garrick, Chairman, ACNW. *ACNW's Support for the NRC Staff's Approach to Assessing the Performance of Multiple Barriers " dated March  ;

6. 1998. l Report to the Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson. Chairman, NRC, from Dr. B.

John Garrick, Chairman, ACNW. "NRC High-Level Waste Issue-Resolution i Process and Issue-Resolution Status Reports." dated March 6.1998. l HIGHLIGHTS OF KEY ISSUES CONSIDERED BY THE COMMITTEE

1. Implementation Rule for a Procosed Recository at Yucca Mountain l

Representatives of the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) 4 discussed their strategy for developing new regulations for high-level waste (HLW) disposal. The staff also discussed the history leading to the proposed revised HLW rule, the need for new technical criteria, direction provided by -

the Commission in the NRC strategic plan, the preliminary timetable, and the '

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The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson 2 elements of the strategy. The strategy includes a requirement to demonstrate that post-closure performance is achieved by a system of multiple barriers.

There will be no requirements for individual barrier performance, and instead, the Department of Energy (DOE) will be required to provide results of interme-diate calculations as part of performance assessment (PA) to show contribu-tions of multiple barriers and their respective uncertainties.

The staff next discussed considerations in developing Yucca Mountain-specific regulations, and a three-tiered strategy that includes specifying in the rule a quantitative limit for overall performance and expectations for PA, and specifying in the Issue Resolution Status Report (IRSR) features, events, and processes that must be considered. The rule will include only requirements that can be demonstrated as part of the PA. Stylized calculations will be used for the evaluation of human intrusion, retrievability, and criticality.

The IRSRs provide guidance on key technical issues (KTIs) and acceptance criteria. The staff would appreciate the ACNW's views on the use of post-processors, surrogate risk standards, assumptions about the critical group and W

reference biosphere, and time of compliance, as well as possible design criteria for operations and other possible post-closure requirements.

The Committee questioned whether it w >uld be possible to selectively remove portions of the existing 10 CFR Part 60. such as the subsystem requirements, to reduce litigative liabilicy.

Conclusions / Action Items The ACNW agreed to prepare a letter on the staff's rulemaking strategy. In addition, the ACNW agreed to develop for consideration a list of issues that were noted by the staff.

2. Status of the Viability Assessment Beino Performed at the Yucca Mountain Pro.iect DOE staff representatives presented an overview and a status of the Viability Assessmeat (VA). The scope of the briefing included content and organization of the five-volume VA product and supporting technical and management docu-ments, milestones and schedules, and the overall status. DOE staff also reviewed highlights from the January 1998 Total Systems Perfonnance Assessment (TSPA) VA technical exchange meeting, and interactions planned with NRC and the ACNW on VA. Also addressed were the status of the License Application Plan, which identifies the remaining work required to complete the license

The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson 3 e e application.,and associated costs. and the VA design concept for the reposi-l tory and waste package.

DOE staff noted that it will present the results of the base-case analyses to the NRC during a technical exchange meeting in March. Other highlights are:

(1) the s0st-west drift starter tunnel has been completed and drift excavation will begin in April, and (2) the earthquake hazards assessment was completed and will be used in VA. The schedule for the four VA-related products, which  ;

were mandated by Congress, includes VA design (August 1998). TSPA-License i Application (August 1998). License Application Plan (July 1998), and Cost Estimate (August 1998): the VA will be presented to Congress on September 30, 1998.

Conclusions / Action Items The ACNW agreed to prepare a letter on the subject of VA. and finalize the letter during the April meeting, after NRC staff has briefed the Committee on viability assessment review guidance.

3. Meetina With the Deouty Director. Division of Waste Manaaement (DWM).

NRC Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeauards (NMSS)

Margaret Federline. Deputy Director. DWM/NMSS, discussed a number of current issues of note for DWM. She also discussed staff concerns about the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board's recommendation to DOE to consider alternative design concepts in the VA. The staff is concerned that if such an approach is adopted. it may detract from DOE providing detailed supporting information for the reference VA design. Dr. Michael Bell DWM/NMSS. discussed the NRC's Issue Resolution Status Reports (IRSRs) and the development of acceptance criteria in the IRSRs that will eventually be incorporated into a standard review plan. There was a discussion of what is meant when an issue is

" resolved at the staff level." Dr. Bell also discussed some previous NRC/ DOE technical exchanges and the key issues of concern for the upcoming technical exchange on March 17-19, 1998. Ms. Federline disCJssed the development of four guidance documents for implementing the decommissioning rule, the upcoming decommissioning workshop on March 19th, and interactions between the Environmental Protection Agency and the NRC c,n the decommissioning rule.

I Conclusions /Acten Itam This portion of the meeting was part of a regularly scheduled information exchange between the Committee and NMSS and no specific actions are indicated.

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The Honorable Shirley Arm Jackson 4 l*

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4. Status of Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Carol Hanlon. Yucca Mountain Project Office, reported on the status of activities at the proposed Yucca Mountain repository. She showed pictures of site characterization activities, such as field tests in progress. She stated that the tunnel boring machine for the east-west cross strip is scheduled for delivery in March or April 1990. Niches off Alcoves 1 and 7 are being watched for water seepage as a result of El N160. Water samples are being analyzed at Busted Butte to find any significant differences caused by El N160. There are plans to drill a new "C" well in the 1999-2000 time frame down the hydraulic gradient from the proposed repository. The Site Recommendation Management Plan Progress Report 18 is due in April 1998.

Conclusions / Action Itents This portion of the meeting was part of a regularly scheduled information exchange between the Comittee and DOE and no specific actions are indicated.

5. Briefina on the Comittee's Review of "Predecishal" Information in Ooen/ Closed Meetinas Susan Fonner. Office of the General Counsel (OGC), discussed a number of issues with respect to the Freedom of Information Act, the Federal Advisory Comittee Act and the Government in the Sunshine Act as they affect the handling and discussion of predecisional information by advisory comittees.

Conclusions / Action Items Ms. Fonner said that OGC will provide further written guidance on this issue to the Comittee.

6. Nuclear Waste Related Research Giorgio Gnugnoli. ACNW staff, discussed the current status of the report to the Commission on the adequacy of nuclear waste-related research at the NRC.

Particularly. Mr. Gnugnoli recomended that the Ccanittee provide clear examples of either shortcomings or redundancies in the NRC research program in its report. Mr. Gnugnoli also discussed tht report format and the logistics l

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The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson 5 of the' preparation process, noting that the time frame is short. Mr. Gnugnoli also stated that. meetings are planned with Department of Energy representa-tives and with representatives from the Electric Power Research Institute on waste-related research. Past accomplishments of the NRC research and program office were discussed. The Issue Resolution Status Report development process was also discussed, especially in light of the NRC staff's reliance on these I reports to bring resolution to key technical uncertainties and for ultimate '

development of a standard review method for licensing decisions.

PROPOSED SCHEDULE FOR THE 98TH ACNW MEETING The Committee agreed to consider the following issues during its 99th meeting on March 23-25, 1998:

Meetina with Commissioner McGaffiaan - The Committee will meet with Commis-sioner McGaffigan to discuss items of mutual interest.

Nuclear Waste-Related Research - The Committee will review various aspects of waste-related research underway or planned in preparation for sending a report to the Commission. Participants may include representatives of the NRC staff, and the nuclear industry.

Decommissioning Guidance - The Committee will review proposed guidance for implementing the recent final rule on radiological criteria for license termination. Guidance to be reviewed will include documents on surveys, dose modeling, restricted release criteria, and application of the ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) process.

Risk-Informed. Performance-Based Reaulation - The Committee will- review recent agency initiatives on risk-informed, performance-based regulation.

Meetina With the Deouty Director. Division of W3ste Manaaement. NRC's Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeauards - The Committee will meet with the Deputy Director to discuss recent developments within the division, such as developments at the Yucca Mountain project, rules and guidance under develop ~

ment, available resources, and other items of mutual interest.

Preparation of ACNW Reoorts-- The Committee will discuss planned reports.

including risk-informed, performance-based regulation, waste-related research, regulatory guides dealing with decommissioning, and other topics discussed during this and previous meetings, as the need arises.

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'Ihe Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson 6 OTHER RflATED* ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE The 100th ACNW meeting is scheduled t( be held on April 21-23, 1998. J k

l Sincerely, j M

B. John Garrick Chairman l

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