ML20247J205
| ML20247J205 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/20/1998 |
| From: | Garrick B NRC ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NUCLEAR WASTE (ACNW) |
| To: | Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| References | |
| NACNUCLE-S-0096, NACNUCLE-S-96, NUDOCS 9805210361 | |
| Download: ML20247J205 (6) | |
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t' .' UNITED STATES l ! n I NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION PDR t; $
ADYlSORY COMMITTEE ON NUCLEAR WASTE iy WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 //fgg' April 20,1998 The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington. D.C. 20555-0001
Dear Chairman Jackson:
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
REPORT - 99TH MEETING 0F THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NUCLEAR WASTE. MARCH 23-25, 1998. AND OTHER RELATED COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES wring its 99th meeting on March 23-25, 1998, at Two White Flint North. 11545 Rockville Pike. Rockville Maryland, the Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste (ACNW) discussed several matters and completed the following reports:
REPORTS
. heport to the Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson. Chairman. NRC. from Dr. B.
John Garrick. Chairman. ACNW. " Risk-Informed. Performance-Based ,
Regulation in Nuclear Waste Management." dated March 26, 1998. l
. Report to the Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson. Chairman NRC from Dr. B.
John Garrick, Chairman. ACNW " Commission Comments on the ACNW Strategic ;
Plan and Priority Issues." dated March 26, 1998.
I HIGHLIGHTS OF KEY ISSUES CONSIDERED BY THE COMMITTEE
- 1. Meetino with NRC Commissioner Edward McGaffiaan. Jr.
NRC Commissioner Edward McGaffigan. Jr. discussed the following items of mutual interest: (1) NRC's high-level waste (HLW) rulemaking strategy:
l (2) guidance modules associated with the decommissioning rule: (3) risk- \O informed, performance-based regulation (RIPBR): (4) the transportation '
of HLW to a disposal or storage facility; and (5) the need for ACNk.' 3 advice on such specific topics as the Trojan reactor vessel waste
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The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson 2 classification, issues surrounding Envirocare, and generic criticality issues for low-level waste disposal. He also discussed the issue of accelerator transmutation of radionuclides in radioactive waste.
Conclusions / Action Items This was an information exchange between the Commissioner and the Committee and no specific actions are indicated.
- 2. Issues on Risk-Informed. Performance-Based Reaulation Dr. Carl Paperiello. Director. Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS). provided an overview of RIPBR with emphasis on applications to nuclear materials regulated by his office. Mr. Seth Coplan. Division of Waste Management. NMSS provided an overview of licensing and regulatory activities within NMSS and possible applications of risk analysis to materials licensing issues. He also discussed fundamental differences between reactor applications and waste management approaches. The Committee discussed these issues as part of its review of the Commission's white paper on RIPBR.
Conclusions / Action Itamt This briefing provided background information to the Committee in developing its comments to the Commission on the RIPBR white paper.
- 3. Demmissionino Guidance Cheryl Trottier. Christine Daily, and Stephen McGuire discussed the proposed regulatory guide for implementing the recent final rule on radiological criteria for license termination. In addition. Ralph Anderson. Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI). presented the observations of l his electric trade association. Although there was no formal NMSS l presentation. Mr. David Fauver, a representative from NMSS. was in i attendance and responded to questions.
After a brief introductory and background presentation by Ms. Trottier, there was an in-depth discussion of each of the four modules: use of the new decommissioning and decontamination code for screening, final site surveys utilizing the recently developed multi-agency survey manual i
[MARSSIM] application of the ALARA principle to the dose criteria, and the conditiens for utilization of the various restricted release criteria.
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The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson 3 Although the Committee was satisfied that the approach was consistent with the agency's objective of becoming more risk-informed, and was also satisfied with the proposed screening criteria approach, the Committee was also interested in developing an understanding of the degree of conservatism in the models. The ACNW intends to obtain a more complete understanding of the differences between the existing RESRAD code and the proposed decommissioning and decontamination code in the near future through both staff and Committee interactions. It was suggested the staff consider workshops on the use of the MARSSIM document, particularly as it is intended to be applied to NRC-licensees. The Committee also endorsed the development of a standard review plan and a standard format and content guide on a schedule as rapid as resources permit, believing that these documents could be of significant assistarice to licensees as the July 20. 1998. mandatory implementation date draws near.
l In addition to his specific comments on the proposed guidance. Mr. I Anderson. f'EI. indicated that a principal concern of NEI is that the NRC continue its efforts to avoid dual regulation as the " EPA-preferred !
standards would be costly with little or no safety benefit." He {
further noted that the prospect of dual regulation seemed to go against j the espoused position of the current administration with regard to good '
government - especially in hght of restructuring of the electric power industry."
Conclusions / Action Items i l
The Committee agreed to prepare a letter report on the proposed I regulatory guide with the goal of putting such a report in final form at the 100th meeting. The Committee also proposes to follow closely the implementation of the guide during its trial and comment period and is most interested in the resolution of comments from the licensees and States.
- 4. Nuclear Waste Related Researri Presentations by DOE and industry representatives provided insight into the broader areas of fundamental research in the area of waste
, management. Funding levels dictated the type and degree of research which could be undertaken. The DOE Environmental Management Science Program (EMSP) has focused on true research projects, which are not expected to provide results until well into the next century. Over the first two years of the EMSP's existence over $140 million has been f
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The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson 4 committed to such programs. The total life-cycle costs are planned to range up to $120 billion. The current foci are HLW (not the Yucca Mountain repository) and decommissioning and decontamination. The key recommendation to the NRC research effort was that regulatory agencies should not rely solely on short-sighted, quick-fix approaches to deal with fundamental scientific phenomena, such as groundwater contamination, rather than pursuing a scientific approach requiring additional patience and research.
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) presenters clearly identified the motivation of EPRI's research program. This motivation was servicing the needs of the nuclear industry clients of EPRI. This research service was to provide guidance on how to meet new regulations, how to better comply with existing regulations, and how to test the regulatory infrastructure for its validity. Mostly, the approaches taken were based on cost savings for industry and appeared to be short-term activities. Because the funding for programs was less than or at
$1 million per year there was a great need to set priorities on which to base funding for research. It was pointed out that Total System Performance Assessment (TSPA) was the primary tool used to decide on what to fund and what to defer. The EPRI research program is more flexible than in Federal Government procurement. Since EPRI holds back half the allotted funds for emerging research needs identified throughout the year. Also, international involvement and cooperation is actively pursucl.
Conclusions / Action Items ACNW will provide input on nuclear waste-related research in a combined report from the ACTS /ACNW to the Commission on NRC safety research.
- 5. Meetina With the Deouty Director. Division of Waste Manaaement. NRC Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safecuards Margaret Federline. Deputy Director. Division of Waste Management (DWM).
NRC Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS), discussed current NRC waste management activities with the Committee. She highlighted two recent events. The first was a decommissioning workshop sponsored by the staff geared to improve the decommissioning review process. The second was a technical exchange with DOE to discuss performance assessnent models.
The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson 5 Conclusions / Action Items This portion of the meeting was part of a regularly scheduled information exchange between the Committee and NMSS and no specific actions were indicated.
- 6. Trio Renort by ACNk! Member ACNW member Charles Fairhurst discussed topics from his participation in France's ANDRA waste management meeting during March 1998. Highlights included the fact that waste retrievability studies are being conn cted for each of the three sites under consideration. Cost estimates are also being performed for each phase of repository life (emplacement, backfill, and final closure). The French are giving minimum attention to waste repository human intrusion scenarios.
PROPOSED SCHEDULE FOR THE 100TH ACNW MEETING The Committee agreed to consider the following issues during its 100th meeting on April 21-23, 1998:
Viability Assessment (VA) Guidance - The NRC staff will discuss guidance being prepared for its review of the Department of Energy's (DOE's)
Yucca Mountain Viability Assessment.
NEI Comments on VA - Representatives from the NEI will comment on DOE's viability assessment for the proposed HLW repository at Yucca Mountain.
Meetino with the NRC Deoutv Executive Director for Reculatory Procrams -
Mr. Thompson will discuss a number of issues of mutual interest with the Committee.
Total System Sensitivity Analysis for Yucca Mou.ntain - The NRC staff will present results from their Total System Sensitivity Analysis for Yucca Mountain. The staff will prioritize the relative contribution to risk from various sources and study the effects of these various contributors in combination.
NRC's Nuclear Waste-Related Research Procram - NRC's nuclear waste-related research program and technical assistance will be reviewed so that the Committee can provide input on nuclear safety-related research to a report to the Commission.
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,The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson 6 Nuclear Waste-Related Rulemakina - The Committee will hear a briefing on the transfer of the rulemaking process in nuclear waste-related areas from NRC's Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research to the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
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Meetina with the Director. DOE's Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Manaaement - Mr. Lake Barrett will provide an overview of DOE high-level waste activities.
Meetina with the Director. Division of Waste Manaaement. NRC Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeauards - The Committee will meet with the Director to discuss recent developments within the division such as developments at the Yucca Mountain repository, rules and guidance under development, available resources, and other items of mutual interest.
Preparation of ACNW Reoorts - The Committee will discuss planned E reports, 1.',cluding: nuclear waste-related research, regulatory guides dealing with decommissioning, comments on DOE's Viability Assessment, and other topics discussed during this and previous meetings.
OTHER RELATED ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE There is no ACNW meeting scheduled for May. The 101st ACNW meeting is scheduled for June 10-12, 1998.
Sincerely, h
B. John Garrick Chairman
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