ML22227A003

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Safety Case Communication for Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Facilities
ML22227A003
Person / Time
Issue date: 07/20/2022
From: Chris Mckenney
NRC/NMSS/DDUWP/RTAB
To:
Christepher McKenney, 301-415-6663
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Download: ML22227A003 (8)


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NEA Workshop on Safety Case Communication for Developing Safety Cases for Various Radioactive Low-Level Radioactive Waste Waste Disposal Facilities Disposal Facilities Chris McKenney July 20-22, 2022 Risk and Technical Analysis Branch Division of Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery, and Waste Programs Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Stakeholder Interactions Lessons Learned 2

Often of the outreach managed by the licensee/developer/operator

  • May establish citizen advisory panels Stakeholder
  • Work with local organizations Outreach Regulators focus and
  • Explaining regulations and allowing Involvement public comment
  • Identifying hearing opportunities
  • Discussing the decision-making process
  • Announcing review findings and decisions 3

Building technical understanding among stakeholders.

  • Collaborate with local organizations Lessons repeatedly Learned
  • Time is needed to develop dialogue and build stakeholder input Dealing with divergent views among stakeholders Tailor message to the audience 4

Example: Working with Indigenous Cultures

  • Given the importance of the location to regional indigenous tribes, regulators sought input from the tribes when creating the culturally- specific scenario(s) in the safety assessment (2004).
  • In 2009, the regulators in Washington State completed final Phase 1 closure cover design and began construction contracts for placing the cover.
  • During this time, the regulators engaged in extensive outreach activities with the regional indigenous tribes.
  • In 2010 the cover construction was put on hold
  • In 2015 the regulators engaged with one of the regional indigenous tribe to technically review the safety assessment and scenarios.

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Example: Collaboration on Safety Assessment Beginning in 2010, LLRW disposal facility in Utah began developing safety assessment for disposal of depleted uranium.

The licensee and regulator have been holding continuing stakeholder interactions, including collaborative technical education sessions on the development of the safety assessment and open houses with presentation and small group Q&A.

The regulator has also provided public access to documentation for transparency as well as public comment periods 6

  • Operators and Regulators have different purposes and responsibilities for outreach
  • Outreach is not done once but will continue across the entire life cycle of Conclusions the facility
  • Outreach activities can be broad to discuss planning or status of the facility or narrowly focused to address specific interests of a group(s) of stakeholders 7

Contact Chris McKenney, US NRC Christepher.McKenney@nrc.gov

+1-301-415-6663 Special thanks to the States of Washington and Utah for their assistance preparing examples for this presentation.

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