NUREG-1573, Offers No Objection to Staff Proposal to Delay Finalization of Development of Branch Technical Position on Performance Assessment Methodology for low-level Radioactive Waste Disposal Facilities (NUREG-1573)
| ML20207B335 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/05/1999 |
| From: | Merrifield J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Travers W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| References | |
| RTR-NUREG-1573 NUDOCS 9905280204 | |
| Download: ML20207B335 (1) | |
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UNITED STATES j
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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April 23, 1999 l
COMSECY-99-013 MEMORANDUM TO:
Chairman Jackson ko o c
Commissioner Dicus Commissioner Diaz Commissioner McGaffigan Commissioner Merrifield A
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FROM:
William D. Travers Executive Director for Operatio
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SUBJECT:
DEVELOPMENT OF BRANCH TECHNICAL POSITION ON A PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY FOR LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITIES (NUREG-1573)
WITS 9600106 The purpose of this memorandum is to inform you of the resource and program impacts of completing the subject Branch Technical Position (BTP) and to request an extension for completion of this guidance. The draft Low-Level Waste (LLW) BTP describes acceptable approaches for estimating the performance of LLW disposal facilities. In doing so, it establishes performance-based principles for complex modeling that are applicable across programmatic areas. For example, the draft BTP has been used by several states in their LLW activities. In addition, the BTP is being used as a source document for the development of the Standard Review Plan for decommissioning as it applies to the dose modeling of complex sites. The approach in the BTP also is consistent with the approach to performance assessment used in the high-level waste program area. Consequently, the BTP serves as a source document and helps to document the performance assessment framework being applied across programmatic areas within the Division of Waste Management (DWM).
In accordance with direction received from the Commission, the BTP was published as a draft for comment in May 1997. Because of significant budget constraints on the LLW Program in FY98, completion of the BTP was deferred until FY99. The Agency's Performance Plan and the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards'(NMSS) operating plans include the lC comp!ction of the BTP as an FY99 output measure (Performance Plan Output Measure 11 for Nuclear Waste Safety). In June 1998, after the submission of the revised FY99 budget, the fo)
Commission directed the staff to initiate a clearance rulemaking in FY99 (SECY 98-028). The staff had not planned to initiate this rulemaking until FY00. As a result, it was tentatively decided to defer the completion of the BTP and reprogram those resources to the rulemaking effort.
Other emergent activities have also impacted LLW activities (e.g., Envirocare exemption and 4-llhI Mi support to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency LLW/ mixed waste rulemakings) 9
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CONTACT:
N. King St'ablein, NMSS/DWM
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