Information Notice 1989-13, Alternative Waste Management Procedures in Case of Denial of Access to Low-Level Waste Disposal Sites

Alternative Waste Management Procedures in Case of Denial of Access to Low-Level Waste Disposal Sites

ML031180518
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley, Millstone, Hatch, Monticello, Calvert Cliffs, Dresden, Davis Besse, Peach Bottom, Browns Ferry, Salem, Oconee, Mcguire, Nine Mile Point, Palisades, Palo Verde, Perry, Indian Point, Fermi, Kewaunee, Catawba, Harris, Wolf Creek, Saint Lucie, Point Beach, Oyster Creek, Watts Bar, Hope Creek, Grand Gulf, Cooper, Sequoyah, Byron, Pilgrim, Arkansas Nuclear, Three Mile Island, Braidwood, Susquehanna, Summer, Prairie Island, Columbia, Seabrook, Brunswick, Surry, Limerick, North Anna, Turkey Point, River Bend, Vermont Yankee, Crystal River, Haddam Neck, Ginna, Diablo Canyon, Callaway, Vogtle, Waterford, Duane Arnold, Farley, Robinson, Clinton, South Texas, San Onofre, Cook, Comanche Peak, Yankee Rowe, Maine Yankee, Quad Cities, Humboldt Bay, La Crosse, Big Rock Point, Rancho Seco, Zion, Midland, Bellefonte, Fort Calhoun, FitzPatrick, McGuire, LaSalle, 05000000, Zimmer, Fort Saint Vrain, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant
Issue date:	02/08/1989
From:	Cunningham R, Rossi C NRC/NMSS/IMNS, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
References
IN-89-013, NUDOCS 8902070339
Download: ML031180518 (7)

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 February 8, 1989 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 89-13: ALTERNATIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES

IN CASE OF DENIAL OF ACCESS TO LOW-LEVEL

WASTE DISPOSAL SITES

Addressees

All holders of NRC specific licenses.

Purpose

This information notice is being provided to inform addressees of important

recent and potential future events concerning restrictions on disposal of

low-level radioactive waste, and to suggest actions to minimize possible

adverse consequences of these events if licensed activities involve the need

to dispose of radioactive waste. It is expected that recipients will review

this information for applicability to their activities and consider action, as appropriate. However, suggestions contained in this information notice

do not constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written

response is required.

Description of Circumstances

The Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1985 (P.L.99-240, the

Act) established a series of milestones, incentives, and penalties designed to

assure that States and Regional Compacts without low-level radioactive waste

disposal facilities make timely progress toward development of such facilities.

States and Regional Compacts which do not meet the milestones specified in the

Act can be subject to penalties such as higher disposal costs, and may even- tually be denied access to currently operating burial sites.

The most recent milestone under the Act was on January 1, 1988. This milestone

required non-sited Regional Compacts (those not affiliated with the currently- sited States of Nevada, South Carolina, and Washington) to identify a host state, develop a siting plan, and delegate legal implementing authority. States not

affiliated with a Regional Compact were required to develop a siting plan and

provide for delegation of authority as well.

In January of 1988, the U.S. Department of Energy and the sited States of Nevada, South Carolina, and Washington determined that the States of New Hampshire and

Vermont were in noncompliance. On December 19, 1988, the State of Washington

Criz/339 ZIA

IN 89-13 February 8, 1989 informed the States of New Hampshire and Vermont that effective January 1, 1989, waste originating in those States would be denied access to the regional disposal

facility located near Richland, Washington. Similar action is anticipated by the

States of South Carolina and Nevada.

On January 31, 1989, the Governor of Michigan issued a letter to the members of

the seven-State Midwest Interstate Compact in which he stated that he was

halting the siting process for a disposal facility in Michigan. As a result, the State of Washington has denied access to waste originating from the State

of Michigan. Similar action is anticipated by the States of South Carolina

and Nevada. At this time, it does not appear that any immediate action will

be taken to deny access to waste originating from the other members of the

Midwest Compact (Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin).

Discussion:

Denial of access to disposal sites could disrupt licensed operations which

generate waste by preventing licensees from shipping waste from their faci- lities. This, in turn, could cause regulatory and safety problems such as

exceeding authorized possession limits due to the accumulation of waste, in- adequate waste management capability, or inadequate waste storage facilities.

It is suggested that licensees monitor the progress of their States or Regional

Compacts in meeting milestones specified in the Act. Licensees in States for

which it appears milestones will not be met may need to prepare for the possi- bility of severe restrictions on disposal of radioactive waste. Licensees in

New Hampshire, Vermont, and Michigan may wish to consider actions now to miti- gate the potential impact of loss of disposal capability. Following are examples

of suggested actions to be considered:

1. Review your current NRC license and license application, particularly

possession limits and procedures and requirements for waste processing, storage, and disposal to determine if changes need to be made for

increased storage of waste.

2. Determine how much of your waste goes to a licensed burial site either

directly or indirectly through a "waste broker."

3. Evaluate potential safety problems and technical difficulties which might

result if radioactive waste remains in storage at your facilities for long

periods of time; e.g., package deterioration, inventory control, fire

hazards, etc.

4. Review alternatives to minimize generation of waste shipped to burial

grounds; for example:

a. Carefully segregating long-lived radioactive waste from short-lived

and non-radioactive waste.

b. Stopping unnecessary work which generates waste.

IN 89-13 February 8, 1989 c. Changing processes, procedures, or radionuclides to reduce volume

of generated waste.

d. Using volume reduction techniques, such as compaction.

5. Review alternative waste management and disposal methods; for example:

a. Transfer of unneeded sealed sources to their respective

manufacturers.

b. Disposal of biomedical wastes in accordance with 10 CFR

Section 20.306.

c. Decay-in-storage.

d. Incineration.

e. Interim storage pending transfer to a licensed burial site if access

is restored in the future.

6. For waste management measures which are not currently authorized by your

NRC license, consider requesting an amendment to your license to authorize

additional waste management actions in the event of restricted access to

burial grounds. Examples would be amendments to authorize increased pos- session limits, decay-in storage, incineration, or use of interim storage

facilities.

The above suggestions would not be a permanent solution to waste burial restric- tions, but would better assure that licensees have contingency plans in place

to avoid safety violations and to minimize disruption of licensed activities.

A number of parties have inquired about the granting of emergency access under

the provisions of Section 6 of the Act. On February 3, 1989, NRC issued a new

rule, 10 CFR Part 62, in the Federal Register (54 FR 5409) which establishes

criteria and procedures to be used in determinning whether emergency access

should be granted. These criteria and procedures, consistent with Congressional

intent, view the granting of emergency access as a last resort. Therefore, waste generators should be aware that only under the most limited and rare

circumstances would generators be granted such access.

Questions about license requirements and license amendments should be directed

to the appropriate NRC licensing office, either in one of the Regional Offices

or in Washington, D.C. Questions on low-level radioactive waste policy issues

IN 89-13 February 8, 1989 should be directed to: Paul Lohaus, Chief, Operations

Low-Level Waste Management and Decommissioning, Branch, Division of

Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555, Mail Stop 5E4, U.S. Nuclear

specific action or written response is required Phone: (301) 492-3345. No

by this information notice.

/errw ,.

Richard E. Cunningham, Director

Division of Industrial and

Medical Nuclear Safety

Office of Nuclear Material Safety

and Safeguards

, Dictor

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Paul Lohaus, NMSS

(301) 492-3345 Attachments:

1. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information

Notices

2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

Attachment 1 IN 89-13 February 8, 1989 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

NMSS INFORMATION NOTICES

Information Date of

Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to

89-12 Dose Calibrator Quality 02/09/89 All NRC medical

Control licensees

89-03 Potential Electrical 01/11/89 All Fuel Cycle and

Equipment Problems major nuclear materials

licensees

89-02 Criminal prosecution of 01/09/89 -All holders of NRC

licensee's former president specific license

for intentional safety

violations88-100 Memorandum of understanding 12/23/88 All major nuclear

between NRC and OSHA relating materials licensees

to NRC-licensed facilities and utilities holding

(53 FR 43950, October 31, 1988) CPs and OLs.

88-93 Teletherapy Events 12/2/88 All NRC medical

licensees

88-90 Unauthorized removal of 11/22/88 All NRC licensees

industrial nuclear gauges authorized to

possess, use, manufacture, or

distribute industrial

nuclear gauges

88-66 Industrial radiography 08/22/88 All NRC industrial

inspection and enforcement radiography licensees

88-62 Recent findings concerning 08/12/88 All holders of NRC

implementation of quality quality assurance

assurance programs by suppliers program approvals for

of transport packages radioactive material

packages

OL = Operating License

CP = Construction Permit

Attachment 2 IN 89-13 February 8, 1989 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

NRC INFORMATION NOTICES

Information Date of

Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to

89-12 Dose Calibrator Quality 2/9/89 All NRC medical

Control licensees.

89-11 Failure of DC Motor-Operated 2/2/89 All holders of OLs

Valves to Develop Rated or CPs for nuclear

Torque Because of Improper power reactors.

Cable Sizing

89-10 Undetected Installation 1/27/89 All holders of OLs

Errors In Main Steam Line or CPs for BWRs.

Pipe Tunnel Differential

Temperature-Sensing Elements

at Boiling Water Reactors.

89-09 Credit for Control Rods 1/26/89 All holders of OLs

Without Scram Capability or CPs for test and

in the Calculation of the research reactors.

Shutdown Margin

89-08 Pump Damage Caused by 1/26/89 All holders of OLs

Low-Flow Operation or CPs for nuclear

power reactors.

89-07 Failures of Small-Diameter 1/25/89 All holders of OLs

Tubing in Control Air, Fuel or CPs for nuclear

Oil, and Lube Oil Systems power reactors.

Which Render Emergency Diesel

Generators Inoperable

89-06 Bent Anchor Bolts in 1/24/89 All holders of OLs

Boiling Water Reactor or CPs for BWRs with

Torus Supports Mark I steel torus

shells.

89-05 Use of Deadly Force by 1/19/89 All holders of OLs

Guards Protecting Nuclear for nuclear power

Power Reactors Against reactors.

Radiological Sabotage

OL = Operating License

CP = Construction Permit

IN 89-13 February 8, 1989 should be directed to: Paul Lohaus, Chief, Operations Branch, Division of

Low-Level Waste Management and Decommissioning, Mail Stop 5E4, U.S. Nuclear

Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555, Phone: (301) 492-3345. No

specific action or written response is required by this information notice.

Richard E. Cunningham, Director

Division of Industrial and

Medical Nuclear Safety

Office of Nuclear Material Safety

and Safeguards

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Paul Lohaus, NMSS

(301) 492-3345 Attachments:

1. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices

2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

Editor A/9 EKraus 2 g /8 IA

OFC: IMOB  : IMOB *% gl OGCQj fLRa

GX :NRR :

NAME:PGoldberg/pg.RWilde:JH lke;: T y :VMi er:PLo us:CBerlinge '  : *10l 4

____________________________________________---_-- _ ----- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -

DATE: 02 7/89 -02Z /89:02/7/89:02/ /89:02/ /89:02/6/89:02/8189: 02 89:

02/00 /89 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY