ML20212K067

Responds to Re Potential Mgt of pre-1978 11e.(2) Byproduct Matl (Fusrap Matls) in low-level Waste Disposal Cell at Envirocare of Utah,Inc Facility

ML20212K067
Person / Time
Issue date:	09/24/1999
From:	Lohaus P NRC OFFICE OF STATE PROGRAMS (OSP)
To:	Sinclair W UTAH, STATE OF
Shared Package
ML20212K070	List: ML20212K067
References
NUDOCS 9910060115
Download: ML20212K067 (9)

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. UNITE) STATES /cM NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMIS810N'-

[  : WASHINGTON, D.C. aceeHoot a q

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William J. Sinclair, Director-Division of Radiation Control ,

Department of Environmental Quality._

168 North .1950 West, P. O. Box 144850 ,

Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4850

Dear Mr. Sinclair,

I am responding to your August 9,1999 letter conceming the potential management'of pre-

.197811 e.(2) byproduct material (FUSRAP materials) in the low-level waste disposal cell at the

Envirocare of Utah, Inc. facility. . ,

In your letter, you stated that it is not clear whether the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) q would allow pre-197811e.(2) byproduct material to be disposed of in a licensed 11e.(2) facility, and if it would, under what conditions the NRC would consider it appropriate. You further stated 4

- that you would be interested in the NRC's opinion conceming the disposal of pre-1978 waste in a licensed low-level waste disposal cell as requested by Envirocare.

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' Under the Uranium Mill Tallings Radiation Control Act of 1978 (UMTRCA), which added a new Section 83 to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, the NRC does not have authority to regulate pre-197811e.(2) byproduct material if the material was rot generated by an activity - s licensed by the NRC on the effective date of UMTRCA (November 8,1978), or thereafter. N The NRC has not determined that pre-197811e.(2) byproduct material may be sent to sites regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) rather than to disposal -

sites regulated by the NRC; rather, the NRC has stated 20!y that there are no NRC rules or

' regulations that oreclude disposal of the material at a RCRA facility, and that disposal of this materialis subject to the jurisdiction of other Federal and State agencies. There are NRC licensed facilities thathave scepMpre-1978-11e.(2) byproductTnaterial for direct dispor a l ora _,

. processing as attemative feed and disposal in their mill tailings irnpoundments. Envirocare of Utah, Inc. currently holds both an NRC license that allows it to accept some forms of this

material directly for disposal in its mill tailings irnpoundment, and a State license that allows it to Jaccept RCRA material. If pre-197811e.(2) byproduct material is presented as such to the

. N3C-licensed Envirocare facility for disposal, Envirocare must comply with all the requirements 3s

- applicable to disposal of 11e.(2) byproduct material.

The low-level waste disposal cell, licensed by the State of Utah, is covered by regulations compatible'with 10 CFR Part 61. Specifically,10 CFR 61.1 (b) provides that uranium and ]

thorium tailings and waste in quantities " greater than 10,000 kilograms containing more than  ;

five (5) millicuries of radium 226" would not be permitted for disposal.  ;

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William J. Sinclair SEP 24 !sss in the past, the staff has interpreted this quantity to be on a yearly basis and not an absolute amount.

I trust that we have satisfactorily addressed your concems. Please contact me, should you have any further questions.

Sincerely, Originals {gned,@

PAUL H. LOHAus Paul H. Lohaus, Director Office of State Programs cc: Charles A. Judd, Envirocare i

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l Distribution:

DIR RF (9G427,' 9-170) DCD (SP08)

EDO RF (G1999427) , PDR (YES()

-SECY (CRC-99-0731)

SDroggitis JSurmeier, NMSS MLMcLeen,' RIV 1 CH ckney, RIV

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DOCUMENT NAME: G:\ LAB \ board 3.wpd 4 Qpf5dyp92 M{1 A ie r.c.w. . copy or ihm socum.aundk.t. In th. box: "C" = Copy wmou uchmenuencjosur. 't a Copy we auchnenVencJosure [Qp fa dby OFFICE OSP lC O S % Ip Q f C OGC ,[E DWM:D E O$#W/ N l NAME LBolling:gd FCo4 U STreby (il JGreeves PLolYadsV)

DATE 9/16/99* 9T11/99 9/$99 9/21 /99* 9f3/99 OSP FILE CODEi SP-AG-28 l

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e William J. Sinclair In the past, the staff has interpreted this quantity to be o a yearly basis and not an absolute amount. l l

l trust that we have satisfactorily addressed your concerns. Please contact rr:e, should you have any further questions.

Sincerely, Paul H.j ohaus, Director Office of State Programs cc: Charles A. Judd, Envirocare Distribution: '

DIR RF (9G427 DCD (S ,08)

EDO RF (G1999427) PDR (Y S/)

SECY (CRC-99-0731)

SDroggitis JSurmsier, NMSS MLMcL;an, RIV CHackney, RIV Ut;h File

• See previous concurrence DOCUMENT NAME: G:\LABiboard3.wpd Tt receive e co pr of this document, Indicate in the bar: "C" = Copy without attachmenuendosure "E" = Copy with attachment / enclosure "N" s No copy OFFICE OSP lC OSg:IpQ fl 0 OGC lE D @ lE OSP:D N NAME LBolling:gd FCo0F U / STreby JA"/M PLohaus DATE 9/16/99* 9T11/99 / 9/ /99 U 9/8 99 l 9/ /99 OSP FILE CODE: SP-AG 28 l

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I trust th t we h.va s tisftctorily cddr:ssed your concerns. 1:asa cont:ct m3, should you hhva any further questions.

Sincerely, Paul H. Lohaus Director Office of State rograms  ;

I I

cc: Charles A. Judd, Envirocare

' Distribuygv DlR RF (9G427) .SDroggitis JSurmeier, NMS DCD (SP08)

EDO RF (G1999427) MLMcLean, RIV PDR (YES/)

SECY (CRC-99-0731) CHackney, RIV ,

Utah File l DOCUMENT NAME: G:\ LAB \ board 3.wpd To receivi a copy of this document. Indicate in the box: "C" = Copy without attachment / enclosure "E" k Copy with attachment / enclosure "N" = No copy OFFICE OWlC OSP:DD C OGC E lDWM:D E OSP:D N j NAME LM6, FCombs STreby J$ reeves PLohaus DATE " 986 /99 9/ /99 9/ /99 l 9/ /99 9/ /99 OSP FILE CODE: SP-AG-28 f

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[ \ UNITED STATES

g j NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20586 4 001 n%.,g / September 24, 1999 William J. Sinclair, Director Division of Radiation Control Department of Environmental Quality 168 North 1950 West, P. O. Box 144850 Salt Lake City,'UT 84114-4850

Dear Mr. Sinclair:

I am responding to you August 9,1999 letter conceming the potential management of pre-197811e.(2) byproduct material (FUSRAP materials) in the low-level waste disposal cell at the Envirocare of . Utah, Inc. facility.

In your letter, you stated that it is not clear whether the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) would allow pre-197811e.(2) byproduct material to be disposed of in a licensed 11e.(2) facility, and if it would, under what conditions the NRC would considerit appropriate. You further stated that you would be interested in the NRC's opinion conceming the disposal of pre-1978 waste in a licensed low-level waste disposal cell se mquested by Envirocare.

Under the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978 (UMTRCA), which added a new Section 83 to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, the NRC does not have authority to regulate pre-197811e.(2) byproduct materialif the material was not generated by an activity licensed by the NRC on the effective dau of UMTRCA (November 8,1978), or thereafter.

The NRC has not determined that pre-197811e.(2) byproduct material may be sent to sites regulated under the Resource Conservation anM Recovery Act (RCRA) rather than to disposal sites regulated by the NRC; rather, the NRC ha., stated n0]y that there are no NRC rules or regulations that oreclude disposal of the material at a RCRA facility, and that disposal of this materialis subject to the jurisdiction of other Federal and State agencies. There are NRC licensed facilities authorized to accept 11e.(2) byproduct material for direct disposal or to accept ore for processing as attemative feed and disposal in their mill tailings impoundments.

Envirocare of Utah, Inc. currently Tids both an NRC license that allows it to accept some forms of this material directly for disposai in its mill tailings impoundment, and a State license that allows it to accept RCRA material. If pre-197811e.(2) byproduct materialis presented as such to the NRC licensed Envirocare facility for disposal, Envirocare must comply with all the requirements applicable to disposal of 11e.(2) byproduct material.

The low-level waste disposal cell, licensed by the State of Utah, is covered by regulations compatible with 10 CFR Part 61. Specifically,10 CFR 61.1 (b) provides that uranium and thorium tailings and waste in quantitles " greater than 10,000 kilograms containing more than five (5) millicuries of radium-226" would not be permitted for disposal.

l

s .

l

.. William J. Sinclair gEP 24 W j in the past, the staff has interpreted this quantity to be on a yearly basis and not an absolute amount.

- I trust that we have satisfactorily addressed your concems. Please contact me, should you have l any further questions.  !

S rely, i

Paul H. Lohaus, irector j

Office of State Programs cc: Charles A. Judd, Envirocare l

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ACTION EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROM di (fCf f f DUE Q 9-/07/99~ EDO CONTROL: G19990427 DOC DT: 08/18/99 FINAL REPLY:

Chtrles A. Judd Envirocare of Utah, Inc.

I TOs '

Chairman Dicus FOR SIGNATURE OF : ** GRN ** CRC NO: 99-0731 I 1

Lohaus, SP l

DESC: ROUTING:

l ENVIROCARE' DISPOSAL OF RUSRAP MATERIAL )

Travers Knapp Miraglia .,

Norry J Blaha Burns DATE: 08/20/99 Paperiello,NMSS Merschoff, RIV ASSIGNED TO: CONTACT:

m SP _ Lohaus SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:

h $ Y N h - / fl 0 4

E A -s- ,

t *.

- .i: . OFFICE'OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET

! PAPER NUMBER: CRC-99-0731 LOGGING DATE: Aug 20 99

> ACTION OFFICE: EDO IAUTHOR: CHARLES JUDD AFFILIATION: UTAH

. ADDRESSEE: CHAIRMAN,DICUS.

rLETTER DATE: 'Aug 18 99 FILE CODE: MAT.~20

SUBJECT:

ENVIROCARE DISPOSAL OF FUSRAP MATERIAL

.' ACTION : -Ap'propriate

' DISTRIBUTION: CHAIRMAN, COMRS.

SPECIAL HANDLING: NONE CONSTITUENT:

. NOTES: -

OCM'#4352 DATE DUE:

. SIGNATURE: . DATE SIGNED:

AFFILIATION:

1 EDO --G19990427 L...'