ML20058M796

Responds to Questioning Basis for NRC Statement Re long-term Onsite Storage of Low Level Radwaste Beyond 960101

ML20058M796
Person / Time
Issue date:	07/20/1990
From:	Carr K NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
To:	Monaco C CORTLAND COUNTY, NY
Shared Package
ML20058K836	List: ML20058K832 ML20058M790 ML20058M796
References
REF-PROJ-M-12 NUDOCS 9008130069
Download: ML20058M796 (2)

Text

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. UNITED STATES C

= NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION.

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WASHINGTON, o. C. 20066 s

July ~20, 1990 j

CHAIRMAN m

Ms'..Cindy Monaco u

.Cortland County Planning Department

'69 Contral Ave.

P.G. Box 5590 t

Cortland, New York' 13045

Dear Ms. Monaco:

L1'amiresponding _to your June 4,1990 letter, in which you l

questioned the basis for the Commission's statement that it will not look favorably-(on long-term, on-site storage of low-level

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radioactive waste LLW) beyond' January 1,11996.

In view-of your j

concerns,1 will briefly explain our intent in formulating our m

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,. position on this matter.

The Commission's: statement reflects.the intent -of Congress in the a

J low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1985, which fencour_ ages States to take a>propriate actions-to ensure that Ddisposal capacity-is availa)1e by January 1, 1996.

The Commission,.;11ke the States, is responsible for carrying out'the provisions of'this law._ NRC approval'of long-term,

.on-site storage a's a substitute for develoament of new disposal capacity would clearly be~ inconsistent wit 1 the 1985 Act.

I want-to' emphasize that our statement applies.to'long-term storage <used as a means to avoid the clear intent of the law.

The Commission recognizes that licensees'need-to.have interim

.(short-term) storage capability while~ disposal capacity is being.

developed by the States, in the interest of protecting the

- public health and ' safety. and. maintaining occupational ex )osure as l-low as. reasonably achievable, however, we believe that t1e length E

Lof time that LLW.islplaced in storage.should be minimized.

Enclosed -for your information is an assessment prepared for the NRC by. the Brookhaven National Laboratory of technical problems

' attendant to the extended storage of LLW.

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Lf The~Commissien will continue to follow.the progress of the States L

inLdeveloping new LLW disposal facilities.

We will work to

.res'olve emergin'g issues to help ensure a stable-regulatory framework consistent with safety and timely compliance with the 9008130069 900807 jEM PROJ PDC e

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. Ms~. Cindy.iMonaco 2

1 Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act of-1985.

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.The Commission.is confident (that LLW. disposal. facilities licensed 1

in'accordance with NRC's regulations in 10 CFR Part 61 or s--

compatibleLState--regulations will fully protect the public health and safety and-the environment.

I' hope.thes'e commentsiand the enclosed information clarify our.

position on this matter.

Sincerely.

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. 9-Kenneth M. Carr

Enclosure:

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NUREG/CR-4062 cc:

E. Gleason-NY State-Liaison Officer l.

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