NUREG-0945, Responds to Re Definition of Low Level Waste. Classification Sys Sets Forth Three Classes of Low Level Waste,Class A,B or C.Class a Wastes Contain Smallest Concentration & Class C Contains Largest Concentrations

Responds to Re Definition of Low Level Waste. Classification Sys Sets Forth Three Classes of Low Level Waste,Class A,B or C.Class a Wastes Contain Smallest Concentration & Class C Contains Largest Concentrations

ML20248D634
Person / Time
Issue date:	03/31/1989
From:	Bell M NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
To:	Healey R AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
References
REF-WM-3, RTR-NUREG-0782, RTR-NUREG-0945, RTR-NUREG-782, RTR-NUREG-945 NUDOCS 8904110523
Download: ML20248D634 (1)

Text

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DISTRIBUTION:

(LLWH 89-019)

M M 89-019 Central Fil 202.1 JGreeves NMSS r/f Ro'berta Healey JSurmeier LLRB r/f

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Star Route Notwich, NY 13815 el GRoles

$48 3 f 1999

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Oear Ms. Healey:

i In response to your March 2 letter, " low-level waste" is defined by the U.S.

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Congress to essentially mean radioactive material subject to Nuclear Regulatory 1

Commission (NRC) regulation that is not high-level waste, spent fuel, or j

uranium mfll tailings.

NRC regulates disposal of lou-level waste based primarily on Part 61 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR l

Part 61). This regulation cuntains, among other requirements, a low-level l

waste classification system.

This classification system sets forth three

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c) asses of. low-level waste (Cla.;s A, Class B, and Class C waste) suitable for i

near-surface disposal (disposal within about the top 30 meters of the earth's j

surface). Waste is determined to be in one of these classes based on the 1

concentrations of particular radionuclides within'the waste.

Chss A waste j

contains the smallest concentrations and Class C waste the largest

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concentrations.

Wast? having concentrations excceding Class C limits is deemed 1

not generally suitable for near-surface disposal.

By law, disposal of this

" greater-than-Class C' low-level waste is the responsibility of the U.S.

Department of Energy.

As you suggest, the Department of Energy may decide to Aispose of this waste in a geologic repository.

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l The derivation of the Part 61 regulation is explained primarily in two docum: nts, the Caft and final environmental impact statements for the Part 61 rulemaking (NUREG-0782 and NUREG-0945).

Because these documents 6re both large, multiple-volume, publication, I hwe not included them with this

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letter.

I have enclosed, however, a draft guide to the Part 61 regulation, j

This draft guide includes a more complete discussion of the NRC low level waste i

classification system The glotscry in the draft guide tells how you may obtain copias of the draf t and environmental impact statements, if you so desire them.

l 7 hope that this letter is responsive to your concern.

,f

.7 Michael J. Bell, Chief Regulatory Branch Division of Low-Level Waste Management and Decommissioning l

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Enclosure:

As stated PDR Yes 8/

POR No

/ _/ Reason:

Proprietary /~~/ or CF Only /~ /

@ ~~ O ALNW Yes /~~/

No l

$UDJECT ABSTWACT:

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