NRC Generic Letter 1984-12

NRC Generic Letter 1984-012: Compliance with 10 CFR Part 61 & Implementation of Radiological Effluent Technical Specifications (RETS) Attendant Process Control Program (PCP)

ML031150707
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, Skagit, Marble Hill
Issue date:	04/30/1984
From:	Eisenhut D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
References
GL-84-012, NUDOCS 8405010084
Download: ML031150707 (2)

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY

COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 April 30, 1984 TO ALL OPERATING

REACTORS AND APPLICANTS

FOR OPERATING

LICENSES Gentlemen:

SUBJECT: COMPLIANCE

WITH 10 CFR PART 61 AND IMPLEMENTATION

OF THE RADIOLOGICAL

EFFLUENT TECHNICAL

SPECIFICATIONS (RETS) AND ATTENDANT-PROCESS

ICONTROL PROGRAM (PCP) (GENERIC LETTER 84-12)This letter is to inform you that the waste manifest provisions of 10 CFR 20.311 became effective on December 27, 1983. The manifest system is closely related to certain requirements of 10 CFR Part 61 that place new requirements on classification and acceptable forms for low-level radioactive wastes being shipped from commercial nuclear power plants to commercial disposal facilities.

The NRC staff has been made aware of the fact that neither the states nor the disposal facility operators currently have sufficient resources to assure that all incoming low-level radioactive waste is in compliance with these new regulations.

Consequently, the NRC has been asked to provide reasonable assurance that its licensees are complying with all applicable provisions of Part 61.During the development of Part 61, the NRC staff determined that compliance with the radioactive waste form requirements of Part 61 and the certification requirements of 10 CFR 20.311 could be achieved by the develop-ment and use of a Process Control Program (PCP) as an attendant part of the licensee's Radiological Effluent Technical Specifications (RETS). This approach was determined to be acceptable by the responsible state regulatory agencies that license the disposal sites. It is now apparent, however, that many licensees do not yet have approved PCPs and that no licensee has a PCP which specifically addresses the new requirements of Part 61.As an interim measure, the responsible state regulatory agencies and the disposal site operators have agreed to continue to accept nuclear power plant low-level radioactive wastes based upon the NRC staff's assurance that reasonable progress is being made toward demonstration of full compliance with new requirements of Part 61 and Part 20. The NRC staff has been readily able to offer such assurances for those plants for which there are NRC approved and implemented RETS and the attendant PCPs. The NRC staff will assume a good-faith effort on the part of these licensees to modify in a timely fashion the PCPs to accommodate all new and applicable Part 61 and Part 20 requirements.

We are prepared to assist, when requested, those licensees which presently have approved PCPs to assure that they are upgraded to meet the new requirements of Part 61; however, the NRC staff cannot offer the same type of assurances for those operating plants which do not possess currently approved RETS and PCPs. Prompt action may be necessary if radio-active waste shipments from these plants are to continue without interruption-

8405010084

-2-The NRC staff will make every effort-to avoid any interruption of low-level radioactive waste shipments by its licensees.

We are prepared to expedite the implementation of NRC approved RETS and PCPs for all licensees who request assistance.

If you have any questions concerning this subject, please contact either W. Gammill or F. Congel via your Project Manager.rwe G. E senhut, Director Division of icensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation