Low-Activity Radioactive Materials
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Transcript of Low-Activity Radioactive Materials
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Update on Low Level Radioactive Waste Alternate Disposal Options
Joseph J. Weismann, CHP
Radiation Program Manager US Ecology, Inc.
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Regulated under the Atomic Energy Act◦ Low concentrations of source, byproduct and special
nuclear material ◦ Accelerator produced material◦ Generally exempted materials, products & devices
(e.g. smoke detectors, luminous dials, etc.) Not Regulated under the Atomic Energy Act
◦ Naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) except radium & certain other discrete sources
◦ Technologically-enhanced NORM (TENORM)◦ Pre-UMTRCA uranium and thorium ore processing
waste (FUSRAP)
Low-Activity Radioactive Materials
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Waste Specific: NRC Decommissioning Plan approval NRC General Exemption NRC/Agreement State license condition/amendment NRC/Agreement State approval letter NRC/Agreement State specific exemption*
Disposal Facility-Specific: State law or regulation RCRA permit condition/amendment
*Policy Note: A 10 CFR 20.2002 alternate disposal authorization is not an exemption. However, NRC policy is to issue an exemption concurrently.
Types of Regulatory Authorizations
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Select RCRA Subtitle-C Sites are viable options for LARW
Characteristics similar to Part 61 LLRW sites (‘hybrid’ sites)◦ Remote location with limited population◦ Meet performance assessment criteria◦ Desert environment with low annual rainfall◦ Deep depth to groundwater
Not all RCRA sites meet these criteria
Appropriate RCRA Sites
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RCRA Hazardous Waste Cell Design
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Site-specific radiological performance assessment (RESRAD)
Operating Procedures Emergency Response Plan Rad Training, Occupational Monitoring, and
Personnel Dosimetry Environmental Monitoring Closure/Post-closure Financial Assurance
‘Hybrid’ RCRA Site RP Program Elements
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“Hybrid” RCRA Site:Grand View, ID (US Ecology)
• Avg 700,000 tons disposed over last 5 years• ~50% radioactive
material• Majority FUSRAP &
EPA CERCLA waste • NRC/AS exempt
waste volumes increasing
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Licensed Material Disposal Review Process for Idaho
Generator Requests Alternate Disposal
Authorization & Exemption
NRC/AS Conducts Technical Review
USE Submits Safety Assessment to ID
IDEQ ReviewsRequests More Info
Concurs
Rejects
NRC/AS Approves
Rejects
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USEI Radioactive Material Waste Acceptance Criteria
General: NORM up to 1,500 pCi/g Source material <0.05% by weight Accelerator produced material <10 mrem/hr Generally exempt items & devices
With Specific Exemption: Source, Byproduct & SNM <3,000 pCi/g, and NRC/Agreement State exemption based on “less
than a few millirem” projected dose per Safety Analysis
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Andrews, TX Site Robstown, TX Site
“Hybrid” Texas RCRA Sites: Andrews (WCS) and Robstown (US Ecology)
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• All NORM isotopes except radium <150 pCi/gm or less
• Radium <30 pCi/g• Uranium & thorium <0.05% by weight• Exempt byproduct material with state approval• Specific Licensed Material: “300-day rule”• Mixed hazardous & radioactive material acceptable
* Applies to both Andrews (WCS) & Robstown (US Ecology) sites
Texas RCRA Subtitle C Disposal Radioactive Waste Criteria*
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Permittee evaluates waste per TAC Rejects
Submits concurrence request to TCEQ:• Reference applicable exemption rule• Physical description- composition, weight,
etc.• Isotope concentrations• Generator & waste location• Must be exempt in state of origin
TCEQ Reviews
Texas Exempt RAM Disposal Review Process
RejectsRequests information
TCEQ Issues Written Concurrence For Disposal
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Safety Light Corporation, Bloomsburg PA NRC/PADEP licensed, EPA Superfund Site Cleanup conducted by USACE ~1,600 cy of soil & debris 50 pCi/g 137Cs, 180 pCi/g 90Sr, 50 pCi/g 226Ra
Case Study: Agreement State Specific Exemption
PADEP exemption granted in Nov 2008
Shipments made via IMC to ID RCRA Site
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BASF (Former Englehard Chemical Co.), Plainville, MA
Formerly licensed by AEA (term. in 1963) 123 tons of Natural, Depleted, and Low
Enriched Uranium (~4%) Approval letter granted by MDPH (Feb 2010) Idaho concurrence Disposed at Idaho RCRA site
Case Study:Agreement State SNM Approval Letter
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PG&E, Humboldt Bay NPP Undergoing decommissioning ~200,000 ft3 of soil & debris from Units 1&2 5 pCi/g 137Cs, 5 pCi/g 60Co, 1 pCi/g 14C, more
Case Study: 10CFR30.11 Specific Exemption
NRC issued EA with FONSI and exemption in Nov 2010
Shipments ongoing to ID RCRA Site
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Former Molycorp source material processing operation in Washington, PA: NRC licensed
~100,000 cy of soil and slag from production of ferro-alloys (Nb amd Mo)
232Th ~50 pCi/g, 238U ~15 pCi/g, 226Ra ~5 pCi/g
Case Study: 10 CFR 40.13 General Exemption
Classified as unimportant quantity of source material (<.05% by weight)
Disposed at Idaho RCRA site
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“The Committee should work with the staff to consider and provide advice on what NRC can do to assist in providing greater disposal options for low-level radioactive waste, e.g. use of appropriate Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle C hazardous waste facilities.”
U.S. NRC Staff Requirements Memo - 1/16/07
Recent NRC Commission Policy Supports Use of Select RCRA Sites
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Questions ??