low-activity radioactive materials

Update on Low Level Radioactive Waste Alternate Disposal Options

Joseph J. Weismann, CHP

Radiation Program Manager US Ecology, Inc.

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

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

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

RCRA Hazardous Waste Cell Design

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

“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

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

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

Andrews, TX Site Robstown, TX Site

“Hybrid” Texas RCRA Sites: Andrews (WCS) and Robstown (US Ecology)

• 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*

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

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

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

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

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

“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

Questions ??