Update on NRC Low-Level Waste Program – Major Activities

• Large Scale blending of LLRW

- Issued guidance to agreement states for reviewing proposals for large scale blending-March 2011

• Storage of LLRW

- Issued Regulatory Information Summary (RIS 2011-09) – August 2011

• Volume Reduction Policy Statement

- Published revised policy statement – May 2012

• Branch Technical Position (BRP) on Concentration Averaging

- Published revised BRP for public comments – June 2012

• 10 CFR Part 61 limited rulemaking

- Seeking stakeholder feedback for a risk-informed approach to Part 61

Proposed Revisions to Part 61 Regulations

• Emergency of potential waste streams not considered in the original Part 61 rulemaking

• DOE’s increasing use of commercial facilities

• Extensive international operating experience in the management of waste

10 CFR Part 61 – Licensing Requirements for Land Disposal of LLRW

• Performance objectives (Subpart C) assure safe disposal of LLRW:

- Protection of general public

- Protection of inadvertent intruder

- Protection of individuals during operations

- Stability after site closure

• Demonstrate performance via technical analysis and waste classification

New Commission Direction to the NRC staff – Expansion of the limited-scope revision to Part 61

(January 19, 2012 SRM)

Consider:

•Flexibility to use ICRP dose methodologies

•Two-tiered period of performance:

Tier 1 – a compliance period covering reasonably foreseeable future

Tier 2 – longer period to evaluate the performance of the site over longer timeframes

•Flexibility to establish site-specific waste acceptance criteria

•A compatibility category for the elements of the revised rule

Path Forward

• Receive comments from various stakeholders:

July 31, 2012

• Regulatory Basis Development:

September 30, 2012

• DRAFT Proposed Rule Language:

December 2012

• Rulemaking Package Due to Commission:

July 2013

• Public Meeting – Guidance Document

After July 2013; Date TBD