1 / 25

Regulatory Framework for Uranium Production Facilities in the U.S.

Regulatory Framework for Uranium Production Facilities in the U.S. Daniel M. Gillen. What ’ s in this Session?. From the U.S. perspective Laws Roles of involved parties Regulations Guidance. Three Levels of the Regulatory Framework.

bhomer
Download Presentation

Regulatory Framework for Uranium Production Facilities in the U.S.

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Regulatory Framework for Uranium Production Facilities in the U.S. Daniel M. Gillen

  2. What’s in this Session? • From the U.S. perspective • Laws • Roles of involved parties • Regulations • Guidance

  3. Three Levels of the Regulatory Framework

  4. What should be considered in laws for Uranium Production regulation • Law should provide a framework for regulation at the highest level • Should establish the entities that are responsible for: • Developing regulatory criteria • Regulating UR activities • Cleaning up legacy sites • Providing long-term care • Establishing the environmental process and considerations • Should describe how these entities will interact

  5. U.S. LawsAffecting Uranium Recovery • Atomic Energy Act of 1954 • National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 • Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978 • Other UR-Related Environmental Laws • Clean Air Act • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act • Clean Water Act • Safe Drinking Water Act

  6. Separation of Roles

  7. Regulator Roles • Establish the regulatory framework of regulations and guidance • Review and approve plans for facility design, operation, decommissioning, and long-term care • Inspect and enforce license conditions and regulations

  8. The Identified Roles for Mill Tailings Waste UMTRCA (Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act)

  9. Uranium Production Regulations:What should be considered in developing regulations • Regulations should provide the significant detailed requirementsto be imposed on Uranium Production activities. • Regulations should consider: • Standards for protection against radiation (Radiation protection programs, dose limits) • Process for licensing • License content • Recordkeeping and reporting • Site closure criteria • Environmental Assessment process • Transportation; Export/Import

  10. Level 2: NRC Regulations

  11. 10 CFR Part 20 • Establishes standards for radiation protection for NRC-licensed activities • Sets requirements for total dose to individuals • Controls the receipt, possession, use, transfer, and disposal of licensed material by any licensee so that those dose levels are not exceeded

  12. 10 CFR Part 20 (continued) • Part 20 includes regulations addressing: • Radiation Protection Programs • Occupational Dose Limits • Radiation Dose Limits for Members of the Public • Surveys and Monitoring • Control of External Exposure in Restricted Areas • Respiratory Protection and Controls to Restrict Internal Exposure in Restricted Areas • Storage and Control of Licensed Material • Waste Disposal • Recordkeeping and Reporting • Enforcement

  13. 10 CFR Part 40 • Establishes procedures and criteria for issuing licenses to receive, possess, use, transfer, or deliver source (U3O8) and byproduct materials (Tailings Waste) • Provides regulations for the disposal of byproduct material and for the long-term care and custody of tailings byproduct material

  14. 10 CFR Part 40 (continued) • Key section: Appendix A to Part 40 – “Criteria Relating to the Operation of Uranium Mills and the Disposition of Tailings or Wastes Produced by the Extraction or Concentration of Source Material From Ores Processed Primarily for Their Source Material Content”

  15. Appendix A Criteria

  16. Appendix A Criteria (continued)

  17. Appendix A (continued)

  18. Appendix A Criteria (continued)

  19. 10 CFR Part 51 • Implements requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 • Contains environmental protection regulations applicable to NRC's licensing and related regulatory functions • Addresses administrative procedures of the environmental review process, environmental reports prepared by applicants, and environmental impact statements prepared by NRC

  20. EPA Standards for Site Remediation

  21. Other Related Regulations • Import/Export: • NRC regulations at 10 CFR Part 110 • Transportation • Department of Transportation regulations at 49 CFR Chapter 1; Subpart A Hazardous materials • Mining Regulations: Mine Safety and Health Administration; States • Environmental regulations - Environmental Protection Agency regulations at 40 CFR (Clean Air; Clean Water)

  22. Level 3 - NRC Guidance • Not requirements, just acceptable approach • Guidance to licensees and applicants on: • how NRC will implement its regulations • techniques used by the NRC staff in evaluating specific problems • data needed by the staff in its review of applications • Guidance to the regulator staff on how to do a consistent review (Standard Review Plans)

  23. Key Guidance for Uranium Recovery

  24. Summary • Tiered Regulatory Framework of laws, regulations, and guidance • Laws – AEA, UMTRCA, NEPA • Separation of regulator and operator • Regulations • CFR Title 10 (NRC); Parts 20, 40, 51 • Guidance • Not requirements • For Applicants, Licensees, and NRC staff • Various Reg Guides, NUREGS, and Staff Positions address aspects of Applications, Operations, and Closure stages of the lifecycle

  25. Questions?

More Related