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Challenges in Current Waste Disposal Approaches in Colorado

This article discusses the current waste disposal approaches and challenges in Colorado, focusing on solid waste disposal, concentration limits, waste characterization, and waste profile validity. It explores the concentration limits for different waste streams and addresses the question of what wastes should be characterized and for how long a waste profile is valid. The article also delves into the challenges in solid waste landfill disposal and emphasizes the importance of waste identification, dose assessments, and acceptance. For further information, contact Jim Grice at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

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Challenges in Current Waste Disposal Approaches in Colorado

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  1. TENORM • Colorado: Current Waste Disposal Approaches and Challenges • Jim Grice, Radioactive Materials Unit Leader • Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

  2. Disposal as Solid Waste • Solid Waste RCRA Subtitle D • Municipal Solid Waste • Industrial • Restrict Dose to Public to 25 mrem annually • RESRAD (worker and 1000 yr resident) • CAP-88 or MILDOSE (Radon offsite estimates if methane collection system is used)

  3. Challenges • Concentration limits for RCRA D • What wastes should be characterized? • What is an appropriate or statistically defensive characterization? • How long is a waste profile good for?

  4. Concentration limits • Upper bounds of 50 pCi/g in an engineered landfill • Likely less than 100% of waste volume • 0.05% by mass for U and Th • Regulatory limit. • Pb, Po, etc. Unsupported Daughters • In general these can be at 50 pCi/g as well • Worker dose is more problematic than resident farmer.

  5. Waste Streams of Interest Water Treatment: • Drinking Water • IX Media • Green Sand • HMO • Soils from discharge area/impoundment • Wastewater (if there is a discharge to the system from another water treatment activity) • Biosolids • Drying beds • Industrial (any treatments that would likely concentrate metals) • Any Filter media • Soils from discharge area/impoundment O&G E&P: • Filter socks • Tank bottoms • Horizontal cuttings in uranium bearing formations • Filter press cake • Residual materials dislodged during cleaning and maintenance activities on the following: • Crude oil pipeline (pipe scale scraping/rattling/wire brushing) • Natural Gas scrubbers, compressors, reflux pumps, control valves and product lines • Gas/oil separators • Dehydration vessels • Liquid natural gas (LNG) storage tanks

  6. How to characterize? • How many samples is enough? • Must have an adequate confidence that materials do not exceed limits • EPA SW-846 • Sampling plans and statistical methods for establishing confidence • Generators and Disposal Facilities need to be informed

  7. Waste Profile Validity • How long can a waste profile be used? • Periodic sampling and use of statistical tests to verify that the dataset is still valid for ongoing waste streams • Should be spelled out in Waste Characterization Plan

  8. Solid Waste Landfill Disposal • What it can and should be: • Safe, Protective, Cost effective, Sensible solution • The Devil is in the details: • Waste Identification, Dose assessments, Concentration limits, Waste characterization and acceptance

  9. Thank You! • Jim Grice, Radioactive Materials Unit Leader • Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment • james.grice@state.co.us – 303-692-3371 Questions?

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