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Division of Radiological Health

Learn about Tennessee's Bulk Survey for Release Program for extremely low-level radioactive materials disposal in Class I landfills. Explore licensing processes, regulatory compliance, and the basis for BSFR limits.

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Division of Radiological Health

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  1. Division of Radiological Health Debra G. Shults, Director LLW Forum - April 2019

  2. LLW Forum Spring Meeting 2019 Evaluation and Release of Extremely Low Levels of Material to Solid Waste Class 1 (Subtitle D) Landfills

  3. TDEC / DRH Role • To administer laws passed by the General Assembly and the Constitutions • To protect the public health and environment for present and future generations • Values • Timely, fair and consistent • Science-based • Respect diverse opinions and provide for public input

  4. TN Licensed Process Tennessee has a licensed process that has been approved by the Tennessee Department Of Environment And Conservation (TDEC) Division of Radiological Health to allow the disposal of materials with EXTREMELY LOW LEVELS OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL In Class I (Subtitle D) Landfills

  5. The term used generically in Tennessee for this process is BULK SURVEY FOR RELEASE (BSFR)

  6. Example Of BSFR Materials • Soils • Resins • Concrete • Wood • Asphalt • Paper, Plastic, Clothing

  7. TN Licensed Process • Tennessee’s Bulk Survey for Release (BSFR) program was developed in order to have a standardized process to analyze materials with extremely low levels of radioactive contamination for disposal in specified Class I landfills. • By allowing waste that does not pose any significant risk to be disposed of under the BSFR program, space in the limited number of LLW disposal facilities can be conserved for the material that truly requires that type of disposal. • This is a licensed process under a TN RAM license.

  8. Regulatory Process The request is analyzed by the DRH licensing staff the same as any other license application, which includes: • Qualification of management and health physics personnel • Adequacy of their radiation protection program (procedures, training, instrumentation, facility, etc.)

  9. TN Licensed Process • State Regulations for Protection Against Radiation (SRPAR) 0400-20-05-.121 - Methods for Granting Approval of Alternative Disposal Procedures • Based on NRC rule 10 CFR 20.2002. • These levels of contamination, while detectable with modern equipment, pose no hazard to human health or the environment by being disposed of in this manner.

  10. Basis for BSFR Limit The National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements* “…recommends that an annual effective dose of 0.01 mSv (1 mrem) be considered a Negligible Individual Dose (NID) per source or practice.” *NCRP Publication 116, 1993

  11. TN Licensed Process - Computer Modeling • For each radionuclide and concentration requested, perform and submit an analysis verifying that the dose, to the maximally exposed individual, will not exceed 1 millirem per year (mrem/yr) total effective dose equivalent (TEDE). • At a minimum, the external, inhalation, and soil pathways shall be analyzed and it shall be assumed that working face employees are on the landfill 25% of the year

  12. Special Waste Classification TN Division of Solid Waste Management regulates landfills The Extremely Low Material waste is “special waste” • Approval process: • Applicant identifies proposed disposal facility • Applicant provides information/data on waste (volume/analytical) • Receive written approval from TN Division of Solid Waste Management

  13. Computer Modeling RESRAD is a computer program used to evaluate the potential doses from radioactive material in the ground

  14. RESRAD

  15. The Process How Does the Evaluation Process Work?

  16. The Process 1. Material is analyzed at each generator’ssite for the chemical constituencies and to identify each radionuclide and its activity (pCi/g). 2. The material is then shipped according to U.S. Department Of Transportation (USDOT) regulations to aprocessor.

  17. The Process 3. At the processor each package is analyzed again to verify the radionuclides and their associated activities (pci/g). 4. This analysis allows the processor to determine if the material meets the predetermined limits authorized in their radioactive material license for evaluation and release for disposal. 5.If the material meets the predetermined licensed authorized limits and the container surface dose rate limits and does not meet the USDOT definition for radioactive material it is then shipped to the preauthorized landfill.

  18. The Process 6. At the landfill the material goes through a final check. Only After It Passes The Final Check Is It Disposed In The Landfill.

  19. Process Surveillance / Compliance TN Division of Radiological Health • Annual inspection of RAM license BSFR program • Leachate treatment process sampling • Disposal facility dose verification comparison to controls of completed/capped landfill areas • Annually publish volumes disposed per approved landfill TN Division of Solid Waste Management • Inspection of landfill operations and special waste permit compliance

  20. More Information • For additional information see TDEC-DRH website for BSFR requirements and Q&A https://www.tn.gov/environment/program-areas/rh-radiological-health1/rh-bulk-survey-for-release.html

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