Download
1 / 12
140 likes | 310 Views
10 CFR Part 61: Licensing Requirements for Land Disposal of Radioactive Waste. Gregory Suber, Branch Chief Environmental Protection & Performance Assessment Directorate Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection Organization of Agreement States 2011 Annual Meeting.
E N D
10 CFR Part 61: Licensing Requirements for Land Disposal of Radioactive Waste Gregory Suber, Branch Chief Environmental Protection & Performance Assessment Directorate Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection Organization of Agreement States 2011 Annual Meeting
LLW 101: Background • Early LLW disposal practices included • Ocean Dumping (~ 60 sites) • Shallow Landfills (~16 sites) • 1960s: Commercial Disposal Operations Approved by the AEC • Six sites • Licensed under Part 50 • Economics • $5.15/drum (land) • $48.75/drum (ocean)
LLW 101 (continued) • Developments …. • London Convention of 1972: Ban on ocean dumping • Problems at Operating Disposal Sites • Leaks • Ground failures • NRC Actions • 1977: LLW Task Force Formed • 1978: NRC Publishes Part 61 ANPR • 1980: Final Part 61 Rule in Place
10 CFR Part 61 • Regulatory Framework • Standardize LLW disposal practices • Develop umbrella regulation • Scoping process consistent with NEPA • Limited to commercial waste streams • 37 waste streams • 24 radionuclides of interest
Part 61 Regulatory Philosophy • Waste Segregated by Radiological Hazard • Integrated Management, Based on a ‘Systems’ Approach • Multiple barriers • Geologically suitable/stable site • Employ specific (yet limited) design features • Stabilize the waste
Summary: I Believe Part 61 is …. • Non-prescriptive • Limited sitting/design/engineering requirements • Waste segregated • Reliance on institutional controls • Risk-informed • Potential waste streams understood • Waste managed in context of Subpart C performance objectives
Recent Events • Depleted Uranium Decision-Making • DU is Class-A LLW • NRC amending Part 61 to include an explicit performance assessment requirement (per SECY-08-0147) • NRC Reprocessing Regulatory Initiative • New, emerging LLW streams • Update to NRC Concentration Averaging BTP • SECY-10-0043
Comprehensive Revision to Part 61 • Commission Directed the Staff to … • Seek stakeholder views on possible amendments • Focus on regulatory approaches that are risk-informed/performance-based • SECY-10-0165 Issued December 27, 2010 • Staff Identified 5 Potential Options
Potential Rulemaking Options • Risk-Inform Current Part 61 Waste Classification Framework Option • Re-evaluate §61.55 waste classification tables • Apply updated ICRP dosimetry • Comprehensive Revision Option • Start with blank slate • Re-do earlier Part 61 studies • Rely on new information and updated assumptions
Options (continued) • Site-Specific Waste Acceptance Criteria Option • Modeled after DOE Order 435.1-1 • Performance-based directive based on specific site and design • Does not rely on generic waste classification tables (§61.55) • International Alignment Option • Based on IAEA Geologic Safety Guide (GSG)-1 • Focuses on all radioactive waste streams, including LLW • Maintain status quo • No further action
Next Steps • First NRC Public Meeting on March 4, 2011 • Joint DOE/NRC workshop • http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/rulemaking/potential-rulemaking/potential-part61-revision.html • Future Public Meetings Expected • Timetable depends on completion of ongoing site-specific analysis rulemaking (SECY-08-147) • Schedule also depends upon resource availability
Decommissioning Planning Final Rule:General Information • Published in the Federal Register on June 17, 2011 • Effective Date for licensees: December 17, 2012 • Date for Agreement State adoption of compatible regulations: December 17, 2015 • NRC Contact: Rob MacDougall - 301.415.5175 - Robert.MacDougall@nrc.gov
