Transcript Update on NRC Low-Level Waste Program – Major Activities

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:

•
Regulatory Basis Development:

•
July 31, 2012
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