Memorandum of Understa

Memorandum of Understa

Between EPA AND NRC Between EPA AND NRC

John T. John T. Greeves Greeves, Director , Director

Division of Waste Management, NMSS Division of Waste Management, NMSSNovember 5, 2002 November 5, 2002
Background Background

 1983 Deferral Policy 1983 Deferral Policy 1992 MOU 1992 MOU NRC/EPA Controversy NRC/EPA Controversy 1997 NRC License Termination 

1997 NRC License Termination 

 1997 EPA Guidance 1997 EPA Guidance Risk Management Differences Risk Management Differences 2000 GAO Report 2000 GAO Report
Dual Regulation Dual Regulation Dual Regulation

 Leads to Conflicts Leads to Conflicts Inefficient Use of Resourc

 Inefficient Use of Resourc

 Lack of Finality Lack of Finality Erodes Public Confidence Erodes Public Confidence
2002 MOU 2002 MOU 2002 MOU

 Process to eliminate or mi

Process to eliminate or mi

dual regulation dual regulation

 Congress directed languag

Congress directed languag

 Success Between Agencie

Success Between Agencie

 MOU does not relieve Lice

MOU does not relieve Lice

from meeting Part 20 Subp

from meeting Part 20 Subp
Principles and Principles andImplementation Implementation

 Establish a stable and pred

Establish a stable and pred

regulatory environment regulatory environment

 Implement NRC and EPA Implement NRC and EPA

responsibilities in a coordin

responsibilities in a coordin

and consistent manner and consistent manner

 Inform Congress and Stake

Inform Congress and Stake
Specific MOU Provisi

Specific MOU Specific MOU Provisi

Specific MOU Provisi

ovisi

 EPA agrees to defer to NRC EPA agrees to defer to NRC

– Vast majority of NRC terminated licenses 

Vast majority of NRC terminated licenses 

invoke MOU invoke MOU

 NRC agrees to consult with EPA 

NRC agrees to consult with EP

– Site groundwater contamination exceeds 

Site groundwater contamination exceeds 

– Site soil concentrations exceed levels de

Site soil concentrations exceed levels de

MOU

– NRC contemplates restricted release or a

NRC contemplates restricted release or a

criteria criteria

 License Termination rule conti

License Termination rule conti

dose criterion that encompasse

dose criterion that encompass

pathways. pathways.
COMPARISON OF MOU CONSULTATION V

COMPARISON OF MOU CONSULTATION V

TO NRC’S COMPLIANCE SCREENING CRI

TO NRC’S COMPLIANCE SCREENING CRI

Fe-55 27 Cs-134 2.8 Th-232 4.5 Cm-243 

Mn-54 4.6 I-129 120 Th-228 3.2 Cm-242 

Sc-46

7 Tc-99 1.3 Ac-227 20 Am-241 

Ca-45 240 Nb-94 0.34 Ra-226 7.1 Pu-241 

Cl-36 17 Sr-90 14 Pb-210 17 Pu-239 

S-35 73 Ni-63 4.5 Ir-192 8.2 Pu-238 

Na-22 2.1 Ni-59 3.8 Eu-154 0.63 U-238 C-14 3.8 Co-60 1.1 Eu-152 0.46 U-235 H-3 2.1 Co-57 5.8 Cs-137 0.55 U-234 

Values <1 = Values <1 = NRC’s value is larger; value is larger;

Values >1 = MOU value is larger Values >1 = MOU value is larger
 A site has Sr-90 in Soil A site has Sr-90 in Soil Requesting License Requesting License

Termination Termination

 Must show compliance Must show compliance

with Part 20 with Part 20

 Coordination with EPA Coordination with EPA

– Screening Criteria Screening Criteria

 No Consultation with EPA No Consultation with EPA

– Site-specific modeling Site-specific modeling

 No Consultation with EPA No Consultation with EPA

if <23 pCi/g

MOU Residential ResidentialValueNRC Screening ScreeningValue
 A site has Cs-137 in Soil A site has Cs-137 in Soil Requesting License Requesting License Termination Termination Must show compliance Must show compliance with Part 20 with Part 20 Coordination with EPA Coordination with EPA

– Screening Criteria Screening Criteria

 Consultation with EPA if Consultation with EPA if

ACTUAL concentrations ACTUAL concentrations>6 pCi/g

– Site-specific modeling Site-specific modeling

 Consultation with EPA if Consultation with EPA if

ACTUAL concentrations ACTUAL concentrations>6 pCi/g

MOU Residential ResidentialValueNRCScreening ScreeningValue
 Site has Sr-90 in Site has Sr-90 in

ground water ground water

 Current concentration Current concentration

is 12 pCi/l

 If concentration will be If concentration will be

>8 pCi/l at time of at time oflicense termination license termination,NRC will consult with NRC will consult withEPA.

 Must show compliance Must show compliance

with Part 20 with Part 20

EPA MCL EPA MCL 8 p

Sr-

Sr-
Path Forward Path Forward

 Each agency will revise it

Each agency will revise it

guidance to address guidance to addressconsultation role consultation role

 NRC will continue to requ

NRC will continue to requ

legislation to eliminate du

legislation to eliminate du

regulation regulation