NRC UPDATES GUIDANCE TO LICENSEES FOR EXTENDED STORAGE 

OF LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE 

 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued updated guidance to its fuel cycle and 

materials licensees regarding the potential need to store some low-level radioactive waste onsite 

for an extended period after the low-level waste disposal facility in Barnwell, S.C., closes to 

much of the nation. 

 NRC regulations establish safety requirements for the near-surface disposal of low-level 

waste, which is classified as Class A, B or C depending on its hazard and physical 

characteristics. About 96 percent of all commercial low-level waste generated in the United 

States is Class A, the least hazardous. 

 

 The Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act, as amended, gave states the responsibility 

for disposing of low-level radioactive waste and created a system of interstate compacts to create 

and manage disposal facilities. There are currently three licensed low-level waste disposal 

facilities. One, in Clive, Utah, accepts only Class A waste from licensees in all states. A second 

facility, near Richland, Wash., accepts all classes of low-level waste from the 11 states in the 

Northwest and Rocky Mountain compacts (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, 

Utah, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Colorado and New Mexico). The Barnwell facility has accepted 

all types of waste from the rest of the country, but because of declining disposal capacity South 

Carolina has said the site will only accept waste from the three states of the Atlantic compact 

(South Carolina, New Jersey and Connecticut) as of July 1. 

 The closure of Barnwell will leave licensees in 36 states with no disposal options for 

Class B and C waste. About 95 percent of Class B and C waste is generated by nuclear power 

plants, which have the space, expertise and experience needed to store radioactive wastes for 

extended periods. The Nuclear Energy Institute, along with the Electric Power Research 

Institute, has prepared updated low-level waste storage guidance for nuclear power plants 

affected by Barnwell’s closure. These groups submitted the guidance to NRC May 13 for review 

and possible endorsement, if NRC agrees with it. 

NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200 

Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 

E-mail: opa@nrc.gov 

Site: http://www.nrc.gov

No. 08-103 May 29, 2008
 The remainder of the Class B and C waste consists primarily of liquid wastes from 

radiochemical producers and sealed radioactive sources from industrial, research or medical 

licensees. These licensees are the intended audience of NRC’s updated guidance. While some of 

these licensees may have some experience in storing radioactive wastes for short periods, the 

need for extended interim storage may present new challenges. These are addressed in the 

guidance. 

 The guidance advises licensees to consider ways to minimize the production of Class B 

and Class C low-level wastes, and to consider whether they may need to seek a license 

amendment to increase their possession limit for radioactive materials as a result of the need to 

store waste onsite. The guidance also addresses considerations such as security, worker safety, 

and the need to keep track of radioactive materials, including during emergencies. 

 In addition to NRC licensees, the guidance has been provided to regulatory authorities in 

the 35 Agreement States that regulate the commercial uses of radioactive materials under 

agreements with the NRC. Those state agencies may use the guidance as they deem appropriate 

to meet the needs of their regulatory programs. 

 NRC Regulatory Issue Summary 2008-12, “Considerations for Extended Interim Storage 

of Low-Level Radioactive Waste by Fuel Cycle and Materials Licensees,” is available on the 

NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/gen-comm/regissues/2008/index.html. 

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