STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT OF LO

ASSESSMENT OF LO

LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE 

REGULATORY PROGRAM REGULATORY PROGRAM

Gregory Suber Chief Suber, Chief

Low-Level Waste Branch

Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection

Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental 

Management Programs

June 17, 2014

NRC Public Webinar

Rockville MD Rockville, MD
Objective

To gather information on an update to the NRC’s 20Strategic Assessment of the LLRW regulatory progfrom stakeholders and other interested members of from stakeholders and other interested members of 

public.
Agenda 

Tuesday, June 17, 20131:00 – 1:15 pm Introduction G. Su

1:15 – 1:30 pm Background on M. W

2007 Strategic Assessment

1:30 – 1:45 pm Specific Requests for Comments M. Ge1:45 – 3:45 pm Questions and Comments Public3:45 – 4:00 pm Conclusion Conclusion G Su

G. Su
QUESTIONS?
BACKGROUND ON 2007 STRATEG

BACKGROUND ON 2007 STRATEG

ASSESSMENT OF LOW-LEVEL RADIOA

WASTE REGULATORY PROGRAM

M

ea e o g lani

e W

o

n

g

Low-Level Waste Branch

Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection

Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental ManagemOffice of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Managem

Programs

June 17, 2014

NRC Public Webinar NRC Public Webinar

Rockville, MD
Topics

• Background• Status of the 2007 Strategic Assessment• Proposed updates to the Strategic Assessment
Background

Challenges and issues included:• Desire of industry for greater flexibility and reliabili

of industry for greater flexibility and reliabili

LLRW disposal options; 

• Increased storage of Class B and Class C LLRW; 

• Potential need to dispose of large quantities of pow

decommissioning waste and depleted uranium;

• LLRW program requi d t th ired greater resources than w

available; 

• Increased security concerns; concerns; and• New waste streams that may be generated. 
Background (cont...)

2007 Strategic Assessment of the NRC’s LLRW

regulatory program regulatory program

Goal:

• Identify and prioritize staff activities.Objectives:• Ensure safe and secure LLRW disposal; • Improve th ff ti ffi i d d t b

the effectiveness, efficiency, and adaptab

the NRC’s LLRW regulatory program; and 

• Ensure regulatory stability and regulatory stability and predictability predictability. 
Background (cont...)

• Variety of activities proposed• List of 20 activities developed• Priorities of high (7 tasks), medium (6 tasks), or 

(7 tasks) assigned (7 tasks) assigned
Background (cont...)

High Priority Activities

Task 

#

Task Description

1 Re e a d upda e gu da ce o e e ded s o age o view and update guidance on extended storage of LLRW

2 Develop guidance on 10 CFR 20.2002 Alternate Disposal R3 Determine if disposal of large quantities of depleted uranium Determine if disposal of large quantities of depleted uranium 

change the waste classification tables.

4 Update Branch Technical Position on Concentration Averag

Encapsulation.

5 Develop procedures for Import/Export Review.6 Develop guidance on alternate waste classification (10 CFR 

Develop guidance on alternate waste classification (10 CFR 

7 Perform scoping study of the need to revise/expand byprod

financial assurance to account for life-cycle cost.
Background (cont...)

Medium Priority Activities Priority Activities

Task 

#

Task Description

1 Develop licensing criteria for greater than Class C (GTCC) d

facility.

2 Consolidate LLRW guidance.3 Develop guidance that summarizes disposition options for lo

materials and waste.

4 Coordinate with other agencies on consistency in regulating 

Coordinate with other agencies on consistency in regulating 

waste disposal.

5 Identify new waste streams.6 Develop information notice on waste minimization.
Background (cont...)

Low Priority Activities Priority Activities

Task 

#

Task Description

1 Evaluate p g g yp g otential changes to LLRW regulatory program as 

severe curtailment of disposal capacity.

2 Promulgate rule for disposal of low-activity waste.3 Id tif d l t t ti l l i l ti h Identify and evaluate potential legislative changes.4 Implement major revisions to 10 CFR Part 61.5 Develop waste acceptance criteria for LLRW disposal in ura

tailings impoundments.

6 Examine need for guidance on defining when radioactive ma

becomes LLRW becomes LLRW.

7 Develop and implement national waste tracking system.
Status of the Strategic 

Assessment

• Strategic Assessment 7 high prioritized activities

√ Review and update guidance on extended storage Review and update guidance on extended storage√ * Determine if disposal of large quantities of Depleted Ura

change waste classification tables

* Develop guidance on 10 CFR 20 2002 Alternate Disposal 

guidance on 10 CFR 20.2002 Alternate Disposal 

 Update Branch Technical Position on Concentration Avera

Encapsulation

 D l id evelop guidance on alt t t l ifi ti (10 CF

lterna

te was

te classification (10 CF

- Develop procedures for Import/Export Reviews- Perform scoping study of the need to revise/expand bypro

material financial assurance 

9

 = completed projects and 

* = current projects 
Proposed Updates to the 

Strategic Assessment Strategic Assessment

• Review 2007 Strategic Assessment and could 

reprioritize some of remaining activities, such as:

• Develop licensing criteria for greater than Clas

disposal facility; disposal facility;

• Perform scoping study of the need to revise/ex

byproduct material financial assurance to accolife-cycle cost; or 

• Develop procedures for Import/Export Review.
March 7, 2014 Phoenix Workshop on 

Update to the Strategic Assessment Update to the Strategic Strategic Assessment Assessment

• Issues to consider include:

• Low-activit

y ; waste

• Waste classification;• Proposed 10 CFR Part 61 rulemaking;•

Clearance;

• Disposal capacity;• Gap analysis;• Greater than Class C waste;• Waste manifest;• New waste streams;• Sealed sources; and • Waste attribution.
SPECIFIC REQUESTS FOR COMME

Matthews George

Low-Level Waste Branch Waste Branch

Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection

Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Managem

Programs

June 17, 2014

NRC Public Webinar

Rockville, MD
Topics

• Current national LLRW disp pg osal program • Current LLRW disposal regulatory system• Update to the 2007 Strategic Assessment • Communication & cooperation • Factors to evaluate the proposed activities
Specific Requests for Comments

• Current National LLRW Disposal Program:

– What changes anticipated in LLRW area may What changes anticipated in LLRW area may

impact safety, security & protection of the environment?
Specific Requests for Comments 

(cont ) (cont

...

)

• Current LLRW Dis

p g yy osal Re

gulator

y S

ystem:

1. What are the key safety concerns relative to LLRW disposal?2. What improvements in the current regulatory approach toward LLR

the US would enhance the NRC’s ability to ensure safe & secure L

3. What actions could be taken by the NRC & other Federal and State 

well as private industry to optimize the management of LLRW?

4. Are there additional actions that can/should be taken regarding spe
Specific Requests for Comments 

(cont ) (cont

...

)

• Update to the 2007 Strategic Assessment:

– What activities should remain, removed or add

list of proposed activities developed in 2007 StAssessment?
Specific Specific Requests Requests for Comments for Comments 

(cont...)

• Communication & Cooperation 

1. Wh t k ll d t What works well and not-so-well d ti l

ll, domestical

internationally with regard to communicating affected and interested stakeholders on the 

management of radioactive waste?

2. What specific actions can NRC take to impro

coordination with other Federal agencies for coordination with other Federal agencies for 

consistent treatment of radioactive waste thasimilar or equivalent levels of biological haza
Factors to Evaluate the Proposed 

Activities• Im

p g ( g y y) act to Strate

gic Goals 

(e.

g., safet

y, security)

• Need (near, medium, or long terms)• Resulting benefits• L l f ff t ( t ) Level o

f effor

ts 

(cos

t, resources

)

• Potential disposal scenarios 
Factors to Evaluate the Proposed 

Activities (cont ) (cont

...

)

• Potential Disposal Scenarios 

– Wh l ti th d ti iti th i 

When evaluating the propose

d acti

vities, the responsiven

potential disposal scenarios will be considered. 

– The following three (3) revised disposal scenarios are pro

i ti i th d t d St t i A t incorporation in the up

d

a

t

e

d Stra

tegic 

Assessmen

t

• “optimistic future” scenario: a continuous expansion of 

secure disposal capacity for the entire spectrum of LLR

• “realistic future” scenario: a clear path to disposal exist 

A, B and C wastes.

• “pessimistic future” scenario: disposal capacity is cons

LLRW in the not too distant future.
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS

June 17, 2014

NRC Public Webinar

Rockville, MD Rockville, MD
CONCLUSION

Gregory Suber Chief Suber, Chief

Low-Level Waste Branch

Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection

Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental 

Management Programs

June 17, 2014

NRC Public Webinar

Rockville, MD
Next Steps

• Information gathering• Federal Register Notice soliciting comments on 

proposed activities, 

– Comment period closes on July 14, 2014

• Request comment on draft updated Strategic Request comment on draft updated Strategic

Assessment in 2015
Contact Information

• Information available at NRC website:

– http://www.nrc.gov/waste/llw-disposal/llw-pa/llw-strategic

assessment ht l . m

• Written comments to www.regulations.gov under Docket ID 

2014-0080

• Points of Contact:

– Melanie Wong

(301) 415-2432, Melanie.Wong@nrc.gov

– Mathews George

(301) 415-7065, Mathews.George@nrc.gov