Comparison between Current Rule Language and 

Rule Language in Proposed Rule, "Low-Level Radioactive Waste 

Disposal” (80 FR 16082)

[10 CFR Part 20 Language Comparison Only]

(3/26/15)

PART 20—STANDARDS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST RADIATION

§ 20.1003 Definitions.

Waste means those low-level radioactive wastes containing source, special nuclear, or 

byproduct material that are acceptable for disposal in a land disposal facility. For the purposes 

of this definition, low-level radioactive waste means radioactive waste not classified as highlevel radioactive waste, transuranic waste, spent nuclear fuel, or byproduct material as defined 

in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of the definition of Byproduct material set forth in this section. 

Consistent with the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, low-level 

radioactive waste also includes radioactive material that, non-withstanding Section 2 of the 

Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, results from the production of medical isotopes that have 

been permenantly removed from a reactor or subcritical assembly, for which there is no further 

use, and the disposal of which can meet the requirements of this part.

Appendix G to Part 20--Requirements for Transfers of Low-Level Radioactive Waste Intended 

for Disposal at Licensed Land Disposal Facilities and Manifests

* * * * *

II. Certification

An authorized representative of the waste generator, processor, or collector shall certify by 

signing and dating the shipment manifest that the transported materials meet the waste 

acceptance criteria for disposal for a specific site; are properly classified, described, packaged, 

marked, and labeled; and are in proper condition for transportation according to the applicable 

regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Commission. A collector in signing 

the certification is certifying that nothing has been done to the collected waste which that would 

invalidate the waste generator's certification.

III. Control and Tracking

A. Any licensee who transfers radioactive waste to a land disposal facility or a licensed waste 

collector shall comply with the requirements in paragraphs A.1 through 9 of this section. Any 
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licensee who transfers waste to a licensed waste processor for waste treatment or repackaging 

shall comply with the requirements of paragraphs A.4 through 9 of this section. A licensee shall:

1. Prepare all wastes according to the land disposal facility’s criteria for waste acceptance 

developed in accordance with § 61.58 so that the waste is classified according to § 61.55 and 

meets the waste characteristics requirements in § 61.56 of this chapter;

2. Label each disposal container (or transport package if potential radiation hazards preclude 

labeling of the individual disposal container) of waste in accordance with § 61.57 to identify 

whether it is Class A waste, Class B waste, Class C waste, or greater then Class C waste, in 

accordance with § 61.55 of this chapter;

3. Conduct a quality assurance program to assure compliance with the land disposal facility’s 

criteria for waste acceptance that has been developed in accordance with § 61.58§§ 61.55 and 

61.56 of this chapter (the program must include management evaluation of audits);

4. Prepare the NRC Uniform Low-Level Radioactive Waste Manifest as required by this 

appendix;

5. Forward a copy or electronically transfer the Uniform Low-Level Radioactive Waste Manifest 

to the intended consignee so that either (i) receipt of the manifest precedes the LLW shipment 

or (ii) the manifest is delivered to the consignee with the waste at the time the waste is 

transferred to the consignee. Using both (i) and (ii) is also acceptable;

6. Include NRC Form 540 (and NRC Form 540A, if required) with the shipment regardless of the 

option chosen in paragraph A.5 of this section;

7. Receive acknowledgement of the receipt of the shipment in the form of a signed copy of NRC

Form 540;

8. Retain a copy of or electronically store the Uniform Low-Level Radioactive Waste Manifest 

and documentation of acknowledgement of receipt as the record of transfer of licensed material 

as required by 10 CFR Parts 30, 40, and 70 of this chapter; and

9. For any shipments or any part of a shipment for which acknowledgement of receipt has not 

been received within the times set forth in this appendix, conduct an investigation in accordance 

with paragraph E of this appendix.

B. Any waste collector licensee who handles only prepackaged waste shall:

1. Acknowledge receipt of the waste from the shipper within one week of receipt by returning a 

signed copy of NRC Form 540;
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2. Prepare a new manifest to reflect consolidated shipments that meet the requirements of this 

appendix. The waste collector shall ensure that, for each container of waste in the shipment, the 

manifest identifies the generator of that container of waste;

3. Forward a copy or electronically transfer the Uniform Low-Level Radioactive Waste Manifest 

to the intended consignee so that either: (i) Receipt of the manifest precedes the LLW shipment 

or (ii) the manifest is delivered to the consignee with the waste at the time the waste is 

transferred to the consignee. Using both (i) and (ii) is also acceptable;

4. Include NRC Form 540 (and NRC Form 540A, if required) with the shipment regardless of the 

option chosen in paragraph B.3 of this section;

5. Receive acknowledgement of the receipt of the shipment in the form of a signed copy of NRC 

Form 540;

6. Retain a copy of or electronically store the Uniform Low-Level Radioactive Waste Manifest 

and documentation of acknowledgement of receipt as the record of transfer of licensed material 

as required by 10 CFR parts 30, 40, and 70 of this chapter;

7. For any shipments or any part of a shipment for which acknowledgement of receipt has not 

been received within the times set forth in this appendix, conduct an investigation in accordance 

with paragraph E of this appendix; and

8. Notify the shipper and the Administrator of the nearest Commission Regional Office listed in 

appendix D of this part when any shipment, or part of a shipment, has not arrived within 60 days 

after receipt of an advance manifest, unless notified by the shipper that the shipment has been 

cancelled.

C. Any licensed waste processor who treats or repackages waste shall:

1. Acknowledge receipt of the waste from the shipper within one week of receipt by returning a 

signed copy of NRC Form 540;

2. Prepare a new manifest that meets the requirements of this appendix. Preparation of the new 

manifest reflects that the processor is responsible for meeting these requirements. For each 

container of waste in the shipment, the manifest shall identify the waste generators, the 

preprocessed waste volume, and the other information as required in paragraph I.E. of this 

appendix;

3. Prepare all wastes according to the land disposal facility’s criteria for waste acceptance 

developed in accordance with § 61.58so that the waste is classified according to § 61.55 of this 

chapter and meets the waste characteristics requirements in § 61.56 of this chapter;
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4. Label each package of waste to identify whether it is Class A waste, Class B waste, or Class 

C waste, in accordance with §§ 61.55 and 61.57 of this chapter;

5. Conduct a quality assurance program to assure compliance with the land disposal facility’s 

criteria for waste acceptance that has been developed in accordance with § 61.58 §§ 61.55 and 

61.56 of this chapter (the program shall include management evaluation of audits);

6. Forward a copy or electronically transfer the Uniform Low-Level Radioactive Waste Manifest 

to the intended consignee so that either: (i) Receipt of the manifest precedes the LLW shipment 

or (ii) the manifest is delivered to the consignee with the waste at the time the waste is 

transferred to the consignee. Using both (i) and (ii) is also acceptable;

7. Include NRC Form 540 (and NRC Form 540A, if required) with the shipment regardless of the 

option chosen in paragraph C.6 of this section;

8. Receive acknowledgement of the receipt of the shipment in the form of a signed copy of NRC 

Form 540;

9. Retain a copy of or electronically store the Uniform Low-Level Radioactive Waste Manifest 

and documentation of acknowledgement of receipt as the record of transfer of licensed material 

as required by 10 CFR parts 30, 40, and 70 of this chapter;

10. For any shipment or any part of a shipment for which acknowledgement of receipt has not 

been received within the times set forth in this appendix, conduct an investigation in accordance 

with paragraph E of this appendix; and

11. Notify the shipper and the Administrator of the nearest Commission Regional Office listed in 

appendix D of this part when any shipment, or part of a shipment, has not arrived within 60 days 

after receipt of an advance manifest, unless notified by the shipper that the shipment has been 

cancelled.

D. The land disposal facility operator shall:

1. Acknowledge receipt of the waste within one week of receipt by returning, as a minimum, a 

signed copy of NRC Form 540 to the shipper. The shipper to be notified is the licensee who last 

possessed the waste and transferred the waste to the operator. If any discrepancy exists 

between materials listed on the Uniform Low-Level Radioactive Waste Manifest and materials 

received, copies or electronic transfer of the affected forms must be returned indicating the 

discrepancy;

2. Maintain copies of all completed manifests and electronically store the information required 

by 10 CFR 61.80(l) until the Commission terminates the license; and
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3. Notify the shipper and the Administrator of the nearest Commission Regional Office listed in 

appendix D of this part when any shipment, or part of a shipment, has not arrived within 60 days 

after receipt of an advance manifest, unless notified by the shipper that the shipment has been 

cancelled.

E. Any shipment or part of a shipment for which acknowledgement is not received within the 

times set forth in this section must:

1. Be investigated by the shipper if the shipper has not received notification or receipt within 20 

days after transfer; and

2. Be traced and reported. The investigation shall include tracing the shipment and filing a report 

with the nearest Commission Regional Office listed in Appendix D to this part. Each licensee 

who conducts a trace investigation shall file a written report with the appropriate NRC Regional 

Office within 2 weeks of completion of the investigation.