Arizona Administrative Code › Title 9 - HEALTH SERVICES › Chapter 7 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES - RADIATION CONTROL › Article 4 - STANDARDS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST IONIZING RADIATION › Appendix D - Classification and Characteristics of Low-level Radioactive Waste

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 28, July 12, 2024
I. Classification of Radioactive Waste for Land
				  Disposal
a) Considerations. Determination of the classification of
				  radioactive waste involves two considerations. First, consideration must be
				  given to the concentration of long-lived radionuclides (and their shorter-lived
				  precursors) whose potential hazard will persist long after such precautions as
				  institutional controls, improved waste form, and deeper disposal have ceased to
				  be effective. These precautions delay the time when long-lived radio nuclides
				  could cause exposures. In addition, the magnitude of the potential dose is
				  limited by the concentration and availability of the radionuclide at the time
				  of exposure. Second, consideration must be given to the concentration of
				  shorter-lived radionuclides for which requirements on institutional controls,
				  waste form, and disposal methods are effective.
b) Classes of waste.
1) Class A waste is waste that is usually segregated from
				  other waste classes at the disposal site. The physical form and characteristics
				  of Class A waste must meet the minimum requirements set forth in Section II(a).
				  If Class A waste also meets the stability requirements set forth in Section
				  II(b), it is not necessary to segregate the waste for disposal.
2) Class B waste is waste that must meet more rigorous
				  requirements on waste form to ensure stability after disposal. The physical
				  form and characteristics of Class B waste must meet both the minimum and
				  stability requirements set forth in Section II.
3) Class C waste is waste that not only must meet more
				  rigorous requirements on waste form to ensure stability but also requires
				  additional measures at the disposal facility to protect against inadvertent
				  intrusion. The physical form and characteristics of Class C waste must meet
				  both the minimum and stability requirements set forth in Section II.
c) Classification determined by long-lived radionuclides. If
				  the radioactive waste contains only radionuclides listed in Table I,
				  classification shall be determined as follows:
1) If the concentration does not exceed 0.1 times the value
				  in Table I, the waste is Class A.
2) If the concentration exceeds 0.1 times the value in Table
				  I but does not exceed the value in Table I, the waste is Class C.
3) If the concentration exceeds the value in Table I, the
				  waste is not generally acceptable for land disposal.
4) For wastes containing mixtures of radionuclides listed in
				  Table I, the total concentration shall be determined by the sum of fractions
				  rule described in Section I(g).
TABLE I
Radionuclide
Concentration urie/cubic
								metera
nanocuries/gramb
C-14
8
C-14 in activated metal
80
Ni-59 in activated metal
220
Nb-94 in activated metal
0.2
Tc -9 9
3
I-129
0.08
Alpha-emitting transuranic radionuclides with
								half-life greater than five years
100
Pu-241
3,500
Cm-242
20,000
Ra-226
100
aTo convert the
				  Ci/m3 values to gigabecquerel (GBq) per cubic meter,
				  multiply the Ci/m3 value by 37.
bTo convert the nCi/g values to
				  becquerel (Bq) per gram, multiply thenCi/g value by 37.
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d) Classification determined by short-lived radionuclides. If
				  the waste does not contain any of the radionuclides listed in Table I,
				  classification shall be determined based on the concentrations shown in Table
				  II. However, as specified in Section I(f), if radioactive waste does not
				  contain any nuclides listed in either Table I or II, it is Class A.
1) If the concentration does not exceed the value in Column
				  1, the waste is Class A.
2) If the concentration exceeds the value in Column 1 but
				  does not exceed the value in Column 2, the waste is Class B.
3) If the concentration exceeds the value in Column 2 but
				  does not exceed the value in Column 3, the waste is Class C.
4) If the concentration exceeds the value in Column 3, the
				  waste is not generally acceptable for near-surface disposal.
5) For wastes containing mixtures of the radionuclides listed
				  in Table II, the total concentration shall be determined by the sum of
				  fractions rule described in Section I(g).
TABLE II
Radionuclide Col
Concentration,
Curie/cubic meter*
column 1
Column 2
Column 3
Total of all radionuclides with less than 5-year
								half-life
700
*
*
H-3
40
*
*
Co-60
700
*
*
Ni-63
3.5
70
700
Ni-63 in activated metal
35
700
7000
Sr-90
0.04
150
7000
Cs-137
1
44
4600
* DEPARTMENT NOTE: To convert the
				  Ci/m3 value to gigabec-querel (GBq) per cubic meter,
				  multiply the Ci/m3 value by 37. There are no limits
				  established for these radionuclides in Class B or C wastes. Practical
				  considerations such as the effects of external radiation and internal heat
				  generation on transportation, handling, and disposal will limit the
				  concentrations for these wastes. These wastes shall be Class B unless the
				  concentrations of other radionu-clides in Table II determine the waste to be
				  Class C independent of these radionuclides.
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e) Classification determined by both long- and short-lived
				  radionuclides. If the radioactive waste contains a mixture of radionuclides,
				  some of which are listed in Table I and some of which are listed in Table II,
				  classification shall be determined as follows:
Each package of waste shall be clearly labeled to identify
				  whether it is Class A, Class B, or Class C waste, in accordance with Section
				  I.
*****See Section R9-7-102 for definition of
				  pyrophoric.