Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 105 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH › Title 105 CMR 120.000 - The Control of Radiation › QUALITY ASSURANCE › Section 120.897 - Waste Minimization Plan Content

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
A waste minimization plan shall include:
(A) A waste minimization policy statement
				that presents the generator's goals for achieving waste
				minimization/reduction/elimination, and assigns responsibility to an individual
				or group to accomplish the objectives. The plan shall be approved by the
				highest official of the company or institution or his/her designee, and include
				a statement committing to a defined implementation schedule.
(B) A summary report which characterizes the
				generator's waste streams and assesses the opportunities for waste
				minimization. The report shall include a systematic review of processes,
				current applicable technologies, procedures and cost requirements. An
				operational assessment of the generator's activities will be required in order
				to collect the necessary data and compile the summary report. Sample assessment
				forms and a flow chart illustrating the assessment overview can be found in the
				Department's
Low-Level Radioactive Waste Minimization
				Guidance.
The following assessment activities are expected to be
				included in the waste minimization plan and will be used to evaluate the plan:
(1) A description of the facility and the
				process or service that generates the waste. This may be accomplished by
				reviewing design, operating and maintenance documentation.
(2) Identification and characterization of
				the waste streams which result from the process or service. Potential sources
				of information include process flow diagrams, analytical test data, waste
				shipment manifests, radioactive material purchase and inventory
				records.
(3) Prioritization of the
				radioactive sources and waste streams to select one or more for minimization.
				Concerns which should be addressed when making this selection will include:
- minimization potential
- reclassification potential
- compliance with current and future regulations
- potential liability
- volume and activity of the waste
- cost/benefit relationship
(4) Analysis and selection of a
				technically-feasible minimization technique or technology. The process or
				service that generates the waste will be analyzed relative to the candidate
				techniques or technologies. If techniques or technologies have been developed,
				and minimization is believed to have reached optimum levels, the summary report
				will indicate what activities will allow minimization to continue.
(5) Analysis of the direct and indirect
				capital costs and operating costs associated with the minimization activity as
				compared to on-site storage and increasing disposal costs.
(6) Evaluation of both tangible and
				intangible benefits and detriments of minimization.
(7) Evaluation of the progress or success of
				the minimization effort. This action should be undertaken periodically after
				minimization plans are instituted.
(8) An operational assessment whenever a new
				product or substantial change in service is being considered.
(9) Procedures which rely on reduction of the
				radioactivity of the waste through decay in storage. These should include the
				following:
(a) Identification of the
				radioisotopes and waste which can be considered for decay in storage, and
				development of a written set of procedures outlining handling and processing
				steps necessary to isolate those wastes.
(b) Identification of an area where the
				storage for decay can occur, and evaluation of the size of the area to ensure
				it is spacious enough to accommodate all wastes to be accumulated through the
				entire decay cycle.
(c)
				Identification of adjacent unrestricted areas to ensure adequate shielding is
				available to maintain radiation levels below specified limits.
(d) Establishment of adequate security
				measures for the storage for decay area.
(e) Establishment of a radiation survey
				procedure to measure radiation levels in adjacent unrestricted areas at least
				weekly.
(f) Development of written
				procedures to monitor the waste in the storage for decay area to ensure it has
				decayed to background levels prior to disposal.
(g) Maintenance of all records for all
				storage for decay and disposal activities, especially radiation
				surveys.