Washington Administrative Code › Title 246 - Health, Department of › RADIATION › Chapter 246-250 - Radioactive waste-Licensing land disposal › TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR LAND DISPOSAL FACILITIES › Section 246-250-330 - Land disposal facility operation and disposal site closure

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) Near-surface
				  disposal facility operation and disposal site closure.
(a) Wastes designated as Class A pursuant to
				  chapter 246-249 WAC shall be segregated from other wastes by placing in
				  disposal units which are sufficiently separated from disposal units for the
				  other waste classes so that any interaction between Class A wastes and other
				  wastes will not result in the failure to meet the performance objectives of
				  this chapter. This segregation is not necessary for Class A wastes if they meet
				  the stability requirements in chapter 246-249 WAC.
(b) Wastes designated as Class C pursuant to
				  chapter 246-249 WAC shall be disposed of so that the top of the waste is a
				  minimum of five meters below the top surface of the cover or must be disposed
				  of with intruder barriers that are designed to protect against an inadvertent
				  intrusion for at least five hundred years.
(c) Except as provided in (l) of this
				  subsection, only waste classified as Class A, B, or C shall be acceptable for
				  near-surface disposal. All waste shall be disposed of in accordance with the
				  requirements of (d) through (k) of this subsection.
(d) Wastes shall be emplaced in a manner that
				  maintains the package integrity during emplacement, minimizes the void spaces
				  between packages, and permits the void spaces to be filled.
(e) Void spaces between waste packages shall
				  be filled with earth or other material to reduce future subsidence within the
				  fill.
(f) Waste shall be placed and
				  covered in a manner that limits the radiation dose rate at the surface of the
				  cover to levels that at a minimum will permit the licensee to comply with all
				  provisions of chapter 246-221 WAC at the time the license is transferred
				  pursuant to WAC
				  246-250-140.
(g) The boundaries and locations of each
				  disposal unit shall be accurately located and mapped by means of a land survey.
				  Near-surface disposal units shall be marked in such a way that the boundaries
				  of each unit can be easily defined. Three permanent survey marker control
				  points, referenced to United States Geological Survey (USGS) or National
				  Geodetic Survey (NGS) survey control stations, shall be established on the site
				  to facilitate surveys. The USGS or NGS control stations shall provide
				  horizontal and vertical controls as checked against USGS or NGS record
				  files.
(h) A buffer zone of land
				  shall be maintained between any buried waste and the disposal site boundary and
				  beneath the disposed waste. The buffer zone shall be of adequate dimensions to
				  carry out environmental monitoring activities specified in WAC
				  246-250-340(4) and take mitigative measures if needed.
(i) Closure and stabilization measures as set
				  forth in the approved site closure plan shall be carried out as each disposal
				  unit is filled and covered.
(j)
				  Active waste disposal operations shall not have an adverse effect on completed
				  closure and stabilization measures.
(k) Only wastes containing or contaminated
				  with radioactive material shall be disposed of at the disposal site.
(l) Proposals for disposal of waste that is
				  not generally acceptable for near-surface disposal because the waste form and
				  disposal methods must be different and, in general, more stringent than those
				  specified for Class C waste, may be submitted to the department for
				  approval.