Tank Wastes Planned for On-Site Disposal at Three Department of Energy Sites: The Savannah River Site: Interim Report (2005)

The objective of this study is to review and evaluate the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) plans to manage certain radioactive waste streams stored at its sites as identified below.

The waste streams to be addressed in this study are the streams of waste from reprocessed spent nuclear fuel that:

1. exceed the concentration limits for Class C low-level waste as set out in Section 61.55 of Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations;

2. the Department plans to dispose of on the sites specified below rather than in a repository for spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste; and

3. are stored in tanks at the following sites:

   1. Savannah River Site, South Carolina.

   2. Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Idaho.

   3. Hanford Reservation, Washington.

This study shall evaluate:

1. the state of the Department’s understanding of the physical, chemical, and radiological characteristics of the waste referred to above, including an assessment of data uncertainties;

2. any actions additional to those contained in current plans that the Department should consider to ensure that its plans to manage its radioactive waste streams will comply with the performance objectives of Part 61 of Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations;

3. the adequacy of the Department’s plans for monitoring disposal sites and the surrounding environment to verify compliance with those performance objectives;

4. existing technology alternatives to the current management plan for the waste streams mentioned above and, for each such alternative, an assessment of the cost, consequences for worker safety, and long-term consequences for environmental and human health;

5. any technology gaps that exist to effect improved efficiency in removal and treatment of waste from the tanks at the Hanford, Savannah River, and Idaho sites; and

6. any other matters that the committee considers appropriate and directly related to the subject matter of the study.

The committee may develop recommendations it considers appropriate and directly related to the subject matter of the study, including:

1. improvements to the scientific and technical basis for managing the waste covered by the study, including the identification of technology alternatives and mitigation of technology gaps; and

2. the best means of monitoring any on-site disposal sites from the waste streams referred to above to include soil, groundwater, and surface water monitoring.

TITLE 10—ENERGY

CHAPTER I—NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

PART 61: LICENSING REQUIREMENTS FOR LAND DISPOSAL OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE

Subpart C: Performance Objectives

Sec. 61.40 General requirement.

Land disposal facilities must be sited, designed, operated, closed, and controlled after closure so that reasonable assurance exists that exposures to humans are within the limits established in the performance objectives in Sec. 61.41 through 61.44.

Sec. 61.41 Protection of the general population from releases of radioactivity.

Concentrations of radioactive material which may be released to the general environment in ground water, surface water, air, soil, plants, or animals must not result in an annual dose exceeding an equivalent of 25 millirems to the whole body, 75 millirems to the thyroid, and 25 millirems to any other organ of any member of the public. Reasonable effort should be made to maintain releases of radioactivity in effluents to the general environment as low as is reasonably achievable.

Sec. 61.42 Protection of individuals from inadvertent intrusion.

Design, operation, and closure of the land disposal facility must ensure protection of any individual inadvertently intruding into the disposal site and occupying the site or contacting the waste at any time after active institutional controls over the disposal site are removed.

Sec. 61.43 Protection of individuals during operations.

Operations at the land disposal facility must be conducted in compliance with the standards for radiation protection set out in part 20 of this chapter, except for releases of radioactivity in effluents from the land disposal facility, which shall be governed by Sec. 61.41 of this part. Every reasonable effort shall be made to maintain radiation exposures as low as is reasonably achievable.

Sec. 61.44 Stability of the disposal site after closure.

The disposal facility must be sited, designed, used, operated, and closed to achieve long-term stability of the disposal site and to eliminate to the extent practicable the need for ongoing active maintenance of the disposal site following closure so that only surveillance, monitoring, or minor custodial care are required.