Appendix B
Statement of Task
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:
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exceed the concentration limits for Class C low-level waste as set out in Section 61.55 of Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations;
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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
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are stored in tanks at the following sites:
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Savannah River Site, South Carolina.
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Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Idaho.
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Hanford Reservation, Washington.
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This study shall evaluate:
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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;
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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;
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the adequacy of the Department’s plans for monitoring disposal sites and the surrounding environment to verify compliance with those performance objectives;
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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;
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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
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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:
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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
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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.