Pollution and Waste Treatment Solutions for Environmental Professionals

News

NRC Releases Assessment of Low-level Radioactive Waste Regulatory Program

November 7, 2007

On Nov. 2, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission published the staff's strategic assessment of the agency's low-level radioactive waste (LLW) regulatory program, proposing several initiatives to meet impending challenges such as decreased disposal capacity and increased production of LLW as new reactors and other nuclear facilities come online.

Those challenges include the anticipated closure to most of the nation in 2008 of the Barnwell, S.C., LLW disposal facility. Barnwell is currently the nation's only commercial disposal option for certain wastes, and its closure could force licensees to store waste on-site until other disposal options become available. In addition, operation of new uranium enrichment facilities, potential nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities and commercial nuclear power plants will create additional demand for LLW disposal capacity.

According to the strategic assessment, NRC regulations on disposal of low-level radioactive waste fully protect the health and safety of workers and the public. However, the assessment identifies several measures that could improve the effectiveness of low-level waste management and regulation as disposal needs and circumstances change.

The strategic assessment identifies seven "high-priority" tasks the NRC intends to carry out to strengthen the agency's ability to ensure safe and secure LLW disposal, improve the effectiveness of its regulations, and assure regulatory stability and predictability while allowing flexibility in disposal options. These tasks include updating guidance for extended storage of LLW; developing new guidance for alternative disposal of low-activity waste; and developing guidance for classifying LLW according to the risk it poses to public health and safety.

Officials said the strategic assessment was developed with input from the NRC's Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste and Materials as well as external stakeholders such as industry, state agencies and public interest groups. It is currently before the commission as an information paper (SECY-07-0180) and will be available on the NRC's Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/commission/secys/2007.

Opinion

Will EPA be Forced to Issue a Climate Change Endangerment Finding?

On April 2, 2008, exactly one year after the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in Massachusetts v. EPA, 12 states, supported by an additional five states as amicus curiae, as well as the District of Columbia, the cities of New York and Baltimore, and a number of environmental organizations, filed a petition for mandamus with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit seeking to compel the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to act on remand within 60 days.

RSS Feeds