NRC staff concludes review of Environmental Justice policy, makes recommendations to the Commission

On April 12, 2022, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff completed its systematic assessment of how the NRC approaches environmental justice in its programs, policies and activities, by submitting to the Commission SECY-22-0025. 


The SECY package contains the staff paper, which includes six high-level recommendations to the Commission and six commitments that the staff will undertake, and 13 enclosures explaining the review findings in detail. The documents contained in the SECY’s package sent to the Commission can be found here.


For more information, please click here.

NRC’S PATH FORWARD AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CERTAIN LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL RULEMAKINGS

MEMORANDUM TO: Daniel H. Dorman, Executive Director for Operations
FROM: Brooke P. Clark, Secretary
DATE: April 5, 2022
SUBJECT: STAFF REQUIREMENTS – SECY-20-0098 – PATH FORWARD AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CERTAIN LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL RULEMAKINGS


The Commission has approved the staff’s recommended Option 1, to issue a new proposed rule that consolidates and integrates criteria for licensing the disposal of greater-than-Class C (GTCC) waste and Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 C.F.R.) Part 61, “Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal,” rulemaking activities, and provides for Agreement State licensing of those GTCC waste streams that meet the regulatory requirements for near-surface disposal and do not present a hazard such that the NRC should retain disposal authority.


Additionally, for GTCC waste streams containing strategic special nuclear material, the Commission has approved the staff’s recommendation to explore regulatory approaches that would allow for a single regulator for an Agreement State licensee disposing of GTCC waste in a land disposal facility, including potential amendment to 10 C.F.R. §§ 150.14 and 150.15.


The staff should take another look at the technical basis for the performance objectives in Part 61 and ensure that the compliance period is based on scientific data. Rather than using the same compliance period for disposal sites containing significant amounts of depleted uranium, GTCC, or transuranic waste, the staff should consider a site-specific, graded approach based on when the peak dose is projected to occur or establish a longer compliance period for disposal sites containing significant quantities of mobile, long-lived radionuclides.


If during its development of the new proposed rule the staff determines that provisions in the final rule provided to the Commission in SECY-16-0106 are protective of public health and safety, including for long-lived radionuclides, the staff should propose those provisions to the Commission.


cc: Chairman Hanson
Commissioner Baran
Commissioner Wright
OGC
CFO
OCA
OPA ODs, RAs, ACRS, ASLBP
PDR

Newsflash: Notification letter from the NRC to Interim Storage Partners LLC regarding license issuance

In letters dated June 8 and July 19, 2018, Interim Storage Partners LLC submitted an application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requesting a site-specific license in accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 72. NRC has hereby issued the license. To read the full letter, click here.

REGISTER NOW for the LLW Fall Meeting — IN-PERSON OR ONLINE — Oct 13-14, 2021

The Forum intends to move forward with the upcoming Fall meeting to be held in Denver. We strongly recommend attendees be vaccinated and face coverings will be provided and are recommended. We are working with the hotel to make this in-person meeting safe and enjoyable with certain precautions. We will be implementing color-coding for your in-person badge to signify your comfort level with social interactions:
  • Red means please adhere to all social distancing and mask wearing protocols when we interact.
  • Yellow means that you are mostly comfortable when we talk but please, no direct contact.
  • Green means that you are comfortable with normal social interactions.

Date and Times: The fall 2021 meeting of the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Forum (LLW Forum) will be held October 13-14, 2021. This will be a one and one-half day meeting beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday and concluding at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday. The Executive Committee will meet from 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. on Thursday morning (October 14). The Disused Sources Working Group (DSWG) – including members, staff, organizational liaisons and invited guests will meet on Friday (October 15) from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. A virtual option is available for the main meeting on October 13-14.  Location: The meeting will be held at the Magnolia Hotel, 818 17th Street in Denver. The Magnolia Hotel Denver is in downtown Denver in the Central Business District, adjacent to the 16th Street Mall. Hotel Reservations: A dedicated block of hotel rooms has been reserved at the rate of $195 plus tax per night (single or double). This rate is available October 11-15, 2021. To make a reservation, please call 855-516-1090. (Group Code is Low Level Radioactive).  Reservations may also be made at the following website: https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1586459557412&key=GRP&app=resvlink Transportation: Taxi and Uber/Lyft are available from the Denver International Airport (DIA). Taxi service charges are a flat rate of $55.15. In terms of public transportation, especially during rush hour times (7-10am; 4-7pm), consider the A line (light rail) from DIA to downtown Denver. There is a $10.50 charge each way, additional information can be found here: https://www.rtd-denver.com/services/rail. The A-line leaves from the airport every 15 minutes during the day and arrives at Union Station, which is 0.5 miles from the hotel. There is a free shuttle bus along the 16th Street Mall to explore downtown Denver and possibly assist in the last half mile from Union Station. Registration: The meeting is free for up to two attendees representing members of the LLW Forum. Non-member registration is $600.00 per attendee, payable by check or through PayPal. We prefer to see you in person, but will be offering a virtual meeting using Webex Events. Registration for the virtual meeting will be $100.00 per person, payable by check or through PayPal. The WebEx link will be provided after payment received, one link per registration. For membership information, please contact Dan Shrum, LLW Forum Executive Director at (801) 580-3201 or go to our website at www.llwforum.org. Attendees wishing to pay by credit card or PayPal should complete the online registration form below. Attendees wishing to pay by check should download the paper registration form here.

Midwest Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Compact Commission Annual Meeting

ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE

 

The Midwest Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Compact Commission will hold its annual meeting by Teams conference call at

10:00 am – 11:00 am CDT

(or an earlier adjournment if the business is completed)

(Note: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm EDT for Indiana and Ohio)

on Wednesday, June 16, 2021

The public is encouraged to attend the teleconference over a Teams link by sending an email by noon CDT June 15 to Jim Chiles, at jim.chiles@state.mn.us

 

 

Proposed agenda:

 

  1. Call to order; roll call
  2. Review of minutes of June 11, 2020, meeting
  3. Chair’s report
  4. Executive Director’s report
  5. Review of financial report
  6. Expenses projected for FY 2022
  • Audit fees for FY 2021 and FY 2022
  • Website and annual report fees
  • LLW Forum membership
  1. Adoption of FY 2022 budget
  2. Other business
  3. Adjournment

2021 Richard S. Hodes, M.D. Honor Lecture Award Nominations Sought

Deadline is August 31, 2020

As a reminder, the Southeast Compact Commission for Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management is accepting nominations for the 2021 Richard S. Hodes, M.D. Honor Lecture Award — a program that recognizes an individual, company, or organization that contributed in a significant way to improving the technology, policy, or practices of low-level radioactive waste management in the United States.  The award recipient will present the innovation being recognized at a lecture during the Waste Management ’21 Symposium in Phoenix, Arizona.  The award recipient will receive a $5,000 honorarium and all travel expenses will be paid.

The nomination packet is attached, for your information and convenience.  Nominations must be received by August 31, 2021. 

Background

Dr. Richard S. Hodes was a distinguished statesman and a lifetime scholar.  He was one of the negotiators of the Southeast Compact law, in itself an innovative approach to public policy in waste management.  He then served as the chair of the Southeast Compact Commission for Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management from its inception in 1983 until his death in 2002.

Throughout his career, Dr. Hodes developed and supported innovation in medicine, law, public policy, and technology.  The Richard S. Hodes, M.D. Honor Lecture Award was established in 2003 to honor the memory of Dr. Hodes and his achievements in the field of low-level radioactive waste management.

Past Recipients

The following individuals and entities are past recipients of the Richard S. Hodes, M.D. Honor Lecture Award:

  • W.H. “Bud” Arrowsmith (2004);
  • Texas A & M University Student Chapter of Advocates for Responsible Disposal in Texas (2004 honorable mention);
  • William Dornsife (2005);
  • California Radioactive Materials Management Forum (2006);
  • Larry McNamara (2007);
  • Michael Ryan (2008);
  • Susan Jablonski (2009);
  • Larry Camper (2010);
  • Christine Gelles (2011);
  • Lawrence “Rick” Jacobi (2012);
  • James Kennedy (2013);
  • EnergySolutions, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD), and the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Global Threat Reduction Initiative (2013 honorable mention);
  • Electric Power Research Institute (2014);
  • Division of Radiation Control of the Utah DEQ and EnergySolutions (2015);
  • Louis Centofanti (2016);
  • Scott Kirk (2017);
  • National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the Off-Site Source Recovery Program (OSRP) (2018);
  • Clint Miller of Pacific Gas & Electric (2019); and
  • Savannah River Remediation LLC (2020).

The Award

The Richard S. Hodes Honor Lecture Award — established in March, 2003 — is awarded to an individual, company, or organization that contributed in a significant way to improving the technology, policy, or practices of low-level radioactive waste management in the United States.

The award recipient will be recognized with a special plaque and an invitation to present a lecture about the innovation during the annual international Waste Management Symposium (WM ’21).  The 2021 symposium is sponsored by the University of Arizona and will be held in Phoenix, Arizona in the spring of 2021.

A special time is reserved during the Symposium for the lecture and the award presentation. The Southeast Compact Commission will provide the award recipient a $5,000 honorarium and will pay travel expenses and per diem (in accordance with Commission Travel Policies) for an individual to present the lecture.

Criteria

The Richard S. Hodes Honor Lecture Award recognizes innovation industry-wide.  The award is not limited to any specific endeavor — contributions may be from any type of work with radioactive materials (nuclear energy, biomedical, research, etc.), or in any facet of that work, such as planning, production, maintenance, administration, or research.  The types of innovations to be considered include, but are not limited to:

  • conception and development of new approaches or practices in the prevention, management, and regulation of radioactive waste;
  • new technologies or practices in the art and science of waste management; and,
  • new educational approaches in the field of waste management.

The criteria for selection include:

  1. Innovation.  Is the improvement unique? Is it a fresh approach to a standard problem? Is it a visionary approach to an anticipated problem?
  2. Safety.  Does the practice enhance radiation protection?
  3. Economics.  Does the approach produce significant cost savings to government, industry or the public?
  4. Transferability.  Is this new practice applicable in other settings and can it be replicated?  Does it increase the body of technical knowledge across the industry?

Eligibility

To be eligible for the award, the individual/group must consent to being nominated and must be willing to prepare and present a lecture about the innovation being recognized at the Waste Management Symposium.  Individuals or organizations can nominate themselves or another individual, company, institution, or organization.

Nominations

To nominate yourself or another individual, company, or organization for this distinguished award, please contact:

Awards Committee
c/o Ted Buckner

Executive Director
Southeast Compact Commission
Post Office Box 5427
Cary, NC 27512
(919) 380-7780

(919) 380-7710 – FAX
tedb@secompact.org

or visit the Southeast Compact Commission’s website at http://www.secompact.org/.

Nominations must be received by August 31, 2021.

Annual Meeting To Be Held on June 11

ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE

 

The Midwest Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Compact Commission will hold its annual meeting by telephone conference call at

10:00 am – 11:00 am CDT

(or an earlier adjournment if the business is completed)

(Note: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm EDT for Indiana and Ohio)

on Thursday, June 11, 2020

The public is encouraged to attend the teleconference.  Due to COVID-19 concerns, the meeting will be conducted entirely by teleconference.

Calling in: Toll-free dial-in number (888) 742-5095;

Conference code:  6805842054

Proposed agenda:

 

  1. Call to order; roll call
  2. Review of minutes of June 7, 2019, meeting
  3. Review of financial report
  4. Chair’s report
  5. Election of officers
  6. Executive Director’s report
  7. Consultant expenses projected for FY 2021
    • Legal counsel fees
    • Audit proposal
    • Website and annual report fees
    • LLW Forum membership
  8. Adoption of FY 2021 budget
  9. Other business
  10. Adjournment

Rocky Mountain Low-Level Radioactive Waste Board Annual Meeting on Tuesday, June 30, 2020

ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE BOARD
The Rocky Mountain Low-Level Radioactive Waste Board will hold a Regular Meeting on Tuesday, June 30, 2020. The meeting will be held virtually via GoToMeeting. The Regular Meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. The Annual Meeting will begin immediately following the Regular Meeting.

For further information, contact Leonard Slosky, Executive Director of the Board, at Islosky@rmllwb.us or (303) 825-1912.
If you would rather receive an email notice of Board meetings, please contact Elaine MacDonald at board@rmllwb.us or (303) 825-1912.
Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/602916557
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (872) 240-3412
Access Code: 602-916-557
New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts:
https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/602916557

NRC PROPOSED INTERPRETIVE RULE RELATED TO VERY LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL

The NRC recently published a Federal Register notice announcing a proposed interpretive rule related to very low-level radioactive waste disposal and will be holding a public meeting via WebEx on March 30, 2020 , to present information on this topic.

This proposed interpretation of the low-level radioactive waste disposal regulations in 10 CFR 20.2001 would permit licensees to dispose of waste by transfer to persons who hold specific exemptions for the purpose of disposal, rather than needing the individual disposal requests approved on a case-by-case basis.  The NRC would consider approval of requests for specific exemptions for the purpose of disposal if they are for disposal of very low-level radioactive waste by land burial.  More information is available at: https://www.nrc.gov/waste/llw-disposal/transfer-vllw.html.

The NRC is requesting comments on this proposed interpretive rule within 45 days of publication of the FRN (i.e., by April 20, 2020), but is currently considering a 45-day extension due to recent circumstances.  If you would like to participate in the meeting on Monday, March 30th please use the following link to view the slide presentation in WebEx and the conference line information to join the audio portion of the meeting.

The WebEx link, which will work from any computer, is: https://usnrc.webex.com/usnrc/onstage/g.php?MTID=e11959406cffb25cb5b4ca24033f4741e.  We recommend you use this link to register in advance to save time on Monday, add this meeting to your calendar, and receive any updates or other information.

Please plan to call into the meeting at the following number, which is an operator moderated line:

Bridge Line: 1-888-452-8947

Access Code: 9838788#

Additional meeting information is available at: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2007/ML20072N111.pdf; the full slide presentation will be posted here and/or to the NRC’s public website at the link above as soon as the slides are finalized.  The staff is also tentatively planning another webinar during the comment period; a date has not yet been selected but interested individuals should visit the NRC Public Meeting Schedule webpage to stay informed of future developments: https://www.nrc.gov/pmns/mtg.

State and Local Government Organizations Seek Pause on Public Comments on Rulemaking Processes

March 20, 2020

President Donald J. Trump The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

On behalf of the nation’s states, cities, and counties, we write to request a formal pause, beginning on March 11, for all open public comment periods concerning both active rulemakings and nonrulemaking notices across every federal department or agency. State and local government policymakers’ thoughtful input into proposed federal agency actions is a vital component of our democratic system and provides federal agencies with much-needed perspectives and potential impacts of federal actions.

We recognize that our members are facing massive challenges in responding to, and as a result of, this global pandemic. At present, regulations.gov acknowledges nearly 700 open comment periods that will close in the next 30 days and more than 1000 over the next 90 days. Regulations.gov stated vision of its eRulemaking Program is “to enable the public ease of access to participate in a high quality, efficient, and open rulemaking process.” The extreme impact on normal working and living conditions will impair the ability of not only state and local officials, but also the general public, issue experts and others to provide thoughtful and meaningful participation and involvement in potential federal government actions that directly affect millions of people.

Consistent and meaningful engagement and consultation between intergovernmental partners is vital in the development and implementation of effective policies, programs and regulations. Therefore, state and local governments urge you to extend agency comment periods for a reasonable period of time, which will allow our state and local policymakers to focus on addressing the nation’s immediate pandemic response needs and ensure their ability to devote proper consideration of agency regulations. Thank you for your consideration.

Most respectfully,

National Governors Association
National Conference of State Legislatures
The Council of State Governments
National Association of Counties
National League of Cities
The United States Conference of Mayors
Government Finance Officers Association
International City/County Management Association
National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers

NRC to Conduct Public Webinar on July 16 to Discuss Three Mile Island 1 Nuclear Power Plant Decommissioning Topics

Contact: Diane Screnci, 610-337-5330 Neil Sheehan, 610-337-5331

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will present a webinar for interested members of the public on July 16 regarding the decommissioning of the Three Mile Island 1 nuclear power plant, located in Londonderry, Pa.

The purpose of the webinar is to provide key facts about the decommissioning process and how the NRC regulates such activities through on-site inspections and other reviews.

The webinar will begin at 1 p.m. Participants will be able to view slides prepared by NRC staff and ask questions in writing via a web page set up to host the session. Online registration is required to take part.

The NRC will also hold a public meeting in Hershey, Pa., on July 23 to discuss and accept public comments on Exelon’s Post-Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Report for Three Mile Island 1, which calls for placing the plant into long-term storage before dismantlement and decontamination work takes place. A copy of the report can be found on the NRC website.

Three Mile Island 1 is scheduled to permanently cease operations by Sept. 30, 2019.

The adjacent Three Mile Island 2 plant did not return to service following the March 1979 accident. It has a different owner and a PSDAR for that unit was submitted to the NRC in June 2013.

NRC Issues RIS re National Terrorism Advisory System

On June 1, 2018, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 2018-03 to provide information on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS’s) National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) to licensees who are authorized to possess Category 1 and 2 quantities of radioactive material.

Although RIS 2018-03 requires no action or written response on the part of any addressee, and it does not impose new regulatory requirements on NRC licensees, it provides information that addressees may wish to consider in the event that DHS issues an NTAS alert.

Overview

In the NTAS advisory system, an “Elevated Alert” threat level warns of a credible terrorist threat against the United States and its territories that is general in both timing and target, or the alert details significant trends and developments in terrorism such that it is reasonable to recommend the implementation of protective measures to thwart or mitigate an attack.  An “Imminent Alert” warns of a credible, specific and impending terrorist threat against the United States and its territories and recommends the implementation of protective measures to thwart or mitigate an attack.

In RIS 2018-03, the NRC recommends that licensees in possession of Category 1 and 2 quantities of radioactive material as listed in Appendix A to 10 CFR Part 37 maintain awareness of the NTAS.  The NRC further recommends that, following an NTAS alert, these licensees should consider the information found in the RIS enclosures.

NRC notes in RIS 2018-03 that licensees required to implement a physical security plan in accordance with paragraph (a) of 10 CFR 73.55, “Requirements for physical protection of licensed activities in nuclear power reactors against radiological sabotage,” are also required under 10 CFR 73.55(k)(10) to establish, maintain and implement a threat warning system.  NRC advises that these licensees may wish to use the information in RIS 2018-03 to revise their existing threat warning system.

Background

In the changed threat environment after the attacks of September 11, 2001, the Commission determined that certain licensed material should be subject to enhanced security requirements, and that individuals with unescorted access to risk-significant quantities of certain radioactive material should be subject to background investigations.  As part of the development of the enhanced security measures for this licensed material, the NRC performed threat and vulnerability assessments.  The purpose of these assessments was to identify gaps or vulnerabilities in security and the effectiveness and costs of certain physical protection enhancements at various licensed facilities.  The agency used the results of these assessments to develop enhanced security requirements that were issued to licensees via orders, using a graded approach based on the relative risk and quantity of material possessed by the licensee.

Generically applicable requirements are most effectively implemented through rulemaking rather than by orders.  Therefore, the NRC developed a rule for enhanced security for Category 1 and 2 quantities of radioactive material.  In developing this rule, the NRC considered, among other things, the various orders, lessons learned during implementation of the orders, recommendations of an independent external review panel and the Materials Program Working Group, and stakeholder comments received on the proposed rule and draft implementation guidance.

For additional information, please contact Duane White of the NRC at (301) 287-3627 or at Duane.White@nrc.gov.