1. Overview of NRC Low-Level Waste Activities and Initiatives
John Tappert, Director
Division of Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery and Waste Programs (DUWP)
Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
LLW Spring Forum Meeting
April 16, 2018
San Francisco, California

2. Objective
To provide an overview of the NRC’s Low-Level Radioactive Waste (LLW) Program and status of its activities

3. Outline Management Changes Status of 10 CFR Part 61 Rulemaking
Greater-Than Class C (GTCC) Regulatory Basis
10 CFR Alternative Disposal Request Guidance
Uniform Waste Manifest

4. Management Changes Marc Dapas, Director, NMSS (June 2016)
John Tappert, Director, DUWP (January 2016)
Michele Sampson, Deputy Director, DUWP (February 2018)
Maria Arribas-Colon, Acting Chief, LLW Branch
(January 2018)

5. Status of 10 CFR Part 61 Rulemaking
Commission Approved Proposed Rule
Proposed Rule and Associated Draft Guidance Issued
Draft Final Rule to Commission
SECY : ML16188A290
Commission Issues Staff Requirements Memorandum
SRM-SECY : ML17251B147
2/12/14
3/26/15
9/15/16
9/8/17

6. SRM-SECY
Staff Requirements Memorandum (SRM) SECY – Final Rule: Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal
The Commission directed the staff to make substantive revisions and republish as a supplemental proposed rule

7. SRM-SECY-16-0106 Allow case-by-case application of new requirements
Major Changes
Allow case-by-case application of new requirements
Reinstate 1,000 year compliance period
Clarify safety case definition
Narrow defense-in-depth considerations
Be informed by costs and benefits 7

8. Greater-Than Class C (GTCC) Regulatory Basis
In 2014, Waste Control Specialist LLC (WCS) filed a Petition for Rulemaking with the State of Texas to allow WCS to dispose of GTCC and GTCC-like waste (including transuranic waste).
In 2015, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality asked the NRC questions on the State's authority to license a disposal cell for GTCC, GTCC-like, and transuranic waste.
Sealed Sources
Reactor Vessels

9. Staff Analysis
In SECY , the staff conducted an analysis of the questions Texas posed and developed three options for Commission consideration.

10. Commission Direction
SRM-SECY provided direction to the staff. Specific elements include:
Develop regulatory basis for disposal of GTCC and transuranic waste
Determine hazards
Hold public workshops
Note case-by-case review available
Address transuranic waste definition in CFR 61.2
lease

11. Commission Direction (Cont.)
SRM-SECY changed due date to 6 months after publication of the Part 61 supplemental proposed rule. 11

12. Public Outreach Efforts
February 22, 2018 Public Meeting in Rockville, Maryland and Webinar
Federal Register Notice to Conduct GTCC and Transuranic Waste Scoping Meeting and Request for Comment (83 FR 6475): Feb. 14, 2018
March 23, 2018 Public Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona and Webinar

13. Draft Technical Analysis
ADAMS Accession No. ML17362A012
Assist in the identification of potential hazards, for example,
Inventories
Security
Assist public to respond to NRC staff questions

14. Three Questions
What are the important radionuclides that need to be considered for the disposal of the GTCC and transuranic wastes?
How might GTCC and transuranic wastes affect the safety and security of a disposal facility during operations (i.e., pre-closure period)?
How might GTCC and transuranic wastes affect disposal facility design for post- closure safety including protection of an inadvertent intruder?

15. How to Provide Comments
Federal Register notice provides various methods of submitting comments:
Federal Rulemaking Website:
Go to and search for Docket ID NRC
comments:
Fax comments:
Mail comments to: Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC , ATTN: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff
Hand deliver comments: Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. (EST) Federal workdays; telephone:
Comment period ends Today

16. For Additional Information
Federal Rulemaking Website:
Go to and search for Docket ID (NRC )
NRC’s GTCC Public Web Site:
NRC Contact:
Cardelia Maupin – Sr. Project Manager ;

17. 10 CFR 20.2002 Alternative Disposal Request Guidance
Purpose of revising draft guidance
Provides more clarity, consistency, and transparency
Clarifies the NRC’s position regarding disposal, including reuse and recycling
NRC issued for public comment a revision of its Alternative Disposal Request Guidance entitled, “Guidance for the Reviews of Proposed Disposal Procedures and Transfers of Radioactive Material Under 10 CFR and 10 CFR 40.13(a)”
Final guidance issuance expected 2018 17

18. Uniform Waste Manifest
10 CFR Part 20 Appendix G requires that an NRC Uniform Waste Manifest (UWM) be prepared for waste intended for ultimate disposal at a licensed LLW land disposal facility.
Staff identified necessary changes to UWM and NUREG/BR-0204.
Work is ongoing and a draft for comment is planned for Summer 2018.

19. Questions?