ML20207A826
| ML20207A826 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/25/1999 |
| From: | Lohaus P NRC OFFICE OF STATE PROGRAMS (OSP) |
| To: | Ing L TEXAS, STATE OF |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9905270303 | |
| Download: ML20207A826 (5) | |
Text
,
AIAR 251999 Ms. Leigh Ing, Deputy Director Office of Waste Management Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission P. O. Box 13087 Austin, Texas 78711-3087 Doar Ms. Ing:
This is to acknowledge receipt of your letter to me dated March 18,1999, regarding Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission's concerns that the United States Army Corp of Engineers intends to start shipping mixed waste from the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant to an unlicensed Texas disposal facility operated by Waste Control Specialists.
A response is under preparation and will be forwarded to you shortly.
Sincerely, OriginalSigned By:
PAULH.LOHAUS Paul H. Lohaus, Director Office of State Programs Distribution:
EDG (G;0000147)
SECY (CRC-99-0244)
DIR RF DCD (SP08)
SDroggitis PDR (YES.f__ NO
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DSollenberger Texas File DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\KJK\\ LNG.WPD T r receive a cop r of this document, Indicate in the box: 'C' = Coppedut attachment / enclosure "E" = Copy with aMachment/ enclosure "N" = No copy OFFICE OSP l
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NAME KKerr il>
PHLohati V DATE 03/n/99 03%f/99 OSP FILE CODE: SP-AG-27 (b
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Ms. Leigh Ing, Deputy Director Office of Waste Management Texas Natural Resource l
Conservation Commission P. O. Box 13087 l
Dear Ms. Ing:
This is to acknowledge receipt of your letter to me dated March 18,1999, regarding Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission's concerns that the United States Army Corp of l
Engineers intends to start shipping mixed waste from the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant to l
an unlicensed Texas disposal facility operated by Waste Control Specialists.
1 A response is under preparation and will be forwarded to you shortly.
S
- erely, Y
j Paul H. Lohaus, Director Office of State Programs l
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J-EDO Principal Correspondence Control iFROMs DUE: 04/02/99 EDO CONTROL: G19990147 l
DOC DT: 03/18/99 FINAL REPLY:
iL31gh Ing
- Tax 20 Natural Resource Conservation Commission lTO Paul Lohaus, SP FOR SIGNATURE OF :
EXEMPTIONS UNDER 10 CFR 40.13 -- SHIPMENT OF Travers LOW-LEVEL MIXED RADIOACTIVE WASTE TO AN UNLICENSED Knapp DISPOSAL FACILITY Miraglia Norry Blaha Burns
'DATE: 03/23/99 Paperiello,NMSS Merschoff, RIV ASSIGNED TO:
CONTACT:
Cyr, OGC
_Lohaus SP SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:
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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET PAPER NUMBER:
CRC-99-0244 LOGGING DATE: Mar 19 99 ACTION OFFICE:
EDO AUTHOR:
LEIGH ING AFFILIATION:
TEXAS ADDRESSEE:
PAUL LOHAUS I
LETTER DATE:
Mar 18 99 FILE CODE:
SUBJECT:
EXEMPTIONS UNDER 10 CFR 40.13 ACTION:
Signature of Chairman
-DISTRIBUTION:
CHAIRMAN, COMRS, OGC l
SPECIAL HANDLING: SECY TO ACK CONSTITUENT:
NOTES:
DATE DUE:
Apr 6 99 SIGNATURE:
DATE SIGNED:
AFFILIATION:
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- Robert J. Huston, Chairman 2,
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R. B. " Ralph" Marquez, Commissioner
[ w, John M. Baker, Commissioner Y
Jeffrey A. Saitas. Executive Director o
j en TEXAS NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION COMMISSION 3E '
Protecting Texas bg Reducing and Preventing Pollution W
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March 18,1999 CERTIFIED MAIL Z 154 722 297 RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED Mr. Paul Lohaus, Dimctor Office of State Proryams Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 Re:
Exempt.ons under 10 CFR 640.13
Dear Mr. Lohaus:
Recently, the Texas Natur il Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) obtained a copy of a letter from Ms. Rosalent E. Graham, Chief, Safety and Radioactive Waste Team, United States Army Corps of Eng neers (USACE) to Mr. John Hickey of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) (see enclosed). The letter indicates that the USACE intends to start shipping low-level mixed radioactive waste from the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, License No. SIC-1380, to an unlicensed Texas disposal facility operated by Waste Control Specialists (WCS). The USACE states that the waste could be disposed of at this unlicensed disposal f acility because it believes that under Texas law WCS can accept source material that meets the requirements for exemption under 10 CFR 540.13(a) and the Texas equivalent,25 TAC 6289.251(c)(1). The USACE cites a previous NRC determination regarding wastes from the METCOA site in Pennsylvania as precedent for shipment of the soils which, in this case, contain less than 250 picocuries per gram of depleted uranium and 12 parts per million leachable lead to an unlicensed f acility. (See enclosedletter from Ms. Francis X. Cameron to Mr. Joseph R. Egan dated December 23,1998).
We are concerned that the USACE's request and the previous METCOA decision are in conflict with previously published NRC policy, in particular HPPOS-190 and more recently in SP 023. HPPOS-190 states, ".. 40.13(a) of CFR Title 10 dofes) not authorize waste disoosal by transfer of exemot avantities of bvoroduct and/or source materials to persons who do not hold a soecific NRC ficense authorizinn them to receive it." This prohibition is echoed in the more recent guidance found in SP-98-023, which states: "The first question was, has the NRC changed its position outlined in HPPOS-190. The answer is no. A licensee cannot aenerate and transfer unimoortant auantitles of source material to an unlicensed individual for the ouroose of disoosal." (emphasis added)
The exemptions under 10 CFR Sections 40.11, 40.12, 40.13 and 40.14 do not appear to exempt a licensee from the requirements of 10 CFR Part 20, which contain worker and public protection standards. This proposition is made clear in HPPOS-43 " Disposal of Exempt Quantities of Radioactive Material," which is consistent with HPPOS-190 in stating:
P.O. Box 13087
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Mr. Paul Lohaus, Director Page 2 March 18,1999 l
" Radioactive material held under license can only be disposed of pursuant to 10 CFR 20, even when the quantity disposed is less than that listed in 10 CFR 30.71, Schedule B."
As rationale, NRC states:
10 CFR Part 30, specifically Section 30.71, Schedule B, establishes quantities of potentia'ly licensable material that are sufficiently small so as not to warrant licensing. In contrast to the threshold determination of what auantitles should be licensed,10 CFR Part 20 aoverns the waste disposal orocess for material determined to be licensable, reaardless of the auantities beino considered for disposal. As guidance, a general rule of statutory construction is that when two regulations are in apparent contradiction, the specific governs the general.
Thus, although 10 CFR 30.1S(a) authorizes the receipt,' possession, use, transfer, ownership or acquisition of potentially licensable materialin quantities below that listed in Schedule B of 10 CFR 30.71, the aovernino reaulation for ourooses of wsste disoosalis 10 CFR 20.301 for 10 CFR 20.20011. (emphasis added) in short, the specific language of 10 CFR Part 20 overrides the general prescripts in 10 CFR 30.71, Schedule B and, by extension, the general exemptions in 10 CFR 40. Therefore, USACE's reliance on exemptions under Section 40.13 to authorize the proposed shipment of waste to WCS appears to be misplaced.
In spite of NRC's many statements to the contrary, the USACE's letter regarding the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant erroneously asserts that the USACE may dispose of licensed material at WCS's unlicensed commercial disposal facility pursuant to 540.13(a). Exemption levels for disposal must be based upon scientific data and reflective of technical issues specific to disposal technologies, which have not been considered as part of NRC'r exemption criteria.
Thus, the TNRCC is concerned that recent NRC positions are not consistent with numerous official NRC guidance documents on which the TNRCC has relied upon to ensure that our licensing decisions as an Agreement State are compatible with the NRC. The TNRCC contends I
that recent exemptions granted by the NRC reflect a significant departure from established i
NRC guidance and are not based upon sound science with regard to disposal issues.
In closing, we respectfully request the following:
(1) that the NRC maintain its established policy as set out in guidance documents
-and not grant exemptions for disposal under Parts 30 and 40; I
(2) that if the NRC decides to change its policy to allow for exemptions for disposal, that change be implemented through formal rulemaking and be based i
upon sound science; and
o Mr. Paul Lohaus, Director Page 3 March 18,1999 (3) that significant departures from previous policy be made subject to public review and comment early in the decision making process, so that Texas and other Agreement States may assist in developing policies or rules that are technically and legally defensible.
If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Kathy Vail, UIC and Radioactive Waste Section, Permits Division at 512/239-6637.
Sincerely, e
i ghI puty ector Office fW te Man ement i
Texai tur j Resourc Conservation Commission Ll/KV '
/
Enclosures cc:
Mr. Francis X. Cameron, NRC Mr. John Hickey, NRC Mr. Steve Lewis, NRC Mr. Jim Meyer, NRC Ms. Rosalene Graham, USACE i
Mr. Michael Styvaert, USACE -
Mr. Bill Dornsife, Waste Control Specialists Mr. Richard Ratliff, TDH
- Ms. Kathy Vail i
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orns orTHg GiNDULLCDURSEL Jo%9h R. Egan, Esq.
r.: pan & Associates, P.C.
LOO N Street, N.W.
Weshington, D.C. 20037
Dear Mr. Egan:
The Commission has completed its review cf your propcsal to shi.p waste fmm the METCOA site in Putasid. Pennsylvania, to facultics operated by Waste Contn>I Specia!!sts (WCS)in Andrews County. Texas. In regard to th!s opp;g[q1:ase, the Comrnission has concluded that, to the extent that the rnaterial meets the critoria in 10 CFR Part 40.13(e), no specific Nrk!sar Regulatory Commission approvalls required 1or the transfer of this for disposal at the WCS hazardous wasto f acility. Sinco the material is not subject to NRC's disposal requirements under 't0 CFR Part 20, the material need not be rnanifested pursuant to to CFR Part 20.2006.
We note, however, that other requirements, such es those imposed by the Texas Natural Resource Cons'entation Cornmission and the Texas Department of Health, may apply to the transfer and disposal of this material. As such, we suggect that you contact the Texas officials on this matter. tf you have any questions. # ease contact me at (301) 415-1644 Sinoctely,
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Francis X. Cameron Deput/ Assistant General Counsel &
SpecialCounselfor Public Ualson &
AgreernentS* ate Programs I
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Mr. John Hickey Chief, Low-Level Waste and Decom:nissioning Projects Branch U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory commission Division of Waste Management office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Washington, D.C.
20555-0001
Dear Mr. Mickey:
The purpose of this correspondence is to notify you of our intent to ship.the.I,ake city Army Ammunition Plant decommissioning wast.e to the Waste control' Specialists facility.in.,Andrews, Texas.- Me have an estimated 30,000 cubic feet of. soil from the Area 10 decommissioning effort that contains an average of less than 250 pCi/g of depleted urenium and 12 parts per million leachable lead.
Because of the unanticipated elevated lead levels, treatment and disposal at the intended disposal facility has become cost prohibitive.
Our decommissioning contractor has identified Waste Control Specialists as an immediately viable', cost-effective alternative.
We intend to transfer our Nuclear Regulatory Commission lic' nsed (SUC-138.0) material to. Waste e
Control Specialists in accordance with the provisions of Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations,..part 40.51 (b) (4).
Under State of Texas law, Maste Control Specialists can accept source material that meets the requirements for exempt material as defined in 25 Texas Administrative Code, Section 285.251 (c) (1),
which is the Texas Agreement State counterpart to Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, part 40.13(a).
We understand that, with respect to the transfer of 8 h_ f'e 7o AM -
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, similar waste stream from the METCOA site (Pulaski, Pennsylvania), the Commission' ruled that there are no specific Nuclear Regulatory Commission approval i
requirements.
Furthermore, we understand that the Commission did not require the licensee to manifest the material in accordance with Titik 10, code of Federal Regulations, pa,rt 20.2006.
j There are State of Missouri Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protect' ion Agency Resource Conservation Recovery Act regulations that require us to remove the material from Lake City in a timely
-manner.
In addition, delaying a disposition decision is creating a financial str,ain on the Army's Low-Level Radioactive Waste Program.
A portion of the on-site material is containerized in rented inter-modal shipping containers, which is costing the Army $11,000 per month; If forced to ship the Lake City material to Envirocare for treatment and disposal, we would expend an estimated $3.3 million, which is 70 percent of the pntire U.S. Army. low-level radioactive waste dispos'al budget.
Therefore, unless there are objections on the part of the Commission, we intend to i
ship the waste to Waste Control Specialists as early as March 1, 1999.
t I
Our point of contact is Mr. Michael Styvaert, Health Physicist, AMSIO-SF, (309) 782-088Q, electronic mail address StyvaertM91oc. army. mil.
Sincerely, Rosalene E. Graham
~
chief, Safety / Rad Waste Team Copy Furnished:
i Lieutenant Colonel Richard Thibodeau', Commander, Lake city Army nmmunition Plant, Independence, Missouri 64051-0330 4
9
(
01/28/99 THU 15:32 [TI/RI NO 504S)
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l JAH-CO*CQ 13 00 FCOMsTDH-RADIATION CONTOCL IDe61D D34 07C0 PAGE E/s io a.
Contmander, Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, Attention:
SIOLC-EN/Mr. William Melton, Mr. Gary Kelso, Independence, Missouri 64051-0330 Commander, Lake City Army Ammunitiord Plant, Attention:
i SIOLC-SF/Ms. Cindy Park, Safety officer, Independence, Missouri 64051-0330 U.S. Environmental Protection Agenc'h, Attention-Mr. Scott Marquess, Project Manager, Region VII, Federal racilities and Special Emphasis Branch, Supe'rfund Division, 726 Minnesota Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas 66101 State of Missouri, Department of Natural Resources, Hazardous Waste Program, Mr. Don Kerns, 1730 East Elm Street, Jefferson, City, Missouri-65101 Commander, U.S. Army Industrin1 Operations Co:cmand, Atten, tion:
AMSIo-ACE-D/lir.. Bob..Matthy.s.,. AMSID :EQE/
Mr. Tim Howard, AMSIO-CC/Mr. Tom.Tackson, Rock Island, Illinois 61299-6000 1
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Region III, i
Attention:
Mr. David Nelson, Decommissioning Branch, Lisle, Illinois 60532 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, Division of waste Management, Low-Level Maste and Decommissioning Projects' Branch, Attention:,
Mr. Stewart Brown, Mr. Tim Johnson, Washington, D.C..
20555.DD01 e
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