ML20245G971
| ML20245G971 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/18/1989 |
| From: | Greeves J NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Moffett D CAMECO (FORMERLY ELDORADO NUCLEAR, LTD./ELDORADO |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19316F441 | List: |
| References | |
| REF-WM-3 NUDOCS 8905030280 | |
| Download: ML20245G971 (1) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES
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WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 APR1gpggg Dr. D. Moffett, General Manager Research, Technology and Environment Cameco P.O. Box 3430, Station "C" Ottawa, Ont.
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Dear Dr. Moffett:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), has reviewed the information and data provided by you concerning your request to dispose of Cameco's waste generated during the production of uranium hexafluoride.
Based on our review, the NRC has determined that the combined uranium and thorium content of the waste is an unimportant quantity of source material pursuant to 10 CFR 40.13(a).
Therefore, NRC has no objection to your proposal to import the waste and dispose of it in a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), or state permitted hazardous waste facility..
The NRC recommends that you contact the U.S. Department of State and the EPA to assure that those agencies have no objection to your proposal. Attached is correspondence the NRC has received from the U.S. Department of State (DOS),
during the course of its evaluation. You should note that it has been suggested that Cameco test the material it wishes to send to the U.S. in order to determine if this material is hazardous waste.
The NRC reconnends that you pursue this matter with the DOS and EPA.
Finally, you should be aware that the NRC determination of no objection to your proposal pertains only to the radioactive content of the waste.
It may be that Cameco will have to comply with other federal and state regulations in order to dispose of the calcium fluoride waste in the U.S.
If you should have any questions on this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely, John T. Greeves, Acting Director Division of Low-Level Waste Management and Decommissioning Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
Enclosure:
Department of State Letter cc:
Paul J. Merges, Ph.D.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation George W. Bruchmann State of Michigan Department of Public Health 8905030280 8YO410 PDR WASTE l
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United States Department of State 1
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l Buress of Oceans andInternational l
Environmental and Scientific Affein j
88 AUG 4 P3 10 I
Washington, D.C 20320 i
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August 4, 1988 l
4 Dr. Harold R. Denton, Director of fice of Governmental and Public Af fairs Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.
C. - 20555
Dear Dr. Denton:
This is in response to your letter of May 3,1988, regarding the proposal by Eldorado Resources Limited of Canada to import into the State of Kichigan waste material containing trace levels of uranium.
We understand that the material is calcium fluoride, a process-waste resulting from the annual production of uranium hexafluoride.
We also understend from our conversations with NRC staff that there may have been at least one previous import of calcium fluoride-into the United States for disposal, and that it is the view of the NRC that there are no NRC regulatory restraints regarding the import of Eldorado's waste material.
Your letter raised the question of whether the proposed import might raise broader questions regarding transborder shipments of hazardous waste.
In this respect, we inquired of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the attached letter to Acting Associate Administrator Sheldon Myers whether the EPA had a regulatory responsibility regarding the import of this waste.
The EPA has advised in the attached letter that calcium fluoride is not a listed hazardous waste purs.. t to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
However, EPA also advises that should testing show that the material proposed to be imported is a waste with hazardous characteristics (flammable, corrosive, reactive or toxic), then the material would be covered by the hazardous waste regulations, and notification by the receiving facility in the United States to EPA would be necessary.
EPA further suggested that Eldorado test the material it wishes to send to the U.S.
in order to make this hazardous waste determination.
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. Subject to the above recommendation from the EPA', we have no ocjection to the response which the NRC proposes to make to Eldorado and to the State of Michigan, as set forth in your letter.
Sin ce r ely,
/
l Richard J.
K. lltratford Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy and Energy Technology 1
Enclosures:
1.
Letter of May 19, 1988 to Dr. Sheldon Myers, EPA.
2.
Letter of June 8, 1988 from Dr. Sheldon Myers, EPA.
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- Sf% a IJNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 5
W ASHINGTON. O.C. 20460 3.* m.; s JR 8 1988 orrics o, eM f t mMatt#M AL ACitv6flES Mr. Richard J.K.
Stratford Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Technology Affairs Bureau of oceans and International Environmental Scientific Affairs U.S. Dopartment of State Washington, D.C.
20520 Dear Mr. Stratford This is in response to your letter of May 19, 1988
. inquiring about whether or not calcium fluoride waste material is regulated by. EPA as a hasardous waste under the Resource i
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
I have consulted with both our office of Solid Waste and the RCRA Hotline which inform me that calcina fluoride is not a listed hazardous waste under RCRA.
However, should testing chow that it is a waste with hasardous characteristics (flassable,
corrosive, reactive or toxic), then the material would be covered by the hasardous waste regulations.
If the~asterial does test to be hazardous, then notification by the receiving facility in the U.S. to EPA would be necessary.
I suggest that 1
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El Dorado test the material it wishes to send to Ches-Net to cake this hasardous weste det3rmination.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call te.
Si cerely, C:-~
8 eldon Noyers p
Acting Associate Administrator 0
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i United States Department of State f
Burens ofOceans sadinternational E.esireementalandScientspcgain Wadington, D.C'20320 I
May 19, 1988 i
i Dr. Sheldon Myers Acting Assistant Administrator for International Affairs 1
Environmental Protection Agency Nashington, D.C.
Dear Dr. Myers:
I as writing to transmit the information we have received from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Eldorado Resources Limited concerning Eldorado's proposal to import into the State of Michigan large quantities of calcium flouride waste material containing trace levels of uranium (less than 100 parts per million).
The Commission intends to advise Eldorado and Michigan that there are no Mac regulatory constraints regarding the import of Eldorado's waste material.
Dr. Charles Newstead has already been in touch with you concerning this matter and I understand that you are in the process of determining whether the EPA has a regulatory responsibility regarding the import of this waste.
I shall be happy to meet with you to ascertain whether any further action by the State Department or EPA is required or desirable.
Sincerely,O Richard J. K.
tratford Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy and Energy Technology Af f airs Enclosure as stated.
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