Low-Level Radioactive Waste Forum
Fall 2016 Meeting – Saratoga Springs, NY
November 7 & 8, 2016
Utah Activities Update
Don Verbica
LLRW Program Manager
IMPEP Review
• November 3, 2016 the Division had an Interim Integrated Materials
Performance Evaluation Program (IMPEP) review conducted by the NRC to
evaluate how we are proceeding with correcting the issues of being
unsatisfactory with respect to compatibility.
• As a reminder the 2015 IMPEP report indicated that legislation passed in the 2015
General Session had three issues.
• It limited financial assurance coverage for commercial radioactive waste
treatment and disposal facility to the landfill embankments where waste was
disposed.
• Allowed the licensee to update financial assurance requirements annually
without a detailed review by the Division to assure that sufficient funds are
available for completion of site closure.
• The Division Director’s inspection authority could be interpreted to cover areas
outside of the Division’s authority.
Waste Management and Radiation Control
2
Utah Legislation – 2017 General Session
• Legislation to be filed that:
Modifies the Radiation Control Act:
• Clarifies revisions made during 2015 General Session to address compatibility
concerns raised by the NRC
• Defines “unlicensed facility”
• Modifies financial assurance requirements for licensed and unlicensed areas of a
LLRW disposal facility
Waste Management and Radiation Control
3
Utah Law – Financial Assurance Adequacy
• UCA §19-1-307 – Applies to Commercial
HW & LLRW Management Facilities
• Requires WMRC Board to evaluate every 5
years adequacy of financial assurance for:
– Closure and Post-Closure (HW)
– Need for Perpetual Care (HW)
– Closure, Post-Closure, and Perpetual Care
(LLRW)
• Reports are submitted to the Legislative
Management Committee and are due by
October 1
• Initial report issued in 2006 with first
update completed in 2011
• Update was due by October 1, 2016
– Final report approved by WMRC Board
– Transmitted to the Legislature during
September, 2016
Waste Management and Radiation Control
4
Utah Law – Financial Assurance Adequacy
• Is the financial assurance required
adequate to provide for closure and postclosure?
• Is there adequate funding for perpetual
care and maintenance of commercial
radioactive waste treatment and disposal
facilities?
• What would be the costs for reasonable
risks such as groundwater corrective
action, differential settlement failure, or
major maintenance of a cell or cells.
Waste Management and Radiation Control
5
EnergySolutions Activities
• LLRW
• Evaluation of Performance
Assessments
• Erwin ResinSolutions
(SempraSafe) evaluation
LLRW DISPOSAL
• Depleted Uranium
– Schedule
– Web site
http://www.deq.utah.gov/businesses/E/EnSolutions/
depleteduranium/performassess/index.htm
• Sealed Source license
amendment
• License renewal
Waste Management and Radiation Control
6
EnergySolutions Activities
• LLRW
• Oversight
• Containerized waste
LLRW DISPOSAL
• Various site operation changes
• Groundwater Permit
Amendments
Waste Management and Radiation Control
7
EnergySolutions Activities
• 11e.(2) Byproduct Material
11e.(2) Byproduct Disposal
• License renewal
• Implementation of additional
public participation procedures
required by § 274 (o) AEA
(42 USC 2021 (o))
• DOE long-term stewardship
Waste Management and Radiation Control
8
EnergySolutions Activities
• Mixed Waste
Mixed Waste Disposal
• Permit is ready for renewal
• EPA had some questions on
Macro encapsulation in the
landfill cell that is in the
process of being resolved
before the permit is renewed.
Waste Management and Radiation Control
9
Contact Information
Don Verbica
LLRW Program Manager
Utah Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control
Utah Department of Environmental Quality
(801) 536-0206
[email protected]
Waste Management and Radiation Control
10