Radiation
Discharges of Radioactive Material to the Environment
Division of Solid & Hazardous
Materials staff conducting a
radiation survey.
The Division of Solid & Hazardous Materials regulates radioactive discharges to the environment under the Rules and regulations for Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Radioactive Materials, 6 NYCRR Part 380. Part 380 requires parties who discharge radioactive material to keep records of the radioactive material discharged and to maintain those discharges as low as reasonably achievable. The regulations set radiation dose limits and emission levels above which a party must obtain a radiation control permit from DEC. Permittees include industrial, research, medical, radiopharmaceutical, and wastewater treatment facilities. Division staff perform regular, unannounced inspections of all Part 380 permittees.
Site Investigation and remediation
Equipment on the
backpack measures
radiation and sends the
values and location on
the site to a computer.
The results can then be
displayed while the
survey is in progress.
The Division of Solid & Hazardous Materials monitors the remediation of sites contaminated with radioactive material in accordance with the Department's Cleanup Guideline for Soils Contaminated with Radioactive Materials, DSHM-RAD-05-01. Among these sites are those contaminated during the Manhattan Project, Department of Defense sites undergoing facility closure, United States Department of Energy sites such as Brookhaven National Laboratory, and inactive hazardous waste sites. The Division reviews proposed remediation plans, monitors the remediation work, and performs independent sampling and radiation surveys.
Radiation Monitoring of Non-Radioactive Waste
Staff in the radiation program work with the Division's solid waste, hazardous waste, and regulated medical waste (RMW) programs to prevent the unauthorized disposal of regulated radioactive material at RMW treatment facilities, resource recovery facilities, landfills, and steel smelters. Division staff work with these facilities to promote the use of effective radiation monitoring where needed and appropriately respond when radioactive material is detected at the facilities.
Transportation and Disposal of Low-Level Radioactive Waste
The Department's regulations, Low-Level Radioactive Waste Transporter, 6 NYCRR Part 381, requires transporters of low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) to obtain a permit from the Department and submit LLRW manifests. The Division of Solid & Hazardous Materials administers this permitting and manifest tracking system. All new permits or modifications to permits as well as LLRW manifests are handled by the Division. A New York State report is issued annually (see Right Column Related Links for LLRW reports available). A copy may be obtained by contacting NYSDEC, Division of Solid & Hazardous Materials, Bureau of Hazardous Waste and Radiation Management, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-7255.
Under the State LLRW Management Act of 1986, DEC was charged with permitting and regulating LLRW disposal facilities. 6 NYCRR Part 382 contains requirements for site and method selection. 6 NYCRR Part 383 applies to facility design, construction, operation, closure, post-closure, and institutional control. These regulations include requirements for financial assurance, site monitoring, and emergency response planning. Currently, there are no LLRW disposal facilities operating in New York State.
West Valley State-Licensed Disposal Area
The Division of Solid & Hazardous Materials regulates the State-licensed disposal area (SDA) at West Valley, Cattaraugus County under a Part 380 permit. Maintained by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the SDA consists of 15 acres in which radioactive waste had been buried in the 60's and 70's. The SDA is no longer authorized to receive LLRW. Bureau staff inspect the site regularly to ensure that it is being properly maintained, pending final site closure.
More about Radiation:
- Public Outreach for Proposed Regulation 6 NYCRR Part 384 - A Public Outreach information document was sent out to the public on February 11, 2008 to inform the public that NYSDEC is proposing a new regulation (6 NYCRR Part 384) that will establish cleanup standards for radioactively contaminated sites in New York State. The public is asked to provide comment by March 31, 2008
- Radiation Regulations - Radiation Regulations
- How Do the DEC Regulations Apply to Me - The 6 NYCRR Part 380 regulations issued by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) apply to any person disposing of or discharging licensed radioactive material to the environment within the State
- An Investigation of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) in Oil and Gas Wells in New York State, Executive Summary - An Investigation of Naturally Occurring radioactive Materials (NORM) in Oil and Gas Wells in New York State
- West Valley - A description of West Valley, its history and key features, and New York State's recommendations for cleanup, both immediate and long-term.
