 |
NRC NEWS
U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION |
| Office of Public Affairs |
Telephone: 301/415-8200 |
| Washington, DC 20555-001 |
E-mail: opa@nrc.gov |
No. 96-75 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Thursday, May 30, 1996)
NRC WITHDRAWS PROPOSED RULE ON AGENCY AUTHORITY
OVER LOW-LEVEL WASTE AT REACTOR SITES IN AGREEMENT STATES
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has withdrawn a proposed rule that would have
reasserted NRC's jurisdiction over low-level radioactive wastes generated and disposed of at
reactor sites in what are known as agreement states.
The agency is taking this action after analyzing public comments most of which
opposed the proposal and after considering the relatively low hazards associated with on-site
disposal of low-level radioactive waste. NRC and comparable state regulations already require
that such on-site waste disposal be authorized on a case-by-case basis.
It was in 1988 that NRC proposed to reassert its authority over low-level waste generated
and disposed of at reactor sites within agreement state borders. The proposed rule also would
have clarified the jurisdiction over the disposal of non-critical waste quantities of special nuclear
material at fuel cycle facilities. (Agreement states, which now number 29, are so named because
they have agreements with NRC to regulate the uses of radioactive byproduct and source
materials, including low-level radioactive wastes. Special nuclear material includes plutonium and
certain types of uranium which, by law, are federally regulated.)
At the time, NRC once thought the move necessary for greater assurance that such waste
disposal did not present a health hazard and would not unnecessarily complicate or delay
decommissioning. But the NRC staff reconsidered the proposed action after reviewing the public
comments. It also has taken note of the fact that, since the rulemaking was first proposed nearly
eight years ago, agreement state authorities in a number of instances have authorized on-site
disposal of low-level wastes without any problems.
####
|
