ASTSWMO Radiation Focus Group

1
ASTSWMO Radiation Focus Group

• OAS Meeting
• August 2012
• Jennifer Opila (CO) and David Allard (PA)

2
What is ASTSWMO?

• Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste
  Management Officials
• Radiation Focus Group
• Representatives from each of the EPA Regions
• Broad backgrounds Radiation Program Officials,
  Federal Oversight Officials, Hazardous Waste
  Management Officials

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ASTSWMO Radiation Focus Group Mission

• Identify National Level Radiation Issues
• Coordinate State Input
• Partnership between State and Federal Agencies
• Resource to States-papers and fact sheets

4
Past Projects

• 2007- Published results of State survey regarding
  regulation of radioactive materials in solid
  waste landfills
• Requested ANSI standard and CRCPD SSR model
  regulation for radiation monitoring of solid
  waste
• 2009-Published regulators guide on cleanup of
  radiological constituents at DOD facilities
• Regulators who oversee cleanup of DOD facilities
  may not have training or experience in
  radiological issues

5
Tritium Exit Signs

• Paper published July 2009
• Lack of Control
• Contamination of Landfill Leachate
• Recommendations
• NRC evaluation of safety assessments
• NRC evaluation of H-3 exit signs regulations and
  the need for registration program

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H-3 Exit Signs Petition to NRC

• Letter sent to NRC in November 2009
• Express concern over disposal of H-3 exit signs
  in solid waste landfills
• Requests revision of regulations to improve
  recognition and accountability
• NRC issued Notice of Petition for Rulemaking in
  January 2010

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NRC Response to ASTSWMO Petition

• December 2011
• Petition Denied
• NRCs current regulations are adequate to
  protect public health and safety.
• General licensee accountability may be
  strengthened by enhancing regulatory guidance and
  improving communications between the NRC (and
  Agreement States) and manufacturers
• NRC encourages ASTSWMO involvement in the NUREG
  1556 revision

8
ASTSWMO Response letter

• Sent to NRC August 2, 2012
• Pleased that NRC agreed that general licensee
  accountability may be strengthened by enhancing
  guidance and improving communication
• Disappointed in denial of petition to rulemaking
  to improve labeling and accountability.
• Improper disposal of exit signs in landfills
  increases the burden on States that regulate
  solid waste landfills
• Potential impact on groundwater
• If exit signs arent the source of the H-3 found
  in landfill leachate, then what is?

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Technologically Enhanced NORM (TENORM)

• Guidance for Solid Waste Managers published April
  2011
• Fact Sheet-Drinking Water Treatment Residuals May
  2011

10
Fact Sheet- TENORM Associated with Shale Gas
Operations

• Published July 2012
• Information for solid waste officials on TENORM
  residuals produced in shale gas operations
• Topics covered
• TENORM generation
• Residuals management
• Health and Safety
• Regulatory Framework

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ASTSWMO Radiation Focus Group Contacts

• http//astswmo.org/
• Charles Reyes, ASTSWMO Federal Facilities Staff
  Associate(202) 624-7882, charlesr_at_astswmo.org
• Jennifer Opila, Radiation Focus Group Chair
• State of Colorado Radiation Program
• [phone], jennifer.opila_at_state.co.us
• David Allard , Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
• [phone], djallard_at_pa.gov