Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal (2020 DOE transition)
| Book 2 - Issue Papers
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| Entire 2020 DOE Transition book As of October 2020 |
 | This page in a nutshell: The Department of Energy utilizes an extensive infrastructure to dispose of low-level and mixed low-level radioactive waste to support cleanup progress.
This includes both DOE and commercial radioactive waste disposal facilities. |
The Office of Environmental Management (EM) utilizes a variety of safe and efficient disposition paths for low-level and mixed low- level radioactive waste (LLW/MLLW) generated through cleanup activities.
- EM has safely and compliantly disposed more than 680 million cubic feet of LLW/MLLW at a variety of DOE and commercial disposal facilities.
- DOE’s policy is to dispose of LLW and MLLW onsite, if practical. While the vast majority of waste is disposed of onsite, disposal at another DOE facility is used when onsite disposal is not available. LLW and MLLW waste can also be disposed of at a commercial facility if the facility is compliant with DOE and regulatory requirements and the disposal fees are cost- effective.
- Decisions on offsite/onsite disposal are made on a site-by-site basis based on the government’s best interest.
Issue(s)
- As EM works to develop a new onsite disposal capability at the Oak Ridge site in Tennessee, Congress has directed EM to evaluate the cost of onsite disposal versus offsite disposal, including potential impacts to the local community. EM completed this evaluation in July 2020 and will brief the House and Senate Appropriations committees on the results at a future date. These briefings have not yet been scheduled.
- The Department is in a formal dispute with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region IV and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) regarding how to manage radioactive surface water discharges from the current and proposed Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) disposal facilities.
Milestone(s)
- EM anticipates beginning operation of the onsite disposal facility at the Portsmouth site in Ohio in 2021.
- The schedule for a Record of Decision for a new Oak Ridge onsite disposal facility has been impacted by the formal dispute with the EPA Region IV and TDEC.
Background
- The operation of DOE disposal facilities requires coordination with states and federal regulatory agencies. Interactions with regulators and other stakeholders differ depending on the location of the DOE site.
- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) categorizes LLW into four classes for commercial LLW disposal: A, B, C, based on the concentration of specific short-lived and long- lived radionuclides(10 CFR 61.55.), and Greater- than-Class C. Greater-than-Class-C LLW is LLW in which the concentrations of radionuclides exceed the limits for Class C LLW in 10 CFR 61.55. These definitions are only used by DOE for commercial disposal.
- Unlike NRC, DOE has no LLW class designations—disposal must meet disposal site waste acceptance criteria and performance objectives of the disposal facility, in accordance with DOE Order 435.1, Radioactive Waste Management.
DOE Disposal Sites
Hanford Site
The large majority of LLW and MLLW at the Hanford Site is disposed of in Hanford’s Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility (ERDF). ERDF is a waste facility regulated under CERCLA. A new facility, the Integrated Disposal Facility, has been constructed and is awaiting commissioning for the disposal of low-activity vitrified waste from Hanford’s Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant Low Activity Waste Facility.
Idaho National Laboratory (INL)
Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has two operating disposal facilities: a facility for disposal of remote-handled LLW, and the Idaho CERCLA disposal facility, where LLW and MLLW from site cleanup activities is disposed.
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)
Area G, operated by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), has very limited LLW disposal capacity remaining. There are no plans for additional LLW disposal capacity at LANL.
Nevada National Security Site (NNSS)
The Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Disposal Facility provides disposal for LLW and MLLW from DOE sites. NNSS provides an excellent disposal environment due to its arid conditions and deep groundwater. The state of Nevada grants a permit for the MLLW disposal facility pursuant to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR)
EM operates a CERCLA disposal facility, the Environmental Management Waste Management Facility (EMWMF), for waste resulting from the cleanup of the East Tennessee Technology Park, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and NNSA’s Y-12 Site. A new CERCLA facility is planned.
Paducah
Paducah does not yet have a LLW disposal facility.
Portsmouth
The new Onsite Waste Disposal Facility will operate pursuant to CERCLA. The facility is designed to accept waste from decommissioning and demolition of the gaseous diffusion plant at Portsmouth, as well as remediated soil. Operations are expected to begin in calendar year 2021.
Savannah River Site (SRS)
EM operates several LLW disposal facilities for waste generated from its various onsite missions. Savannah River Site (SRS) receives some offsite LLW from the Naval Reactors’ east coast shipyards. SRS has trenches and engineered vaults (designed for higher- activity LLW) in its E-Area. In addition, SRS disposes saltstone onsite. Saltstone is the separated and treated low-activity portion of tank waste that is grouted and placed in large engineered disposal units.
Commercial LLW Disposal Sites
Currently, all operating commercial LLW disposal sites are in states where the NRC has delegated regulatory authority and oversight for those disposal sites to the states (called “Agreement States”).
- EnergySolutions, located in Clive, Utah, accepts Class A LLW and MLLW.
- Waste Control Specialists LLC (WCS), located near Andrews, Texas, accepts DOE LLW and MLLW (Class A, B, or C as defined by NRC in 10 CFR 61.55) in its dedicated facility for DOE waste. WCS also operates a RCRA hazardous disposal at the same site that accepts LLW below 10 percent of the Class A limit. The WCS disposal facility is robust, e.g., grouted waste packages in concrete disposal containers within a double-lined concrete disposal facility.
- In addition, EM has utilized US Ecology for disposal of non-radioactive hazardous waste. US Ecology operates facilities in Idaho and Nevada.
Commercial MLLW Treatment
Most MLLW must be treated prior to disposal. Currently, DOE has limited onsite MLLW treatment capabilities and mostly relies on commercial MLLW treatment facilities. These include the Perma-Fix Northwest facility, located in Richland, Washington, near the Hanford site; and EnergySolutions’ Erwin, Tennessee, facility.