Regulatory Issues Impacting the U.S. High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Program

by Gerald J. Parker, U.S. Dept of Energy, Washington, United States,
William P. McCaughey, Jr., U.S. Dept of Energy, Washington, United States,
Miguel A. Lugo, U.S. Dept of Energy, Washington, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: High Level Radioactive Waste Management 1991

Abstract:

This paper addresses current key regulatory issues impacting the U.S. high-level radioactive waste management program. The following issues pertain to the licensing of a geologic repository: (1) regulatory limits for Carbon-14 releases, (2) the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) postclosure radiation protection standards, (3) the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) quantitative subsystem performance requirements, and (4) regulatory consideration of human intrusion. These issues are of significant concern because the relevant regulatory requirements are either unnecessarily restrictive or inappropriate. The paper discusses these concerns and offers recommended resolutions.

Subject Headings: Radioactive wastes | Waste management | Radiation | Waste storage | Waste disposal | Federal government | Licensure and certification

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