Arizona Administrative Code
Title 9 - HEALTH SERVICES
Chapter 7 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES - RADIATION CONTROL
Article 4 - STANDARDS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST IONIZING RADIATION
Appendix D - Classification and Characteristics of Low-level Radioactive Waste

I. Classification of Radioactive Waste for Land Disposal

a) Considerations. Determination of the classification of radioactive waste involves two considerations. First, consideration must be given to the concentration of long-lived radionuclides (and their shorter-lived precursors) whose potential hazard will persist long after such precautions as institutional controls, improved waste form, and deeper disposal have ceased to be effective. These precautions delay the time when long-lived radio nuclides could cause exposures. In addition, the magnitude of the potential dose is limited by the concentration and availability of the radionuclide at the time of exposure. Second, consideration must be given to the concentration of shorter-lived radionuclides for which requirements on institutional controls, waste form, and disposal methods are effective.

b) Classes of waste.

1) Class A waste is waste that is usually segregated from other waste classes at the disposal site. The physical form and characteristics of Class A waste must meet the minimum requirements set forth in Section II(a). If Class A waste also meets the stability requirements set forth in Section II(b), it is not necessary to segregate the waste for disposal.

2) Class B waste is waste that must meet more rigorous requirements on waste form to ensure stability after disposal. The physical form and characteristics of Class B waste must meet both the minimum and stability requirements set forth in Section II.

3) Class C waste is waste that not only must meet more rigorous requirements on waste form to ensure stability but also requires additional measures at the disposal facility to protect against inadvertent intrusion. The physical form and characteristics of Class C waste must meet both the minimum and stability requirements set forth in Section II.

c) Classification determined by long-lived radionuclides. If the radioactive waste contains only radionuclides listed in Table I, classification shall be determined as follows:

1) If the concentration does not exceed 0.1 times the value in Table I, the waste is Class A.

2) If the concentration exceeds 0.1 times the value in Table I but does not exceed the value in Table I, the waste is Class C.

3) If the concentration exceeds the value in Table I, the waste is not generally acceptable for land disposal.

4) For wastes containing mixtures of radionuclides listed in Table I, the total concentration shall be determined by the sum of fractions rule described in Section I(g).

TABLE I

aTo convert the Ci/m3 values to gigabecquerel (GBq) per cubic meter, multiply the Ci/m3 value by 37.

bTo convert the nCi/g values to becquerel (Bq) per gram, multiply thenCi/g value by 37.

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d) Classification determined by short-lived radionuclides. If the waste does not contain any of the radionuclides listed in Table I, classification shall be determined based on the concentrations shown in Table II. However, as specified in Section I(f), if radioactive waste does not contain any nuclides listed in either Table I or II, it is Class A.

1) If the concentration does not exceed the value in Column 1, the waste is Class A.

2) If the concentration exceeds the value in Column 1 but does not exceed the value in Column 2, the waste is Class B.

3) If the concentration exceeds the value in Column 2 but does not exceed the value in Column 3, the waste is Class C.

4) If the concentration exceeds the value in Column 3, the waste is not generally acceptable for near-surface disposal.

5) For wastes containing mixtures of the radionuclides listed in Table II, the total concentration shall be determined by the sum of fractions rule described in Section I(g).

TABLE II

* DEPARTMENT NOTE: To convert the Ci/m3 value to gigabec-querel (GBq) per cubic meter, multiply the Ci/m3 value by 37. There are no limits established for these radionuclides in Class B or C wastes. Practical considerations such as the effects of external radiation and internal heat generation on transportation, handling, and disposal will limit the concentrations for these wastes. These wastes shall be Class B unless the concentrations of other radionu-clides in Table II determine the waste to be Class C independent of these radionuclides.

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e) Classification determined by both long- and short-lived radionuclides. If the radioactive waste contains a mixture of radionuclides, some of which are listed in Table I and some of which are listed in Table II, classification shall be determined as follows:

Each package of waste shall be clearly labeled to identify whether it is Class A, Class B, or Class C waste, in accordance with Section I.

*****See Section R9-7-102 for definition of pyrophoric.