Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
(1) Physical Half-life Considerations.
(a) Consideration by the licensee 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 radionuclides
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.
(b) Consideration by
the licensee must be given to the concentration of shorter-lived radionuclides
for which requirements on institutional controls, waste form and disposal
methods are effective.
(2) Classes of Low Level Radioactive Waste.
(a) 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 paragraph (9)(a), below. If Class A waste also meets the stability
requirements set forth in paragraph (9)(b), below, it is not necessary to
segregate the waste for disposal.
(b) 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 subsection (9),
below.
(c) 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 subsection (9), below.
(3) Classification of Low Level Radioactive
Waste Determined by Long-Lived Radionuclides Present. If the low-level
radioactive waste contains only radionuclides listed in Table 1, classification
shall be determined as follows:
(a) If the
concentration does not exceed 0.1 times the value in Table 1, the waste is
Class A.
(b) If the concentration
exceeds 0.1 times the value in Table 1, the waste is Class C.
(c) If the concentration exceeds the value in
Table 1, the waste is not generally acceptable for near-surface
disposal.
(d) For wastes containing
mixtures of radionuclides listed in Table 1, the total concentration shall be
determined by the sum of fractions rule described in subsection (7), below.
|
Table 1
|
|
Concentration
|
|
Radionuclide
|
(Curies per cubic meter)
|
|
C-14
|
8
|
|
C-14 in activated metal
|
80
|
|
Ni-59 in activated metal
|
220
|
|
Nb-94 in activated metal
|
0.2
|
|
Tc-99
|
3
|
|
I-129
|
0.08
|
|
Radionuclide
|
(Nanocuries per gram)
|
|
Alpha emitting transuranic radionuclides with
half-life greater than 5 years
|
100
|
|
Pu-241
|
3, 100
|
|
Cm-242
|
20, 000
|
|
Ra-226
|
100
|
(e)
To convert nanocuries to becquerels (Bq), multiply by 37. To convert curies to
gigabecquerels (GBq), multiply by 37.
(4) Classification of Low Level Radioactive
Waste Determined by Short-Lived Radionuclides Present. If the low level
radioactive waste does not contain any of the radionuclides listed in Table 1,
classification shall be determined based on the concentrations shown in Table
2.
(a) If the radioactive waste does not
contain any radionuclides listed in either Table 1 or 2, the waste is Class
A.
(b) If the concentration does
not exceed the value in Table 2, Column 1, the waste is Class A.
(c) If the concentration exceeds the value in
Table 2, Column 1, but does not exceed the value in Column 2, the waste is
Class B.
(d) If the concentration
exceeds the value in Table 2, Column 2, but does not exceed the value in Column
3, the waste is Class C.
(e) If the
concentration exceeds the value in Table 2, Column 3, the waste is not
generally acceptable for near-surface disposal.
(f) For wastes containing mixtures of the
radionuclides listed in Table 2, the total concentration shall be determined by
the sum of fractions rule described in subsection (7), below.
|
Table 2
|
|
Concentration Curies per cubic
meter
|
|
Radionuclide
|
Column 1
|
Column 2
|
Column 3
|
|
Total of all radionuclides with less than 5 year with
less than 5 year
|
700
|
See paragraph (4)(g), below
|
|
|
H-3
|
40
|
See paragraph (4)(g), below
|
|
|
Co-60
|
700
|
See paragraph (4)(g), below
|
|
|
Ni-63
|
3.5
|
70
|
700
|
|
Ni-63 in activated metal
|
35
|
700
|
7, 000
|
|
Sr-90
|
0.04
|
150
|
7, 000
|
|
Cs-137
|
1
|
44
|
4, 600
|
(g)
There are not limits established for the radionuclides specified in Table 2 for
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 such wastes. Such wastes shall be Class B
unless the concentrations of other radionuclides in Table 2 determine the waste
to be Class C, independent of these radionuclides.
(5) Classification of Low Level Radioactive
Waste Determined by Both Long- and Short-Lived Radionuclides Present. If the
radioactive waste contains a mixture of radionuclides, some of which are listed
in Table 1, and some of which are listed in Table 2, classification shall be
determined as follows:
(a) If the
concentration of a radionuclide listed in Table 1 is less than 0.1 times the
value listed in Table 1, the class shall be that determined by the
concentration of radionuclides listed in Table 2.
(b) If the concentration of a radionuclide
listed in Table 1 exceeds 0.1 times the value listed in Table 1, the waste
shall be Class C, provided the concentration of radionuclides listed in Table 2
does not exceed the value shown in Table 2, Column 3.
(6) Classification of Low Level Radioactive
Wastes with Radionuclides Other Than Those Listed in Tables 1 and 2. If the
radioactive waste does not contain any radionuclides listed in either Table 1
or 2, it is Class A.
(7) The Sum of
the Fractions Rule for Mixtures of Radionuclides. For determining
classification for waste that contains a mixture of radionuclides, it is
necessary to determine the sum of fractions by dividing each radionuclide's
concentration by the appropriate limit and adding the resulting values. The
appropriate limits must all be taken from the same column of the same table.
The sum of the fractions for the column must be less than 1.0 if the waste
class is to be determined by that column.
Example: A waste contains Sr-90 in a concentration of 50 Ci
per m3 (1.85 TBq per m3) and Cs-137 in a concentration of 22 Ci per m3 (814 GBq
per m3). Since the concentrations both exceed the values in Table 2, Column 1,
they must be compared to Column 2 values. For Sr-90 fraction 50/150 = 0.33; for
Cs-137 fraction, 22/44 = 0.5; the sum of the fractions = 0.83. Since the sum is
less than 1.0, the waste is Class B.
(8) Determination of Concentrations in Low
Level Radioactive Wastes. The concentration of a radionuclide may be determined
by indirect methods such as use of scaling factors which relate the inferred
concentration of one radionuclide to another that is measured, or radionuclide
material accountability, if there is reasonable assurance that the indirect
methods can be correlated with actual measurements. The concentration of a
radionuclide may be averaged over the volume of the waste, or weight of the
waste, if the units are expressed as nanocuries per gram.
(9) Low Level Radioactive Waste
Characteristics.
(a) The following are minimum
requirements for all three classes of radioactive waste specified in subsection
(2), above, and are intended to facilitate handling and provide protection of
health and safety of personnel at the disposal site.
1. Radioactive wastes should be packaged in
conformance with the conditions of the license issued to the site operator to
which the waste will be shipped.
2.
Radioactive wastes shall not be packaged for disposal in cardboard or
fiberboard boxes.
3. Liquid
radioactive waste must be solidified or packaged in sufficient absorbent
material to absorb twice the volume of the liquid.
4. Solid radioactive waste containing liquid
shall contain as little freestanding and noncorrosive liquid as is reasonably
achievable, but in no case shall the liquid be corrosive or exceed 1 percent of
the volume.
5. Radioactive waste
shall not be readily capable of detonation or of explosive decomposition or
reaction at normal pressures and temperatures, or of explosive reaction with
water.
6. Radioactive waste shall
not contain, or be capable of generating, quantities of toxic gases, vapors or
fumes harmful to persons transporting, handling or disposing of the waste. This
does not apply to radioactive gaseous waste packaged in accordance with
subparagraph (9)(a)8., below.
7.
Pyrophoric materials contained in radioactive wastes shall be treated, prepared
and packaged to be nonflammable.
8.
Radioactive wastes in gaseous form shall be packaged at a gauge pressure that
does not exceed 1.5 atmospheres at 20 degrees Celsius. Total activity shall not
exceed 100 curies (3.7 TBq) per container.
9. Radioactive wastes containing hazardous,
biological, pathogenic or infectious material shall be treated to reduce to the
maximum extent practicable the potential hazard from the nonradiological
materials.
(b)
Radioactive waste shall have structural stability. A structurally stable waste
form will generally maintain its physical dimensions and its form, under the
expected disposal conditions such as weight of overburden and compaction
equipment, the presence of moisture, and microbial activity, and internal
factors such as radiation effects and chemical changes. Structural stability
can be provided by the waste form itself, processing the waste to a stable
form, or placing the waste in a disposal container or structure that provides
stability after disposal.
(c)
Notwithstanding the provisions in subparagraphs (9)(a)3. and 4., above, liquid
radioactive wastes, or radioactive wastes containing liquid, shall be converted
into a form that contains as little freestanding and noncorrosive liquid as
reasonably achievable, but in no case shall the liquid be corrosive or exceed 1
percent of the volume of the waste when the waste is in a disposal container
designed to ensure stability, or 0.5 percent of the volume of the waste for
waste processed to a stable form.
(d) Void spaces within the radioactive waste
and between the waste and its package shall be reduced to the extent
practicable.
(10) Package
Labeling of Low Level Radioactive Waste. Each package of radioactive waste
shall be clearly labeled to identify whether it is Class A, Class B or Class C
waste, in accordance with subsections (1) through (8), above.
(12) Transfer for Disposal and Manifests of
Low Level Radioactive Waste.
(a) Each shipment
of radioactive waste to a licensed land disposal facility shall be accompanied
by a shipment manifest that contains the name, address and telephone number of
the person generating the waste. The manifest shall also include the name,
address and telephone number or the name and U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency hazardous waste identification number of the person transporting the
waste to the land disposal facility. The manifest shall also indicate as
completely as practicable:
1. A physical
description of the waste,
2. The
waste volume,
3. Radionuclide
identity and quantity,
4. The total
radioactivity; and,
5. The
principal chemical form.
The solidification agent, is used, shall be specified. Wastes
containing more than 0.1 percent chelating agents by weight shall be identified
and the weight percentage of the chelating agent estimated. Wastes classified
as Class A, Class B or Class C in subsections (1) through (8), above, shall be
clearly identified as such in the manifest. The total quantity of the
radionuclides H-3, C-14, Tc-99 and I-129 shall be
shown.
(b) The
manifest required in paragraph (12)(a), above, may be shipping papers used to
meet U.S. Department of Transportation or U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
regulations or requirements of the receiver, provided all the required
information is included.
(c) Each
manifest shall include a certification by the radioactive waste generator that
the transported materials are properly classified, described, packaged, marked,
and labeled and are in proper condition for transportation according to the
applicable regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation and the
Department. An authorized representative of the waste generator shall sign and
date the manifest.
(d) Any licensee
who transfers radioactive waste to a land disposal facility or a licensed waste
collector shall comply with the following requirements. Any licensee who
transfers waste to a licensed waste processor who treats or repackages waste
shall comply with the requirements of subparagraphs (12)(d)4. through 8.,
below. A licensee shall:
1. Prepare all
radioactive wastes so that the waste is classified according to subsections (1)
through (8), above, and meets the waste characteristics requirements in
subsection (9), above,
2. Label
each package of waste to identify whether it is Class A waste, Class B waste or
Class C waste, in accordance with subsections (1) through (8), above,
3. Conduct a quality control
program to assure compliance with subsections (1) through (9), above; the
program must include management evaluation of audits,
4. Prepare shipping manifests to meet the
requirements of paragraphs (12)(a) and (c), above,
5. Forward a copy of the manifest to the
intended recipient at the time of shipment; or, deliver to a collector at the
time the radioactive waste is collected, obtaining acknowledgment of receipt in
the form of a signed copy of the manifest from the collector,
6. Include one copy of the manifest with the
shipment,
7. Retain a copy of the
manifest with documentation of acknowledgment of receipt as the record of
transfer of licensed material as required by these regulations; and,
8. For any low level radioactive waste
shipments or any part of a shipment for which acknowledgment of receipt has not
been received within the times set forth in this subsection, conduct an
investigation in accordance with paragraph (12)(g), below.
(e) Any waste collector licensee who handles
only radioactive wastes that have been prepackaged shall:
1. Acknowledge receipt of the radioactive
waste from the generator within 1 week of receipt by returning a signed copy of
the manifest,
2. Prepare a new
manifest to reflect consolidated shipments; the new manifest shall serve as a
listing or index for the detailed generator manifests. Copies of the generator
manifests shall be a part of the new manifest. The waste collector may prepare
a new manifest without attaching the generator manifests, provided the new
manifest contains for each package the information specified in paragraph
(12)(a), above. The collector licensee shall certify that nothing has been done
to the waste which would invalidate the generator's certification,
3. Forward a copy of the new manifest to the
land disposal facility operator at the time of shipment,
4. Include the new manifest with the
radioactive waste shipment to the disposal site,
5. Retain a copy of the manifest with
documentation of acknowledgment of receipt as the record of transfer of
licensed material as required by these regulations, and retain information from
generator manifests until disposition is authorized by the department; and,
6. For any low level radioactive
waste shipments or any part of a shipment for which acknowledgment of receipt
is not received within the times set forth in this subsection, conduct an
investigation in accordance with paragraph (12)(g), below.
(f) Any licensed waste processor who treats
or repackages low level radioactive wastes shall:
1. Acknowledge receipt of the radioactive
waste from the generator within 1 week of receipt by returning a signed copy of
the manifest or equivalent documentation,
2. Prepare a new manifest that meets the
requirements of paragraphs (12)(a) and (c), above. Preparation of the new
manifest reflects that the processor is responsible for the waste,
3. Prepare all low level radioactive wastes
so that the waste is classified according to subsections (1) through (8),
above, and meets the waste characteristics requirement in subsection (9),
above,
4. Label each package of
waste to identify whether it is Class A waste, Class B waste or Class C waste,
as specified in subsections (1) through (8) and (10), above,
5. Conduct a quality control program to
assure compliance with subsections (1) through (9), above. The program shall
include management evaluation of audits,
6. Forward a copy of the new manifest to the
disposal site operator or waste collector at the time of shipment, or deliver
to a collector at the time the radioactive waste is collected, obtaining
acknowledgment of receipt in the form of a signed copy of the manifest by the
collector,
7. Include the new
manifest with the shipment,
8.
Retain copies of original manifests and new manifests with documentation of
acknowledgment of receipt as the record or transfer of licensed material
required by these regulations; and,
9. For any low level waste shipment or part
of a shipment for which acknowledgment if not received within the times set
forth in this section, conduct an investigation in accordance with paragraph
(12)(g), below.
(g) The
land disposal facility operator shall:
1.
Acknowledge receipt of the waste within 1 week of receipt by returning a signed
copy of the manifest or equivalent documentation to the shipper. The shipper to
be notified is the licensee who last possessed the waste and transferred the
waste to the operator. The returned copy of the manifest or equivalent
documentation shall indicate any discrepancies between materials listed on the
manifest and materials received,
2.
Maintain copies of all completed manifests or equivalent documentation until
the department authorizes their disposition; and,
3. Notify the shipper and the department when
any shipment or portion of a shipment has not arrived within 60 days after the
advance manifest was received.
(h) Any low level radioactive waste shipment
or part of a shipment for which acknowledgment is not received within the times
set forth in this section must:
1. Be
investigated by the shipper if the shipper has not received notification of
receipt within 20 days after transfer; and,
2. Be traced and reported. The investigation
shall include tracing the shipment and filing a report with the Department.
Each licensee who conducts a trace investigation shall file a written report
with the department within 2 weeks of completion of the
investigation.
(13) Beginning March 1, 1998, all licensees
shall comply with Requirements for Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal. Prior
to March 1, 1998, a low-level waste disposal facility operator or its
regulatory authority can require the shipper to use requirements specified in
subsection (12), above.
Rulemaking Authority 404.051, 404.061, 404.20 FS. Law
Implemented 404.051(1), (4), 404.061(2), 404.20(1)
FS.
New 1-1-94, Amended 5-15-96, Formerly 10D-91.468, Amended
5-18-98.
