(A) The criteria to
use for classifying waste for disposal are recorded below.
(1) 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 and improved waste form 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.
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.
(2)
Determination of waste classes shall be performed using the following criteria.
(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 (B) of this rule. If class A waste also meets the stability
requirements set forth in paragraph (B) of this rule, 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 paragraph (B) of this
rule.
(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 paragraph (B) of this rule.
(d)
Waste that exceeds class C is not acceptable for disposal under rules
3701:1-54-06
to
3701:1-54-12
of the Administrative Code.
(3) If 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 but does not exceed the value in table 1, the waste is
class C.
(c) If the concentration
exceeds the value in table 1, the waste is not acceptable for disposal under
rules
3701:1-54-06
to
3701:1-54-12
of the Administrative Code.
(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
paragraph (A)(7) of this rule.
Table 1
Radionuclide |
Concentration
Gigabecquerels per cubic meter |
Concentration
curies
per cubic meter |
C-14 |
296 |
8 |
C-14 in activated metal |
2960 |
80 |
Ni-59 in activated metal |
8140 |
220 |
Nb-94 in activated metal |
7.4 |
0.2 |
Tc-99 |
111 |
3 |
I-129 |
2.96 |
0.08 |
Alpha emitting transuranic radionuclides with half-life
greater than five years |
\1\ 0.0037 |
\2\ 100 |
Pu-241 |
\1\ 0.1295 |
\2\ 3500 |
Cm-242 |
\1\ 0.74 |
\2\ 20,000 |
Ra-226 |
\1\ 0.0037 |
\2\ 100 |
\1\ Units are megabecquerels per gram.
\2\ Units are nanocuries per gram.
(4) If 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. However, as specified in
paragraph (A)(6) of this rule, if radioactive waste does not contain any
radionuclides listed in either table 1 or table 2, it is class A.
(a) If the concentration does not exceed the
value in column 1, the waste is class A.
(b) If the concentration exceeds the value in
column 1, but does not exceed the value in column 2, the waste is class
B.
(c) If the concentration exceeds
the value in column 2, but does not exceed the value in column 3, the waste is
class C.
(d) If the concentration
exceeds the value in column 3, the waste is not acceptable for disposal under
rules
3701:1-54-06
to
3701:1-54-12
of the Administrative Code.
(e) 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
paragraph (A)(7) of this rule.
Table 2
|
|
Radionuclide |
Concentration
Gigabecquerels per cubic meter |
Concentration
curies
per cubic meter |
Col. 1 |
Col. 2 |
Col. 3 |
Col. 1 |
Col. 2 |
Col. 3 |
Total of all radionuclides with less than 5 year
half-life |
25,900 |
(\1\) |
(\1\) |
700 |
(\1\) |
(\1\) |
H-3 |
1480 |
(\1\) |
(\1\) |
40 |
(\1\) |
(\1\) |
Co-60 |
25,900 |
(\1\) |
(\1\) |
700 |
(\1\) |
(\1\) |
Ni-63 |
129.5 |
2590 |
25,900 |
3.5 |
70 |
700 |
Ni-63 in activated metal |
1295 |
25,900 |
259,000 |
35 |
700 |
7000 |
Sr-90 |
1.48
|
5550 |
259,000 |
0.04 |
150 |
7000 |
Cs-137 |
37 |
1628 |
170,200 |
1 |
44 |
4600 |
\1\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 nuclides in table 2 determine the
waste to be class C independent of these radionuclides.
(5) If 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 does not exceed 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 but does not exceed the value 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 column 3 of table 2.
(6) If radioactive waste does not contain any
radionuclides listed in either table 1 or table 2, it is class A.
(7) This is 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 one if the waste class is to be determined by that
column.
(8) 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
megabecquerels or nanocuries per gram.
(9) Each package of waste must be clearly
labeled to identify whether it is class A waste, class B waste, or class C
waste, in accordance with paragraphs (A)(1) to (A)(8) of this rule.
(B) The following waste
characteristics are minimum requirements for all classes of waste and are
intended to facilitate handling at the disposal site and provide protection of
health and safety of personnel at the disposal site.
(1) Waste must not be packaged for disposal
in cardboard or fiberboard boxes.
(2) Liquid waste must be solidified or
packaged in sufficient absorbent material to absorb twice the volume of the
liquid.
(3) Solid waste containing
liquid shall contain as little free standing and noncorrosive liquid as is
reasonably achievable, but in no case shall the liquid exceed one per cent of
the volume.
(4) Waste must not be
readily capable of detonation or of explosive decomposition or reaction at
normal pressures and temperatures, or of explosive reaction with
water.
(5) Waste must 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 paragraph
(B)(7) of this rule.
(6) Waste must
not be pyrophoric. Pyrophoric materials contained in waste shall be treated,
prepared, and packaged to be nonflammable.
(7) Waste in a gaseous form must be packaged
at a pressure that does not exceed 1.5 atmospheres at twenty degrees celsius.
Total activity must not exceed one hundred curies per container.
(8) Waste containing biological, pathogenic,
or infectious material must be treated to reduce to the maximum extent
practicable the potential hazard from the non-radiological materials.
(9) The requirements in this rule are
intended to provide stability of the waste. Stability is intended to ensure
that the waste does not structurally degrade and affect overall stability of
the site through slumping, collapse, or other failure of the disposal unit and
thereby lead to water infiltration. Stability is also a factor in limiting
exposure to an inadvertent intruder, since it provides a recognizable and
nondispersible waste.
(a) Waste must 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.
(b) Notwithstanding the
provisions in paragraphs (B)(2) and (B)(3) of this rule, liquid wastes, or
wastes containing liquid, must be converted into a form that contains as little
free standing and noncorrosive liquid as is reasonably achievable, but in no
case shall the liquid exceed one per cent of the volume of the waste when the
waste is in a disposal container designed to ensure stability, or 0.5 per cent
of the volume of the waste for waste processed to a stable form.
(c) Void spaces within the waste and between
the waste and its package must be reduced to the extent practicable.
(C) The director may,
upon request or on his or her own initiative, authorize other provisions for
the classification and characteristics of waste on a specific basis, if, after
evaluation of the specific characteristics of the waste, disposal site, and
method of disposal, he or she finds reasonable assurance of compliance with the
performance objectives specified in Chapter 3701:1-54 of the Administrative
Code.