Comment sought to improve "low-activity" radioactive waste management and disposal

December 3, 2003, 4:27pm CST

On Nov. 18th, the Environmental Protection agency released an Advance Notice on Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) in the Federal Register, seeking comment on a range of possible approaches to the management and disposal of low activity radioactive waste. The American Nuclear Society issued its position on this issue in June 2001 with the release of "Position Statement #41: Health Effects of Low Level Radiation." We encourage members to review both documents and make comment as appropriate.

As stated in a recent EPA release, "The agency is seeking to minimize storage of these materials and assure sufficient and protective disposal capacity in the future while increasing environmental and public health protection. The agency is also seeking to improve the management of certain wastes that are inconsistently regulated or currently unregulated. The ANPR affects no existing regulations or programs."

The document introduces the concept of "low-activity" radioactive waste, reviews various management and disposal approaches, and focuses on a material's radiation content rather than its origin. Data, comments and dialogue provided by ANS members may guide the agency in determining what, if any, next steps to take.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Department of Energy provided technical assistance during the ANPR's development. A 120-day public comment period began Nov. 18.

Further information is available at: http://www.epa.gov/radiation/larw/.

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Comment sought to improve "low-activity" radioactive waste management and disposal