Lessons learned from mixed-waste management and regulation

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (United States)

OSTI ID:5786118

Cowan, S P ^[1]; Brown, P H ^[2]

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1. Dept. of Energy, Germantown, MD (United States)
2. Science Applications International Corp., Germantown, MD (United States)

Mixed waste is radioactive waste that is mixed with wastes that are subject to Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) subtitle C regulation. Mixed waste is a relatively recent concept, since the US Department of Energy (DOE) did not recognize EPA's participation in the management of mixed wastes until 1987. The DOE, EPA, and state regulators continue to define the limits of RCRA regulation of DOE waste management. If a waste is hazardous, then EPA has established regulatory requirements for characterizing, treating, storing, and disposing of the waste. Long-term storage cannot be used to avoid treating waste and disposing. Before waste can be treated, recycled, or disposed, its composition must be known. The DOE's characterization of stored waste is a challenge. Waste storage design has historically emphasized minimizing radiation hazards. Storage in compliance with the RCRA emphasizes monitoring waste to ensure detection of and response to leaks. Treatment of waste is lacking in both capacity and technology. Permits for treatment facilities are difficult to obtain because of not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) attitudes. Disposal of mixed waste also is hostage to NIMBY concerns. The DOE continues work on permits for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant for transuranic waste, investigating the Yucca Mountain site for high-level waste, and permitting mixed low-level waste disposal at several DOE sites.

• OSTI ID: 5786118
• Report Number(s): CONF-910603--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (United States) Journal Volume: 63
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052000* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Management
054000 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Health & Safety
056000 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Legislation & Regulations-- (1987-)
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLASSIFICATION
CONTAMINATION REGULATIONS
CORROSION
DOSES
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
INTERMEDIATE-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
LAWS
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MOUNTAINS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
PILOT PLANTS
POLLUTION REGULATIONS
PUBLIC HEALTH
PUBLIC OPINION
PUBLIC RELATIONS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION HAZARDS
RADIATION PROTECTION
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
REGULATIONS
SAMPLING
SOLVENTS
STORAGE
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
US DOE
US EPA
US ORGANIZATIONS
US RESOURCE RECOVERY ACTS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WIPP
YUCCA MOUNTAIN