Managing previously disposed waste to today's standards

Conference · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:7229605

A Radioactive Waste Management Complex (RWMC) was established at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) in 1952 for controlled disposal of radioactive waste generated at the INEL. Between 1954 and 1970 waste characterized by long lived, alpha emitting radionuclides from the Rocky Flats Plant was also buried at this site. Migration of radionuclides and other hazardous substances from the buried Migration of radionuclides and other hazardous substances from the buried waste has recently been detected. A Buried Waste Program (BWP) was established to manage cleanup of the buried waste. This program has four objectives: (1) determine contaminant sources, (2) determine extent of contamination, (3) mitigate migration, and (4) recommend an alternative for long term management of the waste. Activities designed to meet these objectives have been under way since the inception of the program. The regulatory environment governing these activities is evolving. Pursuant to permitting activities under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) entered into a Consent Order Compliance Agreement (COCA) for cleanup of past practice disposal units at the INEL. Subsequent to identification of the RWMC as a release site, cleanup activities proceeded under dual regulatory coverage of RCRA and the Atomic Energy Act. DOE, EPA, and the State of Idaho are negotiating a RCRA/Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Interagency Agreement (IAG) for management of waste disposal sites at the INEL as a result of the November 1989 listing of the INEL on the National Priority List (NPL). Decision making for selection of cleanup technology will be conducted under the CERCLA process supplemented as required to meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). 7 figs.

• Research Organization: EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/NE
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-76ID01570
• OSTI ID: 7229605
• Report Number(s): EGG-M-90045; CONF-900210-42; ON: DE90009615; TRN: 90-011862
• Resource Relation: Conference: 16. annual waste management symposium: working towards a cleaner environment, Tucson, AZ (USA), 25 Feb - 1 Mar 1990
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
IDAHO NATIONAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY
REMEDIAL ACTION
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CONTAMINATION
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
LIQUID WASTES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
SAMPLING
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
ISOTOPES
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage