94-28298. DOE Response to Recommendation 94-2, Conformance With Safety Standards at DOE Low-Level Nuclear Waste and Disposal Sites of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 220 (Wednesday, November 16, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-28298]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: November 16, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

 

DOE Response to Recommendation 94-2, Conformance With Safety 
Standards at DOE Low-Level Nuclear Waste and Disposal Sites of the 
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Section 315(b)(2) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as 
amended, 42 U.S.C. 2286d(b) requires the Department of Energy to 
publish its response to Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board 
recommendations for notice and public comment. The defense Nuclear 
Facilities Safety Board published Recommendation 94-2, concerning 
conformance with Safety Standards at DOE Low-Level Nuclear Waste and 
Disposal Site, in the Federal Register on September 14, 1994 (59FR 
47309). The Secretary's response follows.

DATES: Comments, data, views, or arguments concerning the Secretary's 
response are due on or before December 16, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Send comments, data, views, or arguments concerning the 
Secretary's response to: Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, 625 
Indiana Avenue, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC 20004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Thomas P. Grumbly, Assistant Secretary for Environmental 
Management, Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20585.

    Issued in Washington, D.C., on October 19, 1994.
Mark B. Whitaker,
Departmental Representative to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety 
Board.

The Honorable John T. Conway, Chairman
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, 625 Indiana Avenue, NW., 
Suite 700, Washington, DC 20004.

October 28, 1994.
    Dear Mr. Chairman:
    Thank you for your letter of September 8, 1994, forwarding 
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board Recommendation 94-2, 
concerning Conformance with Safety Standards at Department of Energy 
(DOE) Low-Level Nuclear Waste and Disposal Sites. Recommendation 94-
2 is accepted by the Department.
    The Department will undertake a complex-wide baseline assessment 
of DOE low-level radioactive waste disposal requirements and 
practices with the objective of identifying problems affecting 
worker and public safety. In addition, the Implementation Plan for 
Recommendation 94-2 will address such issues as forecasting future 
disposal needs, including waste from decontamination and 
decommissioning and environmental restoration activities; the need 
for additional requirements, standards, or guidance on low-level 
radioactive waste management; the scope of planned studies for 
improving modeling and predictive capability of low-level 
radioactive waste impacts; an assessment of studies for enhancing 
stability of waste forms, deterring intrusion, and inhibiting 
radionuclide migration; and studies of enhanced volume reduction 
methods. The Implementation Plan will also address an assessment of 
the safety merits and demerits of privatization of facilities for 
low-level radioactive waste disposal for exclusive use by DOE.
    The Department is taking steps to accelerate the completion of 
performance assessments for all active low-level radioactive waste 
burial sites as required by DOE Order 5820.2A. The Department 
recognizes the importance of assessing the potential cumulative 
impacts to the public health and safety and the environment of all 
low-level radioactive waste facilities on a site, including waste 
disposed prior to 1988. We will address these issues in the 
Implementation Plan for this recommendation.
    We look forward to working closely with you and your staff to 
develop a responsive Implementation Plan. The Implementation Plan 
will be forwarded to you in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 2286d. If you 
have further questions please contact me or Mr. Thomas Grumbly, 
Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management at [phone].
      Sincerely,
Hazel R. O'Leary
[FR Doc. 94-28298 Filed 11-15-94; 8:45 am]
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