Improving the Regulation and Management of Low-Activity Radioactive Wastes
Improving the Regulation and Management of Low-Activity Radioactive Wastes

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2006-05-24

Total Pages: 225

ISBN-13: 0309101425

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The largest volumes of radioactive wastes in the United States contain only small amounts of radioactive material. These low-activity wastes (LAW) come from hospitals, utilities, research institutions, and defense installations where nuclear material is used. Millions of cubic feet of LAW also arise every year from non-nuclear enterprises such as mining and water treatment. While LAW present much less of a radiation hazard than spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive wastes, they can cause health risks if controlled improperly. Improving the Regulation and Management of Low-Activity Radioactive Wastes asserts that LAW should be regulated and managed according to the degree of risk they pose for treatment, storage, and disposal. Current regulations are based primarily on the type of industry that produced the waste-the waste's origin-rather than its risk. In this report, a risk-informed approach for regulating and managing all types of LAW in the United States is proposed. Implemented in a gradual or stepwise fashion, this approach combines scientific risk assessment with public values and perceptions. It focuses on the hazardous properties of the waste in question and how they compare with other waste materials. The approach is based on established principles for risk-informed decision making, current risk-informed initiatives by waste regulators in the United States and abroad, solutions available under current regulatory authorities, and remedies through new legislation when necessary.

Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management and Disposition
Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management and Disposition

Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2017-06-05

Total Pages: 163

ISBN-13: 0309456819

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The Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management (DOE) is responsible for the safe cleanup of sites used for nuclear weapons development and government-sponsored nuclear energy research. Low-level radioactive waste (LLW) is the most volumetrically significant waste stream generated by the DOE cleanup program. LLW is also generated through commercial activities such as nuclear power plant operations and medical treatments. The laws and regulations related to the disposal of LLW in the United States have evolved over time and across agencies and states, resulting in a complex regulatory structure. DOE asked the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to organize a workshop to discuss approaches for the management and disposition of LLW. Participants explored the key physical, chemical, and radiological characteristics of low-level waste that govern its safe and secure management and disposal in aggregate and in individual waste streams, and how key characteristics of low level waste are incorporated into standards, orders, and regulations that govern the management and disposal of LLW in the United States and in other major waste-producing countries. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions from the workshop.

Radioactive Waste Management In The 21st Century
Radioactive Waste Management In The 21st Century

Author: William R Roy

Publisher: World Scientific

Published: 2021-06-10

Total Pages: 321

ISBN-13: 9811228310

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The safe management of radioactive wastes is of paramount importance in gaining both governmental and societal support for nuclear energy. The scope of this new textbook is to provide a comprehensive perspective on all types of radioactive wastes as to how they are created, classified, characterized, and disposed.Written to emphasize how geology and radionuclide chemistry impact waste management, this book is primarily designed for engineers who have little background in geology with low-level wastes, decommissioning wastes, high-level wastes and spent nuclear fuel.This textbook provides the most up-to-date information available on waste management in several countries. The content of this work includes transporting radioactive materials to disposal facilities. The textbook cites numerous case studies to illustrate past practices, current methodologies and to provide insights on how radioactive wastes may be managed in the future. An international perspective on waste management is also provided to help the readers better understand the diversity in approaches while highlighting what many countries have in common. Review questions for classroom use are provided at the end of each chapter.Related Link(s)

Review of New York State Low-Level Radioactive Waste Siting Process
Review of New York State Low-Level Radioactive Waste Siting Process

Author: Committee to Review New York State's Siting and Methodology Selection for Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 1996-08-13

Total Pages: 306

ISBN-13: 0309561213

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This book reviews the efforts of New York state to site a low-level radioactive waste disposal facility. It evaluates the nature, sources, and quality of the data, analyses, and procedures used by the New York State Siting Commission in its decisionmaking process, which identified five potential sites for low-level waste disposal. Finally, the committee offers a chapter highlighting the lessons in siting low-level radioactive waste facilities that can be learned from New York State's experience.

Management of Disused Sealed Radioactive Sources
Management of Disused Sealed Radioactive Sources

Author: International Atomic Energy Agency

Publisher:

Published: 2014-12-02

Total Pages: 177

ISBN-13: 9789201032140

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This publication summarizes the reviewed information distributed in previous IAEA publications and provides an up to date, overall picture of the management of disused sealed radioactive sources (DSRS) based upon the current status and trends in this field. It incorporates the most recent experience in source management, including newly developed techniques used for DSRS conditioning and storage. Problems encountered and lessons learned are also highlighted in the publication in order to help avoid the mistakes commonly made in the past in managing disused sources.

Understanding Radioactive Waste
Understanding Radioactive Waste

Author: Raymond L. Murray

Publisher:

Published: 1994

Total Pages: 266

ISBN-13:

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This "objective" report, originally prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy, tells the glowing, happy story of nuclear waste disposal in America. The fourth edition has been updated to include the latest legislative and technical changes. It begins by explaining what radioactivity is and goes on to explore the merits of various methods of disposal and the use of licensing and regulation as forms of protection. Filled with graphs, tables, diagrams, and black and white photos. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

The Impact of Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Policy on Biomedical Research in the United States
The Impact of Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Policy on Biomedical Research in the United States

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2001-03-09

Total Pages: 66

ISBN-13: 0309073316

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The National Research Council's Committee on the Impact of Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Policy on Biomedical Research in the United States was called on to assess the effects of the low-level radioactive waste management policy on the current and future activities of biomedical research. This report provides an assessment of the effects of the current management policy for low-level radioactive waste (LLRW), and resulting consequences, such as higher LLRW disposal costs and onsite storage of LLRW, on the current and future activities of biomedical research. That assessment will include evaluating the effects that the lack of facilities and disposal capacity, and rules of disposal facilities, have on institutions conducting medical and biological research and on hospitals where radioisotopes are used for the diagnosis and treatment of disease.