"Low-level" waste site. Barnwell, S.C.Envirocare's Proposal to Accept "Low-Level" Nuclear Waste
by Steve Erickson, March 24,2000The public will get its first opportunity next week to review Envirocare of Utah's proposal to dispose of radioactive wastes thousands of times "hotter" than the low-level debris currently buried at their West Desert site.
The Utah Division of Radiation Control will hold public hearings on the Envirocare siting application to dispose of Class B and C rad wastes on March 28 at 7:00 P.M. in Tooele and Wednesday, April 12 at 10:00 A.M. in Room 201 of DEQ Building #2, 168 North 1950 West in Salt Lake. Written comments may be submitted through April 17, and should be addressed to William J. Sinclair, Executive Secretary, Utah Radiation Control Board, 168 N. 1950 W., P.O. Box 144850, SLC, UT 84114-4850.
The siting application is the first of a four step licensing process. Step 2 is the submission and approval of a radioactive materials license, step 3 is approval by the Tooele County Commission (a foregone conclusion), and the last step is approval by the Legislature and the Governor. The approval process, therefore, is both technical and political in nature.
The materials Envirocare wants to bury are "low-level" radioactive wastes, though that term is confusing and inaccurate. Class B wastes contain an average concentration of 2 curies of radiation per cubic foot, and represent approximately 2.5% of the total volume of low level wastes generated but 25% of the total radioactivity. Class C wastes may be contaminated with greater amounts of long-lived radionuclides, with an average concentration of 7 curies/cubic foot. C wastes comprise 0.5% of all low level wastes, but over 65% of total radioactivity. By comparison, the Class A wastes that Envirocare is currently permitted to dispose average 0.1 curies/cubic foot. Class A wastes account for roughly 10% of total radioactivity, and 97% of the total volume of wastes generated.
Downwinders has taken the position that Utah is now under siege with radioactive waste plans and facilities, and that Utahns have suffered more than their fair share from the nation's nuclear legacy.That Envirocare is pursuing this business opportunity is evidence of failed national policy."Low -Level" Radioactive Waste is all nuclear waste that is not legally high-level wastes, transuranic wastes, or mill tailings. Over 80% of B & C wastes are nuclear power plant wastes. Everything in a nuclear power plant is "low-level" waste except the spent fuel rods, so a permitted disposal facility can accept irradiated n-plant components and piping, control rods, poison curtains, resins, sludges, filters, even entire nuclear power plants if and when they are dismantled. The remaining 20% are medical and industrial rad wastes.
Envirocare's currently buried rad wastes contain a total of 416 curies of radiation. If their B & C license is approved, just one shipment of 69 cubic feet would surpass that total. In a worst case scenario, with new disposal "cell" filled 100% with the hottest Class C wastes, the total radioactivity at Envirocare could jump to as much as 57 million curies.
Can these hot wastes be transported and buried safely? To date, there have been no disasters with facilities that have operated at Richland, WA, Barnwell, SC, and Beatty, NV, though there are indications of radionuclides contaminating ground water at the now closed Nevada site. But the jury is still out. These wastes may have half-lives ranging from days to thousands, even millions of years, and hazardous lives ranging as high as hundreds of thousands to hundreds of millions of years.
For more information on these wastes and the Envirocare proposal (including access to the siting application, visit the Downwinders website at http://www.downwinders.org, or the state's site at http://www.deq.state.ut.us/eqrad/drc_lows.htm.
Envirocare's currently buried rad wastes contain a total of 416 curies of radiation. If their B & C license is approved, just one shipment of 69 cubic feet of Class C nuclear waste would surpass that total. In a worst case scenario, with a new disposal "cell" filled 100% with the hottest Class C wastes, the total radioactivity at Envirocare could jump to as much as 57 million curies.
Downwinders has taken the position that Utah is now under siege with radioactive waste plans and facilities, and that Utahns have suffered more than their fair share from the nation's nuclear legacy. That Envirocare is pursuing this business opportunity is evidence of failed national policy. You are encouraged to study up on this issue, attend hearings, submit comments, make this an election year issue, and follow the process through to its end.
NEW! 3/24/00: Read Envirocare's Siting Evaluation Report (SIER)
Page Updated 03/24/2000
