WSR 97-02-014
PERMANENT RULES
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
[Filed December 20, 1996, 4:21 p.m.]
Date of Adoption: December 3, 1996.
Purpose: The adopted rules make existing regulations compatible with United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission requirements. The changes to chapter 246-249 WAC clarify requirements for maintaining low-level radioactive waste records. The changes to chapter 246-250 WAC clarify methods of near-surface disposal and requirements for a quality assurance program.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-249-090, 246-250-001, 246-250-010, and 246-250-050.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 70.98.050.
Other Authority: RCW 70.98.080.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 96-21-120 on October 22, 1996.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, amended 4, repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, amended 4, repealed 0.
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
December 20, 1996
Bruce Miyahara
Secretary
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order 187, filed 8/7/91, effective 9/7/91)
WAC 246-249-090 Transfer for disposal and manifests. (1) Each shipment of waste to a licensed land disposal facility shall be accompanied by a shipment manifest that contains the name, address, and telephone number of the person generating the waste. The manifest shall also include the name, address, and telephone number of the person transporting the waste to the land disposal facility. The manifest shall also indicate as completely as practicable: A physical description of the waste; the waste volume; radionuclide identity and quantity; the total radioactivity; and the principal chemical form. The solidification, stabilization, or sorption agent shall be specified. Wastes containing more than 0.1 percent chelating agents by weight shall be identified and the weight percentage of the chelating agent estimated. Wastes classified as Class A, Class B, or Class C in WAC 246-249-040 shall be clearly identified as such in the manifest unless transferred to a waste processor who treats or repackages wastes. The total quantity of the radionuclides H-3, C-14, Tc-99 and I-129 must be shown.
(2) The manifest required in subsection (1) of this section may be shipping papers used to meet United States Department of Transportation or United States Environmental Protection Agency regulations or requirements of the receiver, provided all of the required information is included. Copies of manifests required by this section may be legible carbon copies or legible photocopies.
(3) Each manifest shall include a certification by the waste generator that the transported materials are properly classified, described, packaged, marked, and labeled and are in proper condition for transportation according to the applicable regulations of the United States Department of Transportation and the agency. An authorized representative of the waste generator shall sign and date the manifest.
(4) Any generator licensee who transfers waste to a land disposal facility or a licensed waste collector shall comply with the following requirements. Any licensee who transfers waste to a licensed waste processor who treats or repackages waste shall comply with the requirements of (d) through (h) of this subsection. A licensee shall:
(a) Prepare all wastes so the waste is classified according to WAC 246-249-040 and meets the waste characteristics requirements in WAC 246-249-050.
(b) Label each package of waste to identify whether it is a Class A waste, Class B waste or Class C waste, in accordance with WAC 246-249-040;
(c) Conduct a quality control program to assure compliance with WAC 246-249-040 and 246-249-050; the program must include management evaluation of audits;
(d) Prepare shipping manifests to meet the requirements of subsections (1), (2), and (3) of this section;
(e) Forward a copy of the manifest to the intended recipient, at the time of shipment; or, deliver to a broker at the time the waste is collected, obtaining acknowledgement of receipt in the form of a signed copy of the manifest from the broker;
(f) Include one copy of the manifest with the shipment;
(g) Retain a copy of the manifest with documentation of acknowledgement of receipt as the record of transfer of licensed material as required by these regulations;
(h) For any shipments or any part of a shipment for which acknowledgement of receipt has not been received within the times set forth in this section, conduct an investigation in accordance with subsection (8) of this section.
(5) Any waste broker licensee who handles prepackaged waste shall:
(a) Acknowledge receipt of the waste from the generator within one week of receipt by returning a signed copy of the manifest.
(b) Prepare a new manifest to reflect consolidated shipments; the new manifest shall serve as a listing or index for the detailed generator manifests. Copies of the generator manifests shall be a part of the new manifest.
The waste broker may prepare a new manifest without attaching the generator manifests, provided the new manifest contains for each package the information specified in subsection (1) of this section. The broker licensee shall certify that nothing has been done to the waste which would invalidate the generator's certification.
(c) Forward a copy of the new manifest to the land disposal facility operator at the time of shipment;
(d) Include the new manifest with the shipment to the disposal site.
(e) Retain a copy of the manifest with documentation of acknowledgement of receipt as the record of transfer of licensed material as required by these regulations, and retain information from generator manifests as required by these regulations, and retain information from generator manifests until disposition is authorized by the agency; and
(f) For any shipments or any part of a shipment for which acknowledgement of receipt is not received within the times set forth in this section, conduct an investigation in accordance with subsection (8) of this section.
(6) Any licensed waste processor who treats or repackages wastes shall:
(a) Acknowledge receipt of the waste from the generator within one week of receipt by returning a signed copy of the manifest.
(b) Prepare a new manifest that meets the requirements of subsections (1), (2), and (3) of this section. Preparation of the new manifest reflects that the processor is responsible for the waste;
(c) Prepare all wastes so that the waste is classified according to WAC 246-249-040 and meets the waste characteristics requirement in WAC 246-249-050.
(d) Label each package of waste to identify whether it is Class A waste, Class B waste, or Class C waste, in accordance with WAC 246-249-040 and 246-249-060.
(e) A quality control program shall be conducted to assure compliance with WAC 246-249-040 and 246-249-050. The program shall include management evaluation of audits;
(f) Forward a copy of the new manifest to the disposal site operator or waste broker at the time of shipment, or deliver to a broker at the time the waste is collected, obtaining acknowledgement of receipt in the form of a signed copy of the manifest by the broker.
(g) Include the new manifest with the shipment;
(h) Retain copies of the original manifests and new manifests with documentation of acknowledgement of receipt as the record of transfer of licensed material required by these regulations.
(i) For any shipment or part of a shipment for which acknowledgement is not received within the times set forth in this section, conduct an investigation in accordance with subsection (8) of this section.
(7) The land disposal facility operator shall:
(a) Acknowledge receipt of the waste within one week of receipt by returning a signed copy of the manifest to the shipper. The shipper to be notified is the licensee who last possessed the waste and transferred the waste to the operator. The returned copy of the manifest shall indicate any discrepancies between materials listed on the manifest and materials received;
(b) Maintain copies of all completed manifests until the agency authorizes their disposition; and
(c) Notify the shipper (i.e., the generator or the broker) and the agency when any shipment or part of a shipment has not arrived within sixty days after the advanced manifest was received.
(8) Any shipment or part of a shipment for which acknowledgement is not received within the time set forth in this section must:
(a) Be investigated by the shipper if the shipper has not received notification of receipt within twenty days after transfer; and
(b) Be traced and reported. The investigation shall include tracing
the shipment and filing a report with the agency. Each licensee who
conducts a trace investigation shall file a written report with the
agency within two weeks of completion of the investigation.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 70.98.050 and 70.98.080. 91-16-109 (Order
187), 246-249-090, filed 8/7/91, effective 9/7/91.]
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 94-01-073, filed 12/9/93, effective
1/9/94)
WAC 246-250-001 Purpose and scope. (1) The regulations in this chapter establish procedures, criteria, and terms and conditions upon which the department issues licenses for land disposal of low-level radioactive wastes received from other persons. (Applicability of the requirements in this chapter to department licenses for waste disposal facilities in effect on the effective date of this regulation will be determined on a case-by-case basis and implemented through terms and conditions of the license or by orders issued by the department.) The requirements of this chapter are in addition to, and not in substitution for, other applicable requirements of these regulations or other state regulations.
(2) The regulations in this chapter do not apply to disposal of tailings or wastes produced by the extraction or concentration of uranium or thorium from any ore where the tailings or wastes result in quantities greater than 10,000 kilograms and containing more than 185 mega becquerels (five millicuries) of radium 226, or disposal of waste provided in WAC 246-221-070, 246-221-190, or 246-221-200.
(3) This chapter establishes procedural requirements and performance
objectives applicable to any method of land disposal. It establishes
specific technical requirements for near-surface disposal of radioactive
waste which involves disposal in the uppermost portion of the earth,
approximately 30 meters. Near-surface disposal includes disposal in
engineered facilities which may be built totally or partially above-grade
provided that such facilities have protective earthen covers. Near-surface disposal does not include disposal facilities which are partially
or fully above-grade with no protective earthen cover, which are referred
to as "above-ground disposal." Burial deeper than 30 meters may also be
satisfactory. Technical requirements for alternative methods may be
added in the future.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 70.98.050. 94-01-073, 246-250-001, filed
12/9/93, effective 1/9/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.98.050 and
70.98.080. 91-16-109 (Order 187), 246-250-001, filed 8/7/91, effective
9/7/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.040. 91-02-049 (Order 121),
recodified as 246-250-001, filed 12/27/90, effective 1/31/91.
Statutory Authority: RCW 70.98.080. 87-01-031 (Order 2450), 402-61-010, filed 12/11/86.]
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order 187, filed 8/7/91, effective 9/7/91)
WAC 246-250-010 Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following definitions apply:
(1) "Active maintenance" means any significant activity needed during the period of institutional control to maintain a reasonable assurance that the performance objectives of WAC 246-250-170 and 246-250-180 are met. Such active maintenance includes ongoing activities such as the pumping and treatment of water from a disposal unit or one-time measures such as replacement of a disposal unit cover. Active maintenance does not include custodial activities such as repair of fencing, repair or replacement of monitoring equipment, revegetation, minor additions to soil cover, minor repair of disposal unit covers, and general disposal site upkeep such as mowing grass.
(2) "Buffer zone" means a portion of the disposal site that is controlled by the licensee or by the United States Department of Energy and that lies under the disposal units and between the disposal units and the boundary of the site.
(3) "Chelating agent" means amine polycarboxylic acids, hydroxy-carboxylic acids, gluconic acid, and polycarboxylic acids.
(4) "Commencement of construction" means any clearing of land, excavation, or other substantial action that would adversely affect the environment of a land disposal facility. The term does not mean disposal site exploration, necessary roads for disposal site exploration, borings to determine foundation conditions, or other preconstruction monitoring or testing to establish background information related to the suitability of the disposal site or the protection of environmental values.
(5) "Custodial agency" means an agency of the government designated to act on behalf of the government owner of the disposal site.
(6) "Disposal" means the isolation of wastes from the biosphere inhabited by man and his food chains by emplacement in a land disposal facility.
(7) "Disposal site" means that portion of a land disposal facility which is used for disposal of waste. It consists of disposal units and a buffer zone.
(8) "Disposal unit" means a discrete portion of the disposal site into which waste is placed for disposal. For near-surface disposal, the unit is usually a trench.
(9) "Engineered barrier" means a man-made structure or device that is intended to improve the land disposal facility's ability to meet the performance objectives in this chapter.
(10) "Explosive material" means any chemical compound, mixture, or device which produces a substantial instantaneous release of gas and heat spontaneously or by contact with sparks or flame.
(11) "Hazardous waste" means those wastes designated as hazardous by United States Environmental Protection Agency regulations in 40 CFR Part 261.
(12) "Hydrogeologic unit" means any soil or rock unit or zone which by virtue of its porosity or permeability, or lack thereof, has a distinct influence on the storage or movement of groundwater.
(13) "Inadvertent intruder" means a person who might occupy the disposal site after closure and engage in normal activities, such as agriculture, dwelling construction, or other pursuits in which an individual might be unknowingly exposed to radiation from the waste.
(14) "Intruder barrier" means a sufficient depth of cover over the waste that inhibits contact with waste and helps to ensure that radiation exposures to an inadvertent intruder will meet the performance objectives set forth in this chapter, or engineered structures that provide equivalent protection to the inadvertent intruder.
(15) "Land disposal facility" means the land, buildings, and equipment which are intended to be used for the disposal of wastes into the subsurface of the land. For purposes of this chapter, a land disposal facility does not include a geologic repository.
(16) "Monitoring" means observing and making measurements to provide data to evaluate the performance and characteristics of the disposal site.
(17) "Near-surface disposal facility" means a land disposal facility in which waste is disposed within approximately the upper thirty meters of the earth's surface.
(18) "Pyrophoric liquid" means any liquid that ignites spontaneously in dry or moist air at or below 130F (54.4C).
(19) "Pyrophoric solid" means any solid material, other than one classed as an explosive, which under normal conditions, is liable to cause fires through friction, retained heat from manufacturing or processing, or which can be ignited readily and, when ignited, burns so vigorously and persistently as to create a serious transportation, handling, or disposal hazard. Included are spontaneously combustible and water-reactive materials.
(20) "Site closure and stabilization" means those actions that are taken upon completion of operations that prepare the disposal site for custodial care and that assure that the disposal site will remain stable and will not need ongoing active maintenance.
(21) "Stability" means structural stability.
(22) "Surveillance" means monitoring and observation of the disposal site for purposes of visual detection of need for maintenance, custodial care, evidence of intrusion, and compliance with other license and regulatory requirements.
(23) "Waste" means those low-level radioactive wastes that are
acceptable for disposal in a land disposal facility. For the purposes
of this definition, low-level waste has the same meaning as in the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1985, Public Law 99-240,
that is, radioactive waste not classified as high-level radioactive
waste, spent nuclear fuel, or by-product material as defined in section
11 e.(2) of the Atomic Energy Act (uranium or thorium tailings and
waste).
[Statutory Authority: RCW 70.98.050 and 70.98.080. 91-16-109 (Order
187), 246-250-010, filed 8/7/91, effective 9/7/91. Statutory
Authority: RCW 43.70.040. 91-02-049 (Order 121), recodified as 246-250-010, filed 12/27/90, effective 1/31/91. Statutory Authority: RCW
70.98.080. 87-01-031 (Order 2450), 402-61-020, filed 12/11/86.]
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order 187, filed 8/7/91, effective 9/7/91)
WAC 246-250-050 Specific technical information. The specific technical information shall include the following information needed for demonstration that the performance objectives and the applicable technical requirements of this chapter will be met. The specific technical information shall be in the form of an environmental report which the department can use to independently evaluate the project under the provisions of the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA):
(1) A description of the natural and demographic disposal site characteristics as determined by disposal site selection and characterization activities. The description shall include geologic, geochemical, geotechnical, hydrologic, ecologic, archaeologic, meteorologic, climatologic, and biotic features of the disposal site and vicinity.
(2) A description of the design features of the land disposal facility and the disposal units. For near-surface disposal, the description shall include those design features related to infiltration of water; integrity of covers for disposal units; structural stability of backfill, wastes, and covers; contact of wastes with standing water; disposal site drainage; disposal site closure and stabilization; elimination to the extent practicable of long-term disposal site maintenance; inadvertent intrusion; occupational exposures; disposal site monitoring; and adequacy of the size of the buffer zone for monitoring and potential mitigative measures.
(3) A description of the principal design criteria and their relationship to the performance objectives.
(4) A description of the design basis natural events or phenomena and their relationship to the principal design criteria.
(5) A description of codes and standards which the applicant has applied to the design and which will apply to construction of the land disposal facilities.
(6) A description of the construction and operation of the land disposal facility. The description shall include as a minimum the methods of construction of disposal units; waste emplacement; the procedures for and areas of waste segregation; types of intruder barriers; onsite traffic and drainage systems; survey control program; methods and areas of waste storage; and methods to control surface water and groundwater access to the wastes. The description shall also include a description of the methods to be employed in the handling and disposal of wastes containing chelating agents or other nonradiological substances that might affect meeting the performance objectives of this chapter.
(7) A description of the disposal site closure plan, including those design features which are intended to facilitate disposal site closure and to eliminate the need for ongoing active maintenance.
(8) An identification of the known natural resources at the disposal site, whose exploitation could result in inadvertent intrusion into the wastes after removal of active institutional control.
(9) A description of the kind, amount, classification, and specifications of the radioactive material proposed to be received, possessed, and disposed of at the land disposal facility.
(10) A description of the quality ((control)) assurance program
tailored to low-level radioactive waste disposal, developed and applied
by the applicant for the determination of natural disposal site
characteristics and for quality ((control)) assurance during the design,
construction, operation, and closure of the land disposal facility and
the receipt, handling, and emplacement of waste. Audits and managerial
controls must be included.
(11) A description of the radiation safety program for control and monitoring of radioactive effluents to ensure compliance with the performance objective in WAC 246-250-170 and occupational radiation exposure to ensure compliance with the requirements of chapter 246-221 WAC and to control contamination of personnel, vehicles, equipment, buildings, and the disposal site. Both routine operations and accidents shall be addressed. The program description must include procedures, instrumentation, facilities, and equipment.
(12) A description of the environmental monitoring program to provide data to evaluate potential health and environmental impacts and the plan for taking corrective measures if migration is indicated.
(13) A description of the administrative procedures that the applicant will apply to control activities at the land disposal facility.
(14) A description of the facility electronic recordkeeping system.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 70.98.050 and 70.98.080. 91-16-109 (Order 187), 246-250-050, filed 8/7/91, effective 9/7/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.040. 91-02-049 (Order 121), recodified as 246-250-050, filed 12/27/90, effective 1/31/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.98.080. 87-01-031 (Order 2450), 402-61-060, filed 12/11/86.]