Radioactive Waste Disposal Responsibility (chart not proportional)
Audeen W. Fentiman
Jeffery A. Henkel
Joyce E. Meredith
The Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act of 1980, amended in 1985, states what materials can or cannot be disposed of in a commercial low-level radioactive waste disposal facility. Low-level wastes that can be disposed of in a commercial low-level waste disposal facility are generated by utilities, industries, hospitals, research institutions, and some government facilities. There is, however, a limit on the concentration of radioactive material allowed in the wastes disposed of in a commercial low-level waste disposal facility. If the concentration of radioactive material in the waste exceeds the limit, the waste cannot be placed in the low-level waste disposal facility. It must be handled by the federal government. Low-level waste generated by the U.S. Department of Energy or as a result of nuclear weapons production or the decommissioning of U.S. Navy vessels is the responsibility of the federal government and cannot be disposed of in a commercial low-level radioactive waste facility.
Additionally, materials to be disposed of in a commercial low-level radioactive waste disposal facility must meet the packaging and safety requirements described in the Code of Federal Regulations. The materials must also meet the waste acceptance criteria established by the commercial low-level radioactive waste disposal facility, which may be even more stringent than the federal regulations.
This fact sheet describes the origin and nature of materials that can and cannot be placed in a commercial low-level waste disposal facility.
Nuclear power plants (utilities) generate three types of low-level radioactive waste: (1) process waste, (2) dry active waste, and (3) activated metals. Process wastes include liquid waste, filters, and resins from the process of purifying water in the reactor cooling system. All liquid process wastes are solidified before disposal, and filters are dewatered or solidified. Dry active waste may include lab coats, contaminated soil, contaminated tools and equipment, glass, concrete, miscellaneous metal and wood, paper, plastic, and rubber. Activated metals are non-fuel reactor components such as control rods, control rod channels, in-core instrumentation, and instrument wiring. The concentration of radioactive material in activated metals may exceed the limits for waste allowed in a low-level waste disposal facility. If the concentration is too high, disposal of the activated metals becomes the responsibility of the federal government.
Low-level radioactive wastes generated by industry consist primarily of dry active waste such as lab coats, packaging materials, cleaning cloths, and sealed sources (small amounts of radioactive material sealed in sturdy, airtight containers). Wastes from hospitals and research institutions include liquids used in chemical analyses, biological wastes, and contaminated syringes, as well as lab coats, plastic gloves, and paper. Wastes from government operated hospitals, research institutions, and other facilities are similar to wastes generated by the private sector. All of these wastes can be put in a commercial low-level waste disposal facility if they do not exceed the concentration limits.
The Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1985 states that the disposal of any low-level radioactive waste with concentrations that exceed the limits established for Class A, B, and C waste cannot be disposed of in a commercial low-level waste disposal facility. This waste is categorized as Greater Than Class C and is the responsibility of the federal government. (Class A, B, and C wastes are defined in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 10, Part 61, Section 55.)
High-level radioactive waste, spent fuel from nuclear power plants, transuranic waste, and residues from uranium milling cannot be placed in a low-level waste disposal facility. These wastes also are the responsibility of the federal government.
Mixed waste is a mixture of radioactive material and other types of hazardous wastes such as chemicals that are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. Mixed waste may legally be disposed of in a commercial low-level radioactive waste disposal facility, but it must be kept separate from Class A, B, or C waste.. Most host states do not intend to accept this waste for two reasons. First, the volume of mixed waste is too small to justify the cost of building a special section of the disposal facility to confine the mixed waste. Second, both the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency are responsible for regulating mixed waste, and the two agencies have not agreed on final criteria for design and siting of a mixed waste disposal facility. For now, generators are being encouraged to keep radioactive and hazardous materials separate when possible.
Radioactive Waste Disposal Responsibility
(chart not proportional)
The following types of low-level radioactive waste are the responsibility of the federal government and cannot be placed in a commercial low-level waste disposal facility:
If you want to read more about materials that can or cannot be placed in a commercial low-level radioactive waste disposal facility, some of the references and other fact sheets listed below may be helpful.
Code of Federal Regulations, Title 10, Part 61, "Licensing Requirements for Land Disposal of Radioactive Waste", 1992.
Public Law 99-240, "Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act", 1985.
RER-10 What is low-level radioactive waste?
RER-12 Who creates low-level radioactive waste, and what are they doing with it?
Dr. Audeen W. Fentiman is an Assistant Professor in Nuclear Engineering at The Ohio State University. Jeffery A. Henkel is a Graduate Research Associate in Nuclear Engineering. Joyce E. Meredith is a Graduate Research Associate, Ohio State University Extension.
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Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Keith L. Smith, Director, Ohio State University Extension.
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