Selecting a Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Site

RER-64

Audeen W. Fentiman
Jeffery A. Henkel
Joyce E. Meredith

The first step a state must take toward siting a disposal facility is to pass enabling legislation that establishes the siting process. The legislation also may include state siting criteria to supplement the federal site suitability requirements which every low-level radioactive waste disposal facility must meet. The siting process to be used in Ohio had not yet been determined when this fact sheet was published. However, the general 4-step process for siting a low-level waste disposal facility is 1) determine siting criteria, 2) apply the criteria to the state to identify a few candidate sites, 3) study and characterize one or more candidate sites, and 4) select a final site.

This fact sheet summarizes the federal site suitability requirements, outlines a general siting process, and discusses Ohio's initial steps toward siting a low-level radioactive waste disposal facility.

Requirements for Land Disposal of Low-Level Radioactive Waste

Federal requirements for land disposal of low-level radioactive waste specify the minimum characteristics a disposal site must have to be acceptable for a disposal facility. The requirements emphasize site features that enhance isolation of wastes and ensure that long-term performance objectives will be met. The long-term performance objectives are:

• protection of the general population from releases of radioactivity,
• protection of individuals from inadvertent intrusion,
• protection of individuals during operations, and
• stability of the disposal site after closure.

The requirements address, among other things, regional population growth, hydrogeology, geology, and ease of characterization and monitoring. The federal regulations that govern the requirements for land disposal of low-level radioactive waste may be found in Title 10, Part 61, Section 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR 61.50) and are summarized in Table 1.

Selecting a Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility Site

The process of siting a low-level radioactive waste disposal facility begins with the state legislature, which must pass enabling legislation that establishes the siting process for the state. The legislation may also specify state siting criteria that may restate or supplement federal requirements.

Once the siting criteria are established by the state legislature, a designated state agency or contractor may use the criteria to evaluate the state for potential sites. The number of potential sites is gradually reduced as more detailed criteria are applied. A few candidate sites are then selected for further study and one or more are characterized to determine if they are capable of meeting the disposal site suitability requirements specified in federal regulations.

The screening process described above involves scientific analysis of each site. After site characterization and a determination that one or more sites are capable of hosting a low-level radioactive waste disposal facility, the final site selection can be made.

Siting in Ohio - Where Do We Stand?

At the request of the Ohio General Assembly, on October 30, 1992, Governor George Voinovich appointed a Blue Ribbon Commission to develop recommendations on siting criteria for a low-level radioactive waste disposal facility in Ohio. The Blue Ribbon Commission is composed of experts in geology, biology, health, and engineering, as well as an interested citizen and a representative of a low-level radioactive waste generator.

The Commission has sought input at twelve public hearings held throughout Ohio and has heard presentations from experts, advocates, and opponents at a number of additional meetings. The Commission is scheduled to present its recommendations to Governor Voinovich and the General Assembly in 1993. Enabling legislation that will address siting criteria for a low-level radioactive waste disposal facility in Ohio is expected to be introduced in 1993.

Table 1. Summary of Disposal Site Suitability Requirements for Land Disposal from 10CFR61.50

• The disposal site shall be capable of being characterized, modeled, analyzed, and monitored.
• Within the region or state where the facility is to be located, a disposal site should be selected so that projected population growth and future developments are not likely to affect the ability of the disposal facility to meet the performance objectives.
• Areas must be avoided having known natural resources which, if exploited, would result in failure to meet the performance objectives.
• The disposal site must be generally well drained and free of areas of flooding or frequent ponding. Waste disposal shall not take place in a 100-year flood plain, coastal high-hazard area or wetland.
• Upstream drainage areas must be minimized to decrease the amount of runoff which could erode or inundate waste disposal units.
• The disposal site must provide sufficient depth to the water table that ground water intrusion, perennial or otherwise, into the waste will not occur. In no case will waste be permitted in the zone of fluctuation of the water table.
• The hydrogeologic unit used for disposal shall not discharge ground water to the surface within the disposal site.
• Areas must be avoided where tectonic processes such as faulting, folding, seismic activity, or volcanism may occur with such frequency and extent to significantly affect the ability of the disposal site to meet the performance objectives, or may preclude defensible modeling and prediction of long-term impacts.
• Areas must be avoided where surface geologic processes such as mass wasting, erosion, slumping, landsliding, or weathering occur with such frequency and extent to significantly affect the ability of the disposal site to meet the performance objectives, or may preclude defensible modeling and prediction of long-term impacts.
• The disposal site must not be located where nearby facilities or activities could adversely impact the ability of the site to meet the performance objectives, or significantly mask the environmental monitoring program.

For More Information

If you want to read more about selecting a site for a low-level radioactive waste disposal facility, some of the references and the fact sheet listed below may be helpful.

Code of Federal Regulations, Title 10, Part 61, 1992.

Site selection in Ohio will be addressed in both the report from the Blue Ribbon Commission and enabling legislation, which should be available in 1993.

Other fact sheet:

RER-43 What are the low-level radioactive waste disposal facility licensing requirements?

Author Notes:

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.