Comment request on DSS Borehole Disposal Facilities

STC-21-XXX - 3 -

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ALL AGREEMENT STATES, CONNECTICUT, NON-AGREEMENT STATES AND

STATE LIAISON OFFICERS

OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW AND COMMENT ON INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY DRAFT SAFETY GUIDE DS512, “BOREHOLE DISPOSAL FACILITIES FOR RADIOACTIVE WASTE” (STC‑21‑XXX)

Purpose: To provide States with the opportunity to review and comment on the Draft Safety Guide DS512, “Borehole Disposal Facilities for Radioactive Waste”¹ by January XX, 2022 to the contact listed.

Background:  The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has made available the Draft Safety Guide DS512, “Borehole Disposal Facilities for Radioactive Waste” for Member State review and comment. Proposed changes from Member State review will be taken into account in the finalization of the safety standards. The objective of Draft Safety Guide DS512 is to provide recommendations and guidance on the development, operation, closure, institutional control and regulation of borehole disposal facilities for disused sealed radioactive sources that have been declared radioactive waste and small amounts of low level waste and intermediate level waste generated during the management of the disused sealed radioactive sources to fulfil the safety requirements contained in IAEA’s General Safety Requirements (GSR) Part 3, “Radiation Protection and Safety of Radiation Sources: International Basic Safety Standards”; GSR Part 5, “Predisposal Management of Radioactive Waste”; and Safety Standards Requirements No. 5 (SSR-5), “Disposal of Radioactive Waste.” The safety guide can also be used as a basis for reassessing and, where appropriate, upgrading the safety of existing borehole disposal facilities.

Discussion: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is coordinating the U.S. review of this safety guide.  Consolidated comments will be submitted to the IAEA by the NRC through established official channels.  Please provide your comments to Mathews George ([email protected]) by January XX, 2022.  The attached IAEA comment template is provided for your use.  Any comments provided should refer to the relevant paragraph number in the draft text being reviewed and should propose alternative text, as appropriate.

The review should focus on the following:

1. Are there any safety issues that may be inconsistent with States’ regulations or common practices? 

2. Relevance and usefulness of this document — Are the stated objectives appropriate, and are they met by the draft text? Do you have any suggestions to include in the document? 

3. Scope and completeness — Is the stated scope appropriate and is it adequately covered by the draft text? 

4. Quality and clarity — Does the guidance in the draft text represent the current consensus among specialists in the field, and is the guidance expressed clearly and coherently?

Comments of an editorial nature will be considered; however, it should be noted that the draft text will be comprehensively edited by the IAEA Secretariat.

Enclosed is: (1) communication from the IAEA concerning Draft Safety Guide DS512 and its review, including an “Explanatory Note” regarding this document; (2) Draft Safety Guide DS512, “Borehole Disposal Facilities for Radioactive Waste;” and (3) blank template for comment preparation.

If you have any questions regarding this communication, please contact the individual named below: 

 

POINT OF CONTACT: Mathews George E-MAIL: [email protected]

TELEPHONE: 301-415-XXXX

Brian C. Anderson, Branch Chief

State Agreement Liaison Programs

Division of Materials Safety, Security, State,

and Tribal Programs

Office of Nuclear Material Safety

and Safeguards

Enclosures:

1. Explanatory Note from IAEA

2. Draft Safety Guide DS512

3. IAEA Comment Template

cc: David Crowley, OAS

Angela Leek, CRCPD

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