Why FA?
Federal law makes each state respon
sible for disposal of low-level waste
generated within its borders. The law
provides a key incentive for develop
ment of regional facilities: states that
join compacts can ban out-of-compact
waste.
LOW-UVH WASH GfNEUTKMHOTAUCHUN
STATtS COMPACT
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15.1%
'Wist Virginia
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Source: EG&G MIMS Database
Pennsylvania joined with the states of
Delaware, Maryland, and West Vir
ginia to form the Appalachian States
Compact. Between 1987 and 1992, an
annual average of 169,952 cubic feet
of low-level radioactive waste was
generated in die Appalachian Com
pact states. Tbc percentage generated by
each state in the compact is shown in the
map above. Pennsylvania is by far die
largest generator in the compact. For this
reason, Pcnnsylvaniais the first host state
in the compact and it has die lead rede in
providing for safe management and dis
posal of low-level waste generated in the
four states in die compact.
There are two existing disposal facilities
for commercial low-level radioactive
waste in the country. The facility oper
ated by U.S. Ecology in Hanford,
Washington, is no longer available to
generators in the Appalachian Compact
Chcm-Nuclear’s facility in Barnwell,
South Carolina, currently accepts waste
from the Appalachian Compact region
under an access agreement This agree
ment cxpircson June 30, 1994, and is not
expected to be extended. Because
Pennsylvania’s facility will not foe in
operation untfl mid-1999,generatois will
have to store their wastes for approxi
mately five ycarc.
Facte About RadbactMtyand Radbnudidee
An atom that emits radioactivity is called a radionuclide The unit of measure for radioactivity is the curie, which is
a measure of the intensity of radioactivity emitted from a radionuclide.
Over time, radionuclides lose their radioactivity through the process of radioactive decay. A half-life is the time it takes
a radionuclide to lose half its radioactivity. The half-lives of radionuclides range from fractions of a second to millions
of years, but the half-life of each radionuclide is precisely known. Most of the low-level wastes disposed at
Pennsylvania's facility will contain radionuclides with half-lives of less than 30 years.
The level of nsk associated with low-level waste depends on the types, concentrations, toxicity, and half-lives of the
radionuclides the waste contains. All these variables form the basis of the low-level waste classification system, which
determines the type and level of safeguards required.
lirylond.
O.H
Pennsylvania’s Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management and Disposal Regulations (25 PA Code Chapter 236) contain the most
stringent requirements in the country and reflect citizen priorities for safety, monitoring, and fairness.
Safe disposal of low-level waste requires isolating it from the environment. Over time, radioactive decay will eliminate the radioac
tive hazards (see box, below right). To achieve the goal of long-term isolation, a combination of natural and man-made safeguards is
required, as described below.
SITING - WHAT MAKES A SITE SAFE?
The natural features of the site must work with the disposal facility to isolate low-level waste from the environment. Pennsylvania’s
regulations contain technical requirements to select a suitable site. For example, a suitable site must not be located in floodplains, near
water supplies, or in poorly drained areas. The site must not be susceptible to landslides or severe erosion and must not have extreme
slopes. Natural resources such as national and state parks, historic sites, oil and gas wells, and special agricultural lands must
also be avoided. DER oversees the applicant’s (Chem-Nuclear’s) siting activities.
Identifying a suitable site for low-level waste disposal will occur in two steps. During the first step, the applicant will analyze the
entire state and recommend three sites for Environmental Quality Board approval for further detailed studies.
In order to grant approval for further studies, the Environmental Quality Board must determine that the three sites meet the regulations
The Board also must review the record and determine that the siting process identified three of the best sites The record consists of
the applicant’s information, public comments, public hearing testimony, and DER comments and recommendations.
The second siting step begins when the Environmental Quality Board approves the three sites for further studies. The applicant will
conduct site characterization studies. These studies are expected to take a year or longer. Especially important is the collection ot
information that may vary with the seasons such as weather and groundwater levels. From the three sites, the applicant will select
one site as the preferred location.
The applicant’s preferred site will be identified in its license application submitted to DER. The license application will undergo
stringent technical evaluation and broad public review before a licensing decision is made. DER’s approval of the license application
will indicate that the site meets the stringent technical requirements and can isolate the waste from the environment.
DESIGNED FOR SAFETY
Pennsylvania regulations require that an abovegrade disposal facility be designed and built to keep low-level wastes isolated from
people and the environment for 500 years.
The design must work with the natural features of the site. It must handle the amounts and types of low-level waste that will be
disposed over a 30-year operating period. As described on pages 5 and 6, the applicant’s proposed design relies on layers of
reinforced concrete and an engineered earthen cover to isolate the waste. Monitoring systems are required to verify acceptable
operation. The design will allow waste to be recovered in the event a problem is discovered.
DER will review the final design during the license application review process.
If the license is issued, construction of the facility will take approximately one
year. DER inspectors will oversee facility construction.
“This is the most open to the public program I have seen
during my 48 years in state environmental affairs. ”
- Oliver Smith, Former Chair, DER Low-Level Waste
Advisory Committee
Safe Managem
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