Potential impacts of pending residual radioactivity rules

The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of pending rules governing residual radioactive release criteria and radioactive waste management, and the potential impact of these rules on the Fernald Scrap Metal program. More than 300,000 cubic meters of radioactively contaminated waste will be generated during the dismantlement of three complexes at the Fernald Site over the next year and a half. Under current regulations, as much as 70% (5,000 tons) of steel will be either recycled or re-used in controlled applications. Depending on regulatory developments, the ratios of recycling to burial will range from 100% burial to recycling more than 90% of the waste. The absence of federal rules and regulations for classification of permissible levels of residual radioactivity is one of the most troublesome issues in the nuclear industry. The issue is growing in importance with the approaching end of useful life for many nuclear power generating stations and the planned remediation of the DOE nuclear weapons complex. Federal regulators have been involved in the {open_quotes}Enhanced rulemaking{close_quotes} process for over two years. The DOE Fernald site offers a good opportunity for understanding the potential impacts of the pending residual radioactivity regulations due to the maturity of the planned D&D activities, aggressive recycling program, and simple nature of contamination. The Fernald experience may offer a point of departure for many facilities engaged in D&D and waste management