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Independent regulatory commissions

Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Plan to Deregulate Radioactive Waste Disposal Sparks Concern

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is finalizing a plan to deregulate the disposal of radioactive waste, which would allow commercial nuclear reactors to dump virtually all their radioactive waste, except spent fuel, in local garbage landfills. This move has been met with concern by environmental groups, who argue that it would create a significant risk to public health and safety. The plan would exempt unlicensed waste handlers from meeting safety standards and subject to NRC inspection and enforcement.

Key Takeaways:

  • The NRC's plan would allow commercial nuclear reactors to dump radioactive waste in local garbage landfills, which are designed for household trash not rad-waste.
  • The plan would grant generic exemptions for unlicensed waste handlers, who would not be required to meet safety standards or be subject to NRC inspection and enforcement.
  • The NRC's definition of "very low-level radioactive wastes" is undefined by statute and would allow public exposure to the equivalent of more than 900 chest X-rays over a lifetime.
  • The plan would eliminate the need for radiation monitoring, health physics personnel, design standards, and NRC inspections, which are currently required of licensed operators.
  • Unlicensed radioactive waste dumps could operate free from any NRC oversight, posing a risk to communities and workers.
  • The plan would transform many municipal dumps into radioactive repositories, with no safeguards for workers, nearby residents, or adjoining water tables.
  • It would allow unlicensed radioactive waste dumps to expose the public to 2.5 times higher levels of radiation than the NRC now allows for licensed low-level radioactive waste sites.
  • The public's ability to find out radioactive waste is being dumped near them would be eliminated.
  • The plan would make it nearly impossible to trace recycled radioactive waste flowing through the stream of American commerce.
  • It may create a market for the U.S. to import radioactive waste for cheaper disposal.

Statistics:

  • There are currently 104 commercial nuclear power plants in the U.S., many of which are beginning or will soon start the decommissioning process.
  • The NRC's plan would allow for the disposal of virtually all radioactive waste, except spent fuel, in local garbage landfills.
  • The NRC's definition of "very low-level radioactive wastes" would allow for public exposure to the equivalent of more than 900 chest X-rays over a lifetime.
  • The plan would expose the public to 2.5 times higher levels of radiation than the NRC now allows for licensed low-level radioactive waste sites.

Sources:

  • Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER)
  • National Archives for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's "interpretative rulemaking"
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

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