HODES AWARD – KENNEDY DISCUSSES LESSONS LEARNED IN LLW REGULATION
“The NRC Principles of Good Regulation – Independence, Openness, Clarity, Efficiency, and Reliability – define our culture at the NRC. The principles demand critical thinking, independence, engagement with others, listening, focus, communicating well and problem solving,” said Mr. James E. Kennedy, NRC Sr. Project Manager. “They make a difference not just for us at the NRC, but also for you – the generators and the public, who provide input to our work and often have to follow the rules we publish.”
Mr. Kennedy received the 2013 Richard S. Hodes, M.D. Honor Lecture Award yesterday in recognition of his extraordinary leadership and innovation in changing the focus of the NRC regulatory framework for the management of radioactive waste to an approach that is directly related to safety and is based on risk assessment and performance requirements. These changes to the NRC regulatory policy for waste management are expected to result in safer, more secure, transparent, and efficient NRC regulated management of waste in the United States.
“Jim is being recognized for his extraordinary leadership and innovative efforts at the NRC that have enhanced public safety and contributed to the efficient management of NRC regulated radioactive waste,” said Michael Mobley, Chairman of the Southeast Compact Commission, who presented the Award to Mr. Kennedy. “His contributions to the proposed Branch Technical Position on Concentration Averaging and Encapsulation, which allows for the increased disposal of sealed sources that pose a national security threat, and provides guidance for disposal of lowactivity waste, are especially noteworthy.”
Mr. Kennedy has held positions as a senior staff member and as a manager in the NRC LLRW program for over 20 years. In these roles, he has been the principal spokesperson for the LLRW program and the NRC on LLRW matters. In addition, the Southeast Compact Commission selected EnergySolutions, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors, and the U.S. Department of Energy Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) to receive an Honorable Mention in the 2013 Hodes Award program. This group of organizations is being recognized for their innovative, collaborative effort to develop a program for cost-effective disposal of certain sealed sources at the EnergySolutions disposal facility in Clive, Utah.
In addition, the Southeast Compact Commission has selected EnergySolutions, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ), the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD), and the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) to receive an Honorable Mention in the 2013 Hodes Award program. This group of organizations is being recognized for their innovative, collaborative effort to develop a program for cost-effective disposal of certain sealed sources at the EnergySolutions disposal facility in Clive, Utah.
Ms. Meaghan Jennison of the GTRI at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) presented a paper on the efforts of this group immediately after Mr. Kennedy’s distinguished lecture. The disposal program is a unique effort by federal, state, private, and nonprofit entities to improve LLRW management in the United States by protecting public health and safety, as well as national security.
The Southeast Compact Commission for Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management established the Richard S. Hodes, M.D. Honor Lecture Award to honor the memory of Dr. Richard S. Hodes, who served as Chair of the Southeast Compact Commission from its inception in 1983 until his death in 2002. Nominations for the 2014 Hodes Honor Lecture Award are now being accepted. The deadline for submittal of nominations is June 30, 2013. Details are on the Commission website at www.secompact.org or you may contact Ted Buckner at 919/380-7780 or tedb@secompact
ATTENTION ALL RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL LICENSEES – Financial Assistance is Available for Sealed Source Disposal
For a limited time only, radioactive material licensees in the Southeast Compact region may be able to obtain financial assistance for the disposal of sealed sources. The Commission urges all licensees to take action immediately to register their sealed sources with the Department of Energy (DOE).
“A once in a lifetime opportunity” is how Michael H. Mobley, Chairman of the Southeast Compact Commission, characterized a collaborative project developed by EnergySolutions, the State of Utah, the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD) and the DOE Global Threat Reduction Initiative. Under this project, EnergySolutions applied for, and has been granted, a variance to its license to allow certain Class A sealed sources to be disposed for a one-year period at its low-level radioactive disposal facility in Clive, Utah.
This presents a very special opportunity for waste generators throughout the nation to clear stored Class A sealed sources from their storage inventory, thus reducing risk to public health and reducing threats to national security.
Only Class A sealed sources recovered as part of a round-up coordinated by the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD) “Source Collection and Threat Reduction” (SCATR) Program are authorized for disposal under the variance. CRCPD is offering financial assistance equal to half the cost of disposal to generators who participate in the effort.
Only sealed sources that meet certain specified criteria will be considered for the program. See the linked document for the program criteria.  SCATR-Criteria.pdf
The sealed source must be registered with the Off Site Source Recovery Project (OSRP) before it can be accepted for disposal. For information about registering source(s), go to http://osrp.lanl.gov/PickUpSources.aspx. A list of the sealed sources registered with OSRP will be sent to a broker included in a list included in the SCATR criteria document. A broker will contact generators to schedule a date and time for collection of sealed sources.
If you have questions regarding the collection effort, please contact Russ Meyer at CRCPD (512-761-3822 or (rmeyer (at) crcpd (dot) org) rmeyer (at) crcpd (dot) org), Abigail Cuthbertson of DOE (202-586-2391 or abigail.cuthbertson@nnsa.doe.gov), or Meaghan Jennison of DOE (meaghan.jennison@nnsa.doe.gov).
LIAISONS PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICE
Many organizations in the United States share common interests with the Southeast Compact Commission, such as the safe management of radioactive waste and the protection of public health and the environment. The Commission endeavors to stay abreast of the activities of organizations sharing common goals and interests through the use of volunteer liaisons.
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GUIDES TO LLW MANAGEMENT NOW AVAILABLE
Southeast Compact Commission staff released a document on October 2, 2012, summarizing the services available to radioactive materials licensees in the Southeast Compact region for the storage, processing, and disposal of low-level radioactive waste and providing contact information for each facility. “A Guide to the Management of Low-Level Radioactive Waste in the Southeast Compact Region” is available. SECC_Guide_to_Manage.pdf
Another Commission document, “Access to Existing Disposal Facilities for Class A, B, and C LLRW,” has been updated to reflect changes that occurred in 2012. It provides a one-page summary of the existing disposal facilities in the United States, which facilities are accessible for Southeast Compact generators, and the conditions of access. StatusReport-Access_2012.pdf
A listing of brokers qualified to ship to the Texas Compact facility is also provided. Qualified_Radioactive_Material_Brokers.pdf
For more information, please contact Mr. Ted Buckner at 919.380.7780 or tedb@secompact.org.
DIRECTORY OF BROKERS AND PROCESSORS
The Southeast Compact Commission maintains an electronic National Directory of Brokers and Processors at www.bpdirectory.com for use by compacts, states, federal agencies, and users of radioactive materials. It provides information about companies that package, transport, process or otherwise manage radioactive material in preparation for ultimate disposal. Access to the site and listing in the directory are free of charge.
Attention Brokers and Processors
To get a free listing in the directory or additional information, go to www.bpdirectory.com or contact:
Linda Walters, Director of Special Projects
Southeast Compact Commission
1230 SE Maynard Road, Suite 103
Cary, NC 27511
Phone: 919/380-7780 (Office)
lwalters@secompact.org
SECC HELD GENERATOR WORKSHOP TO ASSIST IN ACCESS TO TX COMPACT DISPOSAL
The Southeast Compact Commission sponsored a workshop on March 20, 2012 in Orange Beach, Alabama to assist waste generators in understanding the steps necessary to obtain access to the Texas Compact Disposal Facility. The workshop was attended by generators from inside and outside the Southeast Compact states, as well as waste management vendors and Southeast Compact commissioners and staff.
Mr. Jeff Havlicak of Waste Control Specialists (WCS) presented a general overview of the facility and its waste acceptance criteria. He described the WCS quality assurance program and how to obtain a generator certification.
Mr. Sherrod Reavis of Waste Control Specialists provided an on-line demonstration of the ELITE Database and explained how a generator would obtain approval from the Texas Department of State Health Services to transport and also how to obtain waste shipment approval.
Mr. Havlicak explained that generators must negotiate with WCS for a contract and must obtain waste profile approval from WCS. He also discussed the process of applying to the Texas Compact Commission for import approval.
For more information and/or to request the materials distributed at the meeting, please contact Ms. Linda Walters at 919.380.7780 or (lwalters (at) secompact (dot) org) lwalters (at) secompact (dot) org.
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