§ 236.2. Definitions.
The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
AccountThe Long Term Care Account.
ActThe Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Act (35 P. S. § § 7130.1017130.905).
Active faultA fault along which there is recurrent movement that is demonstrated by measurable periodic displacements or seismic activity.
Active institutional control periodSee the definition of time periods.
Active maintenanceSignificant activity needed during the long term care period to maintain reasonable assurance that the performance objectives in this subchapter are met. The term includes major remedial actions such as replacement of disposal unit covers. The term does not include custodial activities, such as repair of fencing, repair or replacement of monitoring equipment, revegetation, minor repair of disposal unit covers and general disposal site upkeep such as mowing grass.
Affected municipalityA unit of local government other than the host municipality designated as an affected municipality under section 318 of the act (35 P. S. § 7130.318). The term may include a county, city, borough, township or school district.
BrokerAn intermediate person who collects, consolidates, handles, treats, processes, stores, packages, ships or otherwise has responsibility for or possesses low-level radioactive waste.
Buffer zoneA portion of the disposal site that is controlled by the licensee and that lies under the disposal units and between the disposal units and the boundary of the site.
Capable faultA fault which exhibited movement at or near the ground surface within the past 35,000 years.
CarrierA person who transports low-level radioactive waste from or to a generator or waste management facility or to the regional disposal facility.
Chelating agentAn organic chemical that bonds with a central metal atom or ion at two or more points such as amine polycarboxylic acids, hydroxycarboxylic acids, gluconic acids and polycarboxylic acids.
Commencement of constructionClearing of land, excavation or other substantial action that would adversely affect the environment of the disposal facility. The term does not include disposal site exploration, necessary roads for disposal site exploration, borings to determine foundation conditions or other preconstruction monitoring or testing to establish background information related to the suitability of the disposal site or the protection of environmental values.
CommissionThe Appalachian States Low-Level Radioactive Waste Commission.
CompactThe Compact entered into by the Commonwealth under the terms of the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C.A. § § 2021b2021j) and as contained in the act of December 22, 1985 (P. L. 539, No. 120), known as the Appalachian State Low-Level Radioactive Waste Compact Law (35 P. S. § § 7125.17125.4).
Compact statesThe combined states, including the Commonwealth, which have entered into the Compact.
ContainerThe first enclosure which encompasses the radioactive waste.
ContainmentThe function of isolating radioactive waste from the biosphere by emplacement of the waste within a container, waste module or disposal unit.
Custodial agencyAn agency of the government designated by the Governor to act on behalf of the government owner of the disposal site. The agency is responsible for the long term monitoring and care of the disposal site. The term does not include the Department.
DisposalThe isolation of low-level radioactive wastes from the biosphere.
Disposal facilityThe buildings, equipment and other engineered features, including disposal units and temporary holding facilities, within the disposal site which are used for the disposal of low-level radioactive waste.
Disposal siteThe property, including improvements thereon, which is used for disposal of low-level radioactive waste. The term consists of the disposal units and the buffer zone.
Disposal UnitA discrete portion of the disposal site into which waste is placed for disposal.
Disqualifying criteriaConditions which would eliminate an area from further consideration for disposal.
Engineered barrierA manmade structure or device that is intended to improve the disposal facilitys ability to meet the performance objectives in this chapter.
Engineered coverA manmade structure constructed over the disposal facility.
Engineered structureA manmade state-of-the-art barrier designed to:(i) Provide additional measures for containment of radioactive waste from the environment.
(ii) Provide protection for an inadvertent intruder.
(iii) Provide stability of the disposal facility.
(iv) Prevent radioactive release.
Enhanced containmentAdditional isolation of the radioactive waste from the environment as provided by engineered structures.
Explosive materialA chemical compound, mixture or device which produces a substantial instantaneous release of gas and heat spontaneously or by contact with sparks or flame.
FundThe Low-Level Waste Fund.
GenerateTo produce low-level radioactive waste requiring disposal.
GeneratorA person whose activity results in the production of low-level radioactive waste requiring disposal.
GroundwaterThe part of the subsurface water that is in the zone of saturation, perennial or otherwise.
Hazardous lifeThe time required for radioactive materials to decay to safe levels of radioactivity, as defined by the time period for the concentration of radioactive materials within a given container or package to decay to maximum permissible concentrations as defined by Federal law or by standards to be set by the host state, whichever is more restrictive.
Hazardous wastesWastes as defined in section 103 of the Solid Waste Management Act (35 P. S. § 6018.103) and regulations thereunder.
Host municipalityA city, borough, incorporated town or township, excluding a county, in which the low-level waste disposal facility will be constructed, as designated by the Department under section 318 of the act (35 P. S. § 7130.318).
Inadvertent intruderA person who might occupy the disposal site after closure and engage in normal activities, such as agriculture, dwelling construction or other pursuits in which an individual might be unknowingly exposed to radiation from the waste.
Intruder barrierA manmade structure or sufficient depth of cover over the waste that inhibits contact with waste and helps to ensure that radiation exposures to an inadvertent intruder will meet the requirements under § 236.320 (relating to protection from inadvertent intruders) and the performance objectives in this subchapter.
IsolationProtection of the public and the environment from inadvertent intrusion or direct release of radioactive material from the disposal site.
Leak resistanceThe material properties of the disposal facility design which retard or prevent migration of water.
Long term care periodSee the definition of time periods.
Low-level radioactive wasteRadioactive waste that meets one of the following criteria:(i) Is not high-level radioactive waste, spent nuclear fuel or by-product material as defined in section 11(e)(2) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C.A. § 2014(e)(2)), waste generated as a result of atomic energy defense activities of the Federal government and waste for which the Federal government is responsible under section 3(b)(1) of the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1985 (42 U.S.C.A. § 2021c(b)(1)).
(ii) Is classified by the Federal government as low-level waste, consistent with the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1985 or waste that contains naturally occurring or accelerator produced radioactive material which is not excluded by subparagraph (i).
ManagementThe reduction, collection, consolidation, storage, processing, incineration, separation, minimization, compaction, segregation, solidification, evaporation, packaging or treatment of low-level radioactive waste.
Mixed wasteWaste that is low-level radioactive waste, as defined in this subchapter, and either contains a hazardous waste or exhibits a hazardous characteristic as contained in the Solid Waste Management Act (35 P. S. § § 6018.1016018.1003).
MonitoringObserving and making measurements to provide data to evaluate the performance and characteristics of the disposal site.
MunicipalityA county, city, borough, home rule or incorporated town or township as defined in 1 Pa.C.S. § 1991 (relating to definitions).
Passive institutional control periodSee the definition of time periods.
PersonIncludes the following:(i) The definition contained in § 215.2 (relating to definitions).
(ii) An individual, corporation, partnership, association, public or private institution, cooperative enterprise, municipal authority, public utility, trust, estate, group, Federal government or agency, other than the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission or a successor thereto, State institution and agency or other legal entity which is recognized by law as the subject of rights and duties. The term includes officers and directors of a corporation or other legal entity having officers and directors.
Postclosure observation and maintenance periodSee the definition of time periods.
Potentially suitable siteAn area containing approximately 500 acres, for the disposal site, that meets the screening requirements in Subchapter B (relating to requirements for siting the regional disposal facility) and would reasonably be expected to meet the performance objectives in this subchapter and site suitability requirements in Subchapter B.
Protection fundThe Regional Facility Protection Fund.
Public water systemA water system which provides water to the public for human consumption and which has at least 15 service connections or regularly services an average of at least 25 individuals daily, at least 60 days out of the year.
Pyrophoric materialaterial that ignites spontaneously. The term includes any liquid that ignites spontaneously in dry or moist air at or below 130° F (54.5°C), or a solid, other than one classed as an explosive, which under normal conditions is liable to cause fires through friction, retained heat from manufacturing or processing, or which can be ignited readily and when ignited burns so vigorously and persistently as to create a serious transportation, handling or disposal hazard. The term also includes spontaneously combustible and water reactive materials.
Shallow land burialThe disposal of low-level radioactive waste directly in subsurface trenches without additional confinement in engineered structures and in proper packaging as determined in the act.
Site closure and stabilizationActions that are taken upon completion of operations that prepare the disposal site for custodial care and that assure that the disposal site will remain stable and will not need ongoing active maintenance.
StabilityStructural stability.
Surveillanceonitoring and observation of the disposal site for purposes of visual detection of need for maintenance, custodial care, evidence of intrusion and compliance with other license, permit and regulatory requirements.
Time periodsSpecific periods of time associated with the life of the disposal facility. The term includes the following time periods presented in chronological order:
(i) Postclosure observation and maintenance periodThe period of time following site closure during which the site operator is preparing the site for transfer to the custodial agency.
(ii) Long term care periodThe period of time which includes both the active and passive institutional control periods.
(iii) Active institutional control periodThe period of time following site closure and the postclosure observation and maintenance period during which active access control, surveillance, monitoring and custodial care is maintained. This period will last for a minimum of 100 years.
(iv) Passive institutional control periodThe period of time after the active institutional control period during which monitoring and passive access control of the facility is maintained. This period will be at least as long as the hazardous life of the radioactive waste.
WasteLow-level radioactive waste.
Waste moduleA discrete assembly of waste containers within a disposal unit.
Cross References This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 236.1 (relating to purpose and scope); 25 Pa. Code § 236.311 (relating to general requirements); and 25 Pa. Code § 237.2 (relating to definitions).
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