Subchapter D. DESIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
REGIONAL DISPOSAL FACILITY
GENERAL Sec.
236.301. Scope and purpose.
DESIGN CRITERIA
236.311. General requirements.
236.312. Compatibility with site.
236.313. Acceptance of diverse waste streams.
236.314. Enhanced containment.
236.315. Recoverability.
236.316. Passive isolation.
236.317. Minimization of water intrusion during operations.
236.318. Water management.
236.319. Disposal facility cover system.
236.320. Protection from inadvertent intruders.
236.321. Protection of workers.
236.322. Long term stability of disposal units.
236.323. Disruptive external events.
236.324. Disposal unit monitoring.
236.325. Material performance monitoring.
236.326. Remedial measures.
236.327. Class C waste.
236.328. Mixed waste.
236.329. Nonradiological hazards.
236.330. Performance assessment.
Cross References This subchapter cited in 25 Pa. Code § 236.225 (relating to requirements for issuance of a license).
GENERAL
§ 236.301. Scope and purpose.
(a) This subchapter implements section 305 of the act (35 P. S. § 7130.305). The requirements of this subchapter specify the design criteria for an above-grade low-level radioactive waste disposal facility.
(b) The selected disposal technology shall meet the design criteria that are established in this subchapter and as a goal, be designed and constructed for zero release of radioactive material. The design requirements for addressing containment of waste and the goal of zero release are specified in § 236.314 (relating to enhanced containment). Furthermore, the site in which the disposal facility is to be located shall independently comply with Subchapter B (relating to requirements for siting the regional disposal facility). Consequently, the design criteria have been established to require the applicant to demonstrate that the disposal technology can complement and augment the site’s ability to meet the performance objectives of Subchapter A (relating to general provisions).
DESIGN CRITERIA
§ 236.311. General requirements.
(a) Shallow land burial, as defined in § 236.2 (relating to definitions) is prohibited.
(b) Waste emplaced in the disposal facility shall be above the natural grade of the land which shall be known as above-grade disposal. An above-grade disposal facility shall be used unless the applicant can demonstrate that other designs provide significant improvement for recoverability, monitoring and protection of public health and the environment.
(c) The design and construction methods may not adversely affect the ability of the disposal facility to meet the performance objectives of Subchapter A (relating to general provisions).
§ 236.312. Compatibility with site.
(a) The disposal facility shall be compatible with the natural characteristics of the site, as identified in Subchapter B (relating to requirements for siting the regional disposal facility).
(b) The disposal facility shall complement and augment the natural disposal site’s ability to assure that the performance objectives of Subchapter A (relating to general provisions) are met.
§ 236.313. Acceptance of diverse waste streams.
(a) The disposal facility shall be capable of accepting low-level radioactive waste generated within the Appalachian Compact region that is classified as a state responsibility under the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1985 (42 U.S.C.A. § § 2021b—2021j).
(b) The disposal facility shall have sufficient capacity to accommodate at least a 30-year useful facility life, as required by the Appalachian State Low-Level Radioactive Waste Compact. Design consideration for disposal capacity shall be based on reasonable waste projections and be capable of accommodating unanticipated changes in waste streams or volumes.
2(c) The disposal facility shall be capable of accommodating low-level waste streams with different physical and chemical properties.
§ 236.314. Enhanced containment.
(a) The disposal facility shall include engineered structures. The engineered structures shall provide additional measures for isolation of waste from the environment. For the purpose of this section, the container by itself cannot satisfy requirements for enhanced containment.
(b) At a minimum, the engineered structures shall provide:
(1) Leak resistance for a minimum of 100 years, following the postclosure observation and maintenance period.
(2) Structural stability to the disposal units. Design goals for the material integrity and stability of the engineered structure shall be commensurate with the time periods specified in subsection (d).
(c) The disposal facility shall independently comply with performance objectives in § § 236.13 and 236.16 (relating to protection of the general population and environment from releases of radioactivity; and stability of the disposal site) without consideration of natural site features, through the active institutional control period.
(d) The design goal for the disposal facility to provide containment of the different classes of waste shall be for the following minimum time periods:
(1) Class A radioactive waste—100 years.
(2) Class B radioactive waste—300 years.
(3) Class C radioactive waste—500 years.
(4) Mixed waste—500 years.
Cross References This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 236.301 (relating to scope and purpose); 25 Pa. Code § 236.324 (relating to disposal unit monitoring); and 25 Pa. Code § 236.502 (relating to classes of waste).
§ 236.315. Recoverability.
(a) The disposal facility design shall allow for recovery of the waste. This section may not compromise or otherwise lessen the ability of the disposal facility to meet the performance objectives of Subchapter A (relating to general provisions) and the stability requirements of § 236.322 (relating to long term stability of disposal units).
(b) Determinations for recovery of the waste shall be based on the analysis of information collected under § § 236.324, 236.325 and 236.410 (relating to disposal unit monitoring; material performance monitoring; and environmental monitoring).
Cross References This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 236.327 (relating to class C waste); and 25 Pa. Code § 236.328 (relating to mixed waste).
§ 236.316. Passive isolation.
The disposal facility shall be designed for long term isolation and avoidance of the need for remedial action after site closure.
§ 236.317. Minimization of water intrusion during operations.
(a) The design goal for the disposal facility shall be to prevent the contact of waste and waste containers with water prior to and during disposal.
(b) The disposal facility design shall preclude the contact of waste containers with standing water during emplacement into the disposal units.
§ 236.318. Water management.
(a) The design goal for the disposal facility shall be to prevent infiltration of water and eliminate the accumulation of standing water in the disposal units following waste disposal.
(b) The disposal facility shall be designed to direct surface water drainage away from disposal units at velocities and gradients which would not result in erosion that would require ongoing active maintenance.
§ 236.319. Disposal facility cover system.
The disposal units shall include an engineered cover. The design goal for the cover shall be to prevent water infiltration. The cover shall be designed to:
(1) Provide long term stability without the need for active maintenance. The engineered cover shall perform through the long term care period.
(2) Direct surface runoff away from the disposal unit.
(3) Minimize erosion, differential settlement, ponding, piping, mass wasting and slumping.
§ 236.320. Protection from inadvertent intruders.
(a) The disposal facility shall include intruder barriers for Class B, Class C and mixed wastes. At a minimum, these disposal units shall include an intruder barrier that is an engineered structure, designed to resist inadvertent intrusion for:
(1) Class B waste—300 years.
(2) Class C waste—500 years.
(3) Mixed waste—500 years.
(b) If more than one class of waste is disposed of in the same unit, the more stringent intruder requirement shall be met.
(c) The disposal facility design shall, to the extent practicable, limit radiation exposures to the inadvertent intruder to an annual whole body dose equivalent of 25 millirems.
Cross References This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 236.2 (relating to definitions); and 25 Pa. Code § 236.502 (relating to classes of waste).
§ 236.321. Protection of workers.
The disposal facility design shall incorporate systems and features which shall maintain exposures to workers which are as low as reasonably achievable.
§ 236.322. Long term stability of disposal units.
(a) The disposal facility shall be designed to provide long term stability to the engineered structures of the disposal units.
(b) At a minimum, the stability requirements for the engineered structures for the different classes of waste shall be:
(1) Class A radioactive waste—100 years.
(2) Class B radioactive waste—300 years.
(3) Class C radioactive waste—500 years.
(4) Mixed waste—500 years.
(c) If more than one class of waste is disposed of in the same disposal unit, the more stringent stability requirement shall be met.
(d) Waste containers or modules shall be emplaced in the disposal unit in a manner that maintains physical integrity.
(e) Waste containers or modules shall be designed and emplaced in the disposal unit in a manner that minimizes void space.
Cross References This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 236.315 (relating to recoverability); and 25 Pa. Code § 236.502 (relating to classes of waste).
§ 236.323. Disruptive external events.
The disposal facility shall be designed to maintain its structural integrity and provide waste containment capability during an external, disruptive, natural or manmade event which may occur in the area.
§ 236.324. Disposal unit monitoring.
(a) The disposal facility design shall include provisions for a continuous monitoring program. The program shall commence upon placement of the waste into the disposal units and continue through the long term care period.
(b) The disposal unit monitoring system that is used to support the continuous monitoring program shall be capable of detecting and identifying the location, within each disposal unit, of leached radioactive materials. The disposal unit monitoring system shall be designed to be compatible with design provisions for waste recovery in § 236.314 (relating to enhanced containment).
Cross References This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 236.315 (relating to recoverability); 25 Pa. Code § 236.327 (relating to class C waste); 25 Pa. Code § 236.328 (relating to mixed waste); and 25 Pa. Code § 236.409 (relating to monitoring plan).
§ 236.325. Material performance monitoring.
(a) An analysis of the materials and components of the engineered structures shall be conducted to demonstrate that the disposal facility can perform through the long term care period.
(b) The disposal facility design shall include provisions for a monitoring program which can provide ongoing verification of the performance of the engineered structure. At a minimum, the program shall provide performance verification beginning at initial operation and up to and including the active institutional control period.
Cross References This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 236.315 (relating to recoverability); 25 Pa. Code § 236.327 (relating to class C waste); 25 Pa. Code § 236.328 (relating to mixed waste); and 25 Pa. Code § 236.409 (relating to monitoring plan).
§ 236.326. Remedial measures.
The disposal facility shall be designed to facilitate remedial action. This criterion may not compromise or otherwise lessen the ability of the disposal facility to meet the performance objectives of Subchapter A (relating to general provisions).
§ 236.327. Class C waste.
(a) Class C waste disposal shall be performed apart from other low-level radioactive waste disposal, and Class C waste shall be placed in individual modules.
(b) A Class C module shall be monitored under § § 236.324 and 236.325 (relating to disposal unit monitoring; and material performance monitoring) and be recoverable under § 236.315 (relating to recoverability).
Cross References This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 236.502 (relating to classes of waste).
§ 236.328. Mixed waste.
(a) Mixed waste disposal shall comply with this chapter and Article VII (relating to hazardous waste management).
(b) Mixed waste shall be in a solid and stable form and shall be disposed apart from other low-level radioactive waste disposal.
(c) Mixed waste shall be placed in individual modules. A mixed waste module shall be monitored under § § 236.324 and 236.325 (relating to disposal unit monitoring; and material performance monitoring) and be recoverable under § 236.315 (relating to recoverability).
§ 236.329. Nonradiological hazards.
The disposal facility design and operational procedures shall reduce nonradiological hazards to individuals to levels as low as reasonably achievable.
§ 236.330. Performance assessment.
The performance of the disposal facility shall be characterized, analyzed and modeled in order to predict interactions of the disposal units with the environment and compliance with the performance objectives in Subchapter A (relating to general provisions).
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