Low-Level Waste and Radiation Management

Transcription

1 Low-Level Waste and Radiation Management Program Description Program Overview Nuclear power plants face significant regulatory, economic, environmental, and public perception pressures with respect to low- and intermediate-level waste (LLW) management and personnel exposure to radiation. The safe processing, handling, and disposing of low-level waste requires a detailed familiarity with both technical and regulatory issues. Similarly, as regulatory limits on personnel exposure to radiation decrease, greater effort is needed to develop and demonstrate effective radiation protection and source-term reduction technologies. The Low-Level Waste and Radiation Management Program investigates improvements to nuclear plant operational practices that can reduce risks associated with waste management and radiation exposure. The program develops guidelines and technologies for waste disposal volume reduction, dose and radiation field reduction, and nuclear plant decommissioning, resulting in lower electricity production costs, better informed regulatory oversight, and improved public perception. The program also develops technical guidance for early detection, mitigation, and remediation of groundwater contamination, an issue of increasing public concern and regulatory oversight. Research Value Effective management of low- and intermediate-level waste and radiation exposure enables nuclear plants to operate safely, cost-effectively, and with minimal risk to plant personnel, the public, and the environment. Research results are used by radiation protection managers to develop strategies for minimizing waste generation and reducing handling and storage costs. Research results are used by radiation protection managers to minimize radiation fields and reduce activity generation. Low-Level Waste and Radiation Management Program participants gain access to the following: Strategic roadmaps outlining research gaps and the collaborative actions needed to address these gaps. Active roadmaps address reducing worker radiation exposure, enhancing low-dose radiation science, optimizing storage and disposition of low-level waste, and improving radiological environmental protection. Technologies, assessments, and guidelines that can reduce solid and liquid waste volumes. LLW assessments, for example, have identified optimization recommendations valued at more than $75 million per year. New source-term reduction and radiation protection techniques that can reduce radiation dose. Sourceterm reduction studies have identified methods for reducing radiation fields by as much as 50% over 5 years. Technical guidance for risk-informed regulations in LLW, radiation protection, and groundwater protection that can address public safety and environmental stewardship concerns. Operational strategies for reducing the volume of Class B/C LLW could save the industry more than $27 million per year when fully implemented. The Low-Level Waste and Radiation Management Program develops knowledge, guidance, and tools to reduce the risks and costs associated with waste management and radiation protection. The program also conducts plant assessments to provide expert support and to capture lessons learned that can be shared across the industry. Base research focuses on developing the tools and technologies to reducing waste volumes, worker radiation dose, and groundwater impacts from nuclear plant operations. p. 1

2 Low-Level Waste Research and Development (R&D): This research area supports the optimization of LLW management programs through advanced media testing, improved technologies and tools, safe and efficient on-site storage of low-level waste, and the development of technical bases for improved flexibility and risk-informed regulations for LLW disposal. Research activities focus on minimizing the generation of LLW, developing guidance for on-site storage, and examining alternatives to existing disposal regulations. For example, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) research identifies and conducts performance testing of media and processing strategies that may reduce LLW generation and optimize liquid radwaste processing system performance. Radiation Management R&D: This research area develops guidance, technologies, and operational practices to more aggressively reduce radiation fields (source term) and minimize worker dose to as low as reasonably achievable standards. Research activities are divided into two major areas: 1) source-term reduction, which focuses on minimizing radiation fields, and 2) radiation protection, which focuses on improving the use of dose reduction technologies and improving worker efficiency. Groundwater Protection R&D: This research area develops advanced strategies and technologies for improved management of situations involving radiologically contaminated groundwater. This project develops technical guidance for implementing site-specific groundwater monitoring programs geared toward mitigation, early detection, and remediation of groundwater contamination. Implementing these programs will enhance site knowledge and increase confidence and accuracy in stakeholder communications. EPRI also collaborates with industry and regulatory entities to provide technical data that can inform policies related to groundwater and environmental protection. To address strategic objectives established for each of its programs, EPRI has developed roadmaps to plan, coordinate, and execute needed research among multiple entities. For the Low-Level Waste and Radiation Management Program, roadmaps have been developed to address the technical barriers related to low-dose science, worker radiation dose, low-level waste disposal, and groundwater protection. Additional roadmaps will be developed as significant research gaps are identified. Through separate supplemental projects, nuclear plant owners can gain access to a variety of interactive forums to discuss technical issues and share lessons learned in LLW management, radiation management, sourceterm reduction, and groundwater protection. Participants also can obtain on-site technical assessments to help plant personnel evaluate performance and fully benefit from research results. Accomplishments The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI s) Low-Level Waste and Radiation Management Program supports industry efforts to reduce the costs and regulatory burdens associated with low-level waste and to drive reductions in public, environmental, and personnel exposure to radiation. The Program develops and demonstrates innovative technologies, converts industry operating experience into practical guidelines, and explores alternative approaches for more effective LLW and radiation management. Issued groundwater and soil remediation guidelines that provide technical guidance for evaluating the need for and timing of remediation of soil and/or groundwater contamination from on-site leaks, spills, or inadvertent releases. Developed a more accurate methodology for estimating carbon-14 emissions from nuclear power plant gaseous effluent streams. Published a sourcebook that describes a two-pronged strategy for cobalt reduction: 1) a tabulated list of available cobalt reduction methods, with expected costs and estimated time required to observe radiation field reduction benefits; and 2) flowcharts for implementing a cobalt reduction strategy for boiling water reactor (BWR) and pressurized water reactor (PWR) plants. Issued guidelines for scaffold construction and management to optimize dose reduction opportunities during nuclear plant outages. Vertical access programs are consistently recognized as a significant contributor to high personnel exposure. Obtained regulatory endorsement for EPRI's On-Site LLW Storage Guidelines, which provide consistent, industry-driven guidance for operation of on-site LLW storage facilities. Low-Level Waste and Radiation Management - Program p. 2

3 Source-term reduction recommendations implemented at Brown's Ferry Unit 1 helped the unit achieve the lowest dose rates in the boiling water reactor (BWR) fleet following a restart. Based on analysis of industry pressurized water reactor (PWR) dose rate data, identified technical solutions that can provide measurable reductions in plant radiation fields. For example, zinc injection and electropolishing show strong benefit in reducing dose rates. Completed multi-year review of updated research on the health effects associated with low-dose radiation. Analysis concluded that the radiation damage/response paradigm should be expanded to account for increased complexity in biological response mechanisms. Results shared with regulatory community to inform revisions to radiation protection standards. Current Year Activities Low-Level Waste and Radiation Management program research and development for 2012 will sustain progress toward lower-cost waste handling and disposal, reduced worker dose, and improved detection and monitoring of groundwater. Specific efforts will include the following: Develop the technical basis for regulatory changes to low-level waste classification criteria Assess plant experience to determine if changes are needed to EPRI s on-site LLW storage guidelines Collect and review plant radiation monitoring data to identify trends, evaluate performance of radiation protection technology, and identify research needs Develop and demonstrate radiation protection techniques and technologies for nuclear plant application Update EPRI technical guidance on groundwater protection Provide site-specific implementation support for source-term reduction technical guidance developed by the program Estimated 2012 Program Funding $4.5 million Program Manager Lisa Edwards, , ledwards@epri.com Summary of Projects Project Number Project Title Description P P P P Technical Solutions for Reducing Worker Radiation Exposure Enhancing the Science and Communication of Low Dose Radiation Risk Optimized Storage and Disposition of Low and Intermediate Level Waste Radiological Environmental Protection Low-Level Waste and Radiation Management - Program p. 3

4 Project Number Project Title Description P b P b Groundwater Technical Strategy Group (supplemental) Low-Level Waste Technical Strategy Group (supplemental) The Groundwater Technical Strategy Group provides members a forum for discussing groundwater protection experiences, lessons learned, and advanced technologies. Members will have access to the Groundwater Strategy Group collaboration website and quarterly conference calls. Those utilities participating in the 3-year membership are eligible for one site-specific Groundwater assessment once during the 3-year period. The LLW Technical Strategy Group provides a forum for discussing technical issues and sharing lessons learned regarding strategic LLW management. Members also receive expert technical consulting as part of their membership. The LLW Technical Strategy Group is available in 3-year and 1-year membership options. The 3-year membership includes one full LLW assessment once during the three-year period. Plants may elect to have a LLW Assessment performed at their facility independent of joining the LLW Technical Strategy Group. This can be arranged by contacting the project manager or account executive directly. P b Radiation Management/Source Term Technical Strategy Group (supplemental) The Radiation Management/Source Term Technical Strategy Group provides an interactive forum for members to share and get expert advice in applying ALARA technologies and to gain insights on how to effectively reduce source term. Industry lessons learned and discussion of emergent issues will provide members with the most up-to-date information for making informed decisions on job planning and preparation. Technical Solutions for Reducing Worker Radiation Exposure Key Research Question The global nuclear industry is being challenged to aggressively revise programs and processes to reduce radiation exposure to workers while balancing increased maintenance work related to plant aging, fewer experienced staff, and increased radiation fields due to more aggressive core design, power uprates, cycle extensions, and other operational changes. In addition, radiation protection recommendations provided by the International Council of Radiation Protection (ICRP) Publication 103 are already being adopted in many countries. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has announced its intentions to revise U.S. radiation protection regulations in the next several years to align with the ICRP-103 recommendations. The most challenging change for U.S. plants may be the adoption of lower occupational dose limits, which could reduce the current limit of 5 rem/yr to as low as 2 rem/yr. The project plan has four focus areas. Radiation Field Characterization: This area aims to gain a better understanding of the impacts to radiation fields from changes to the operating environment (for example, chemistry, and core design) so that more focused radiation field mitigation techniques can be applied. Therefore, enhanced guidance to diagnose and characterize the impacts to dose rates from changes to operations, core designs, and water chemistry will be developed. Additionally, the area will aim to develop more relevant radiation field measurement data other than the current BWR radiation assessment and control (BRAC) standard radiation monitoring points (SRMP) to more accurately assess the benefits of source-term reduction and assess the impacts to worker dose. There also is a need to perform laboratory-based loop tests to enhance the fundamental understanding of surface activity incorporation so that more focused radiation field mitigation techniques can be developed. Low-Level Waste and Radiation Management - Program p. 4

5 Radiation Field Mitigation: This area will pursue technological solutions and collaborative activities to reduce dose rates. For example, the area will investigate new prefilming techniques, decontamination technologies, and chemistry options to minimize the generation and transport of activated corrosion products. Radiation Protection Technologies: This area aims to enhance worker efficiency and minimize dose through improved job planning and use of engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment for situations where workers must work in existing radiation fields. For example, the program will work with vendors to streamline the use of temporary shielding through remote charging of tungsten balls. Additionally, efforts will pursue consistent application of radiation protection optimization techniques for highdose tasks to ensure worker availability throughout the year. Improved Dose Calculation: Efforts are needed to update the methodology for determining the effective dose equivalent (EDE) for external exposures. More accurate methodologies to calculate dose will improve the management of a worker s dose margin by up to 50%. Impact Regulatory: Worldwide, nuclear plant operators are required to maintain occupational radiation exposures to values that are as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA). With the adoption of ICRP-103, management of individual dose will become more challenging because the regulatory limit may decrease from the current limit of 5 rem/year to as low as 2 rem/year. It is anticipated that plant administrative limits will be reduced even further, to as low as rem/year to ensure compliance with the regulatory limit. In the United States, these changes could affect approximately 1000 workers, many of whom have specialized skill sets important in maintaining plant operations and safety. Performance: In pursuit of performance excellence, the U.S. industry (through the Institute of Power Operations) has committed to cumulative radiation exposure dose goals (cycle median) of 110 person-rem for BWRs and 55 person-rem for PWRs by the end of These dose goals are aggressive, especially for the BWRs, which have not met the current dose goal of 120 rem. Increased emphasis will be placed on reducing source term, improved ALARA planning, and on meeting the industry current and future goals. The World Association of Nuclear Operators has related goals to reduce collective dose. Increased Maintenance: Outage scope has continued to increase due to plant aging, Alloy 600 mitigation, component upgrades or replacement related to license extension, power uprates, and increased safety requirements (for example, GSI-191 sump and BWR strainer modifications). The increased scope represents a challenge to controlling and reducing worker dose. For example, work related to a recent power uprate at a BWR unit resulted in an additional 30 rem for the outage. Industry Commitment (RP2020 Initiative): The U.S. industry is committed to carrying out the objectives of RP2020 to reshape radiological protection at nuclear power plants to achieve significant improvements in safety performance and cost-effectiveness. How to Apply Results The immediate priority is to reduce individual dose by reducing the number of workers receiving greater than 2.0 rem/yr to 0.0 by 2015 (prior to estimated date of 2017 for implementation of the new regulation) through the optimization of high-dose work tasks and high-dose rate radiological work environments. EPRI will produce a wide spectrum of dose reduction and radiation field reduction technologies, techniques, and guidance that will require utility implementation. Supplemental programs are available to provide site-specific assistance with implementation of EPRI recommendations. EPRI is working with commercial partners to develop generic specifications for an advanced ALARA planning tool that utilizes three dimensional modeling and simulation. Additional development by each vendor will be needed to develop a fully functional, commercially available tool for implementation. Low-Level Waste and Radiation Management - Program p. 5

6 EPRI recommendations for the use of advanced technologies for remote monitoring, location tracking, scaffolding, and shielding to improve worker efficiency and protection will require capital investment, infrastructure support, and possibly software changes and/or engineering review and approval. Technologies for radiation field mitigation may be costly; therefore, requiring advanced budgeting and coordination with other workgroups such as chemistry for implementation. Updates to the effective dose equivalent (EDE) calculation for external exposure will require NRC approval prior to Industry use. Enhancing the Science and Communication of Low Dose Radiation Risk Key Research Question Improved understanding of radiation health risks is increasingly important to maintaining support for the continued operation of the global fleet of nuclear power plants and for building new plants. In recent years, greater scrutiny has been placed on the potential radiation health risks associated with 1) the management of groundwater leakage at nuclear power plants, 2) the alignment of worker and public exposures to more current global scientific standards, and 3) the management of radiological waste. A recent example of the heightened interest in these radiological risks stems from the National Academy of Sciences effort to update the study on cancer risks for populations living around nuclear facilities. A dedicated research effort is needed to analyze the rapidly changing state of the science of low-dose research so that realistic risk models can be developed for nuclear power plant operational activities dealing with radiation. This improved understanding will provide the technical basis for communication of more representative risks to the public, regulators, and other stakeholders. The EPRI Low Dose Research Program will perform research to 1) inform regulatory policies governing radiation protection by putting forth modern interpretations of low-dose risk models for consideration by the scientific committees responsible for developing international standards for radiation safety (for example, International Commission on Radiation Protection [ICRP], Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation [BEIR] VII, and National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements [NCRP]) and 2) support EPRI member utilities in communicating radiation risks to public stakeholders by providing the technical basis for standardized risk communication documents. The research project will achieve these goals through the following: Publishing, in peer-reviewed journals, first-of-a-kind analyses of DOE-funded, low-dose animal studies, focusing on effects from low-dose rates (potential collaboration with Pacific Northwest Lab). The analysis of this key dataset for low-dose rate effects will help fill the gap in being able to develop quantitative risk models that incorporate low-dose rate effects. Based on the results from this analysis and from the review of more recent studies focused on low-dose rates, propose an alternative, updated risk model based on an improved understanding of the range of possible dose and dose rate effectiveness factor (DDREF) values and uncertainties. Such a model will help inform future radiation safety recommendations. The results of this work also will be published in peer-reviewed journals. This improved understanding of low-dose risks will lead to the development of standard risk communication documents that are based on updated science and focused on the radionuclides found in nuclear power plant effluents (for example, tritium, C-14, Sr-90, Cs-137). Inform industry discussions and interpret the results of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) study of cancer in populations living near nuclear facilities that has recently been commissioned by the NRC. The EPRI Program will strongly leverage research results from domestic and internationally funded studies (for example, CRIEPI, MELODI, DOE Low-Dose Program, and others as they are identified) and incorporate them (as appropriate) into the EPRI review. Additionally, the program will seek international feedback and review of project developments and subsequent publications. Low-Level Waste and Radiation Management - Program p. 6

7 Impact Global Performance Standards: Increasingly restrictive radiation protection standards can limit the beneficial use of radiation in society due to increased burdens associated with radiation protection and waste management. For example, the International Council on Radiation Protection (ICRP) provides international radiation protection standards based on the review and council interpretation of the basic science related to low dose health effects. The most recent recommendations, published in 2007 (ICRP Publication 103), are widely considered for regulatory adoption by each country. The review committee for these standards is expected to reconvene starting around To enhance the credibility of any new or revised standards, it is important that the committee be fully aware and informed about all available scientific evidence and potential technical interpretations. The EPRI studies should be performed by an independent, distinguished committee of experts and the results published in peer reviewed journals. Public Awareness: There are heightened public concerns about radiation risks due to recent events involving groundwater leakage, and more generally, any radiological releases from nuclear power plants. Understandable, science-based information that more accurately conveys the risks from such radiological releases can help better address such concerns. The information also can help inform and ultimately interpret the results of a National Academy of Sciences study of cancer in populations living near nuclear facilities that has recently been commissioned by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. How to Apply Results The implementation of the EPRI results will lie mostly with the international committees and regulatory bodies (for example, ICRP, NRC, EPA) that are responsible for establishing radiation protection standards. These organizations will need to review the results within their processes and incorporate the EPRI concepts and recommendations as they deem appropriate. Utilities can incorporate the technical content from the EPRI research into their communication plans. Optimized Storage and Disposition of Low and Intermediate Level Waste Key Research Question Strategically, nuclear power plants should be prepared to operate for years without any operational impact from low-level waste (LLW) storage. Utilities in most countries already must provide on-site storage for some or all of their radioactive waste. For instance, Mexico and Brazil have been subject to on-site storage of both low- and intermediate-level waste since beginning operation. In the United States, the Barnwell disposal facility stopped accepting out-of-compact waste, leaving more than 85% of the U.S. industry with no disposal pathway for Class B and C waste and resulting in the need for on-site storage. While new disposal pathways may become available, there is no certainty of their eventual operation. In some countries, actions to develop disposal pathways have not been started, have been blocked, or are subject to lengthy delays. On-site storage of LLW also concerns public stakeholders and recently has affected licensing activities for new plant builds. The challenge, therefore, is to significantly reduce the volumes of LLW generated and to develop safe, efficient, and economic solutions for the on-site storage of radioactive waste for up to and including the life-of-plant. This can be done by reducing waste generation, managing waste that is generated to allow the use of available disposal pathways, building and operating storage facilities that are safe, economical, and regulatory compliant, and engaging in regulatory processes to ensure disposal regulations are technically justified and risk-informed while maintaining sensitivity to stakeholder confidence. Until such time as all members have access to disposal pathways for all LLW, there is an immediate need to reduce the burden imposed by storage of LLW. To optimize low- and intermediate-level waste management and strategically prepare for 60 or more years of operation without impact from waste storage issues, three focus areas must be addressed, as described below. Low-Level Waste and Radiation Management - Program p. 7

8 The research will include interfaces with chemistry for proper implementation of operational strategies and with vendors for partnering to develop and deploy new technologies. The research will culminate in a set of tools available to the industry for use as applicable to their specific situations. Safe Storage: Extensive research has already been conducted on the proper design of storage facilities, but will be updated as necessary based on newly imposed requirements and new operating experience that addresses efficiency and safety. This same guidance will be expanded to address storage issues associated with irradiated hardware. Long-term storage also will require evaluation of the best waste forms. Finally, a new focus area will investigate the concept of centralized storage facilities for plant fleets and between plant fleets to address the possibility of loss of all disposal pathways for long periods of time (which is a reality in some countries). Research results from this area will be of interest to all members, especially those with limited or no access to disposal pathways. LLW Minimization: This area will provide guidance on how to economically reduce the generation of all waste streams. The immediate focus will be to reduce the generation of higher-activity waste streams for those plants that have access to disposal pathways for lower-activity wastes. EPRI will research the development of new operational strategies and new treatment technologies that concentrate higher-activity waste into smaller volumes. Continued work on the reduction of lower-activity waste streams remains important to those plants that have no access to disposal and are subject to storage of all LLW. Research results from this area will be of interest to all members, especially those with limited or no access to disposal pathways. Improved Flexibility in Disposal Regulations: As the Nuclear Regulatory Commission begins the process of revising long-standing guidance for disposal regulations, EPRI will continue providing technical support for the revisions. In the United States, this will largely focus on the revision of the Branch Technical Position on Encapsulation and Concentration Averaging, which is expected to be revised during the timeframe. In addition, a technical basis for revising 10CFR61 to make it risk-informed and performance-based will be developed to support the anticipated rulemaking process in this area in the timeframe. Research results from this area will be of primary interest to U.S. members and for member countries still developing or revising disposal regulations. Impact LLW disposal costs continue to rise dramatically. Building, maintenance, and operation of storage facilities are resource intensive. Potentially escalating security requirements for radioactive materials, including stored waste, could significantly increase on-site storage costs. Funds for eventual disposal also may have to be accrued. LLW management strategies should target practices that generally reduce the generated volumes and favor waste streams with available and/or lower-cost disposal pathways. Stakeholder Confidence: The lack of a disposal pathway for some low-level waste streams has been raised as a challenge during the licensing process associated with new plant builds. With the advent of the nuclear renaissance, it is critical that the nuclear industry manage low-level radioactive waste through effective use of available disposal pathways and efficient use of on-site storage in a manner that can be confidently and accurately communicated to the public as a safe operation. Regulatory: Universal access to disposal pathways for low- and intermediate-level waste is a global concern. The disposal of low-level waste in the United States is principally governed by 10CFR61. This regulation is widely acknowledged as out-of-date, not reflective of current disposal practices, not risk-informed or performance-based, and not aligned with global regulations. The planned revision of these regulations provides a unique opportunity to develop a strong technical basis for risk-informing these regulations and associated guidance so that necessary restrictions are maintained, current disposal practices are credited, and updated science is used for risk assessment. Technical results also may be used by other member countries that are still developing or revising disposal regulations. Low-Level Waste and Radiation Management - Program p. 8

9 How to Apply Results EPRI guidance on the operation of storage facilities should be adopted by stations at the onset of storage operations to ensure proper documentation is maintained and is regulatory compliant. Implementation of the storage monitoring requirements is primarily limited to the development of supporting processes and procedures, although inspection requirements may involve significant resource expenditures. Generally, plants have already made the capital investment for the actual storage facilities, but as the storage period extends, the need to build additional facilities should be planned for. LLW minimization techniques developed through this research should be evaluated by each plant and adopted on a schedule that meets individual plant needs. In most cases, procedure revisions will be required for implementation, but little or no plant equipment changes will be needed. Advanced processing and reduction technologies may be implemented on-site or at centralized processing facilities depending on economics. Generally, these technologies will not require modification to plant equipment, but may involve new non-plant equipment, procedure, and contract / vendor changes. When disposal regulations and guidance are updated, plants will need to update their programs as required. Changes should specifically be incorporated into waste characterization, storage, and shipping procedures and may involve re-characterization of stored waste. As guidance is developed that makes new processing options acceptable, the incorporation of these options into the existing waste program should be evaluated. Radiological Environmental Protection Key Research Question Nuclear power plants must manage effluents in a manner that protects the health and safety of the public and maintains releases within regulatory limits. Since the levels of radioactivity released by nuclear power plants are maintained at levels far below regulatory limits, stakeholder confidence and environmental stewardship are becoming larger components of these programs. For example, recent events have led several plants to undertake extensive remediation processes to address stakeholder concerns related to tritium leaks and spills resulting in soil and groundwater contamination. Also, as nuclear power plants continue to reduce the total radioactivity in monitored effluents, they will need to report radionuclides such as carbon-14 that were previously not reported because they did not represent significant fractions of the overall effluent radionuclide mixture. Current guidance for the estimation of dose from such obscure radionuclides in effluents is generic and may not apply to all nuclear power plant environments, leading some plants to report values that are not precise to their site-specific conditions. Due to the low impact on public health and safety, research and technology development on the minimization of low-level releases of radionuclides has been limited. Groundwater Protection Update the EPRI Groundwater Protection and Remediation Guidelines to address industry program gaps identified through the Groundwater Protection Initiative (GPI) Peer Assessments and to identify opportunities for cost-effectively meeting the technical requirements of NEI Coordinate the risk assessment methodologies and guidance for buried piping and groundwater protection, resulting in a streamlined approach for risk ranking to meet the requirements of NEI and NEI Provide technical guidance for using groundwater sample analysis methods to support faster identification of the source of a leak or spill Develop and demonstrate automatic groundwater monitoring and tritium separation technologies to optimize monitoring and remediation required to address stakeholder and regulatory concerns Low-Level Waste and Radiation Management - Program p. 9

10 Effluents Management Develop and validate precise calculation models for the generation, release, and dose to public of carbon- 14 based on unit-specific reactor physics, design, and operation information Provide guidance for the precise calculation of carbon-14 dose to the public based on site-specific land use, geographic, and climate information Investigate other radionuclides in plant effluents from a risk basis to evaluate any potential impacts to humans and non-human biota as necessary Impact Public Perception: Although the small quantities of radionuclides released to the environment from recent industry events do not pose a human health and safety concern, public awareness has increased, prompting utility action. Public sensitivity to this issue could further increase as new plant licensing proceeds and as plants pursue life extension. Utilities will need to continue to reduce radioactive emissions from nuclear power plants by applying the as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) principal and by being transparent and precise about informing the public about the sound environmental stewardship provided by the operation of the nuclear power plants. Industry Initiatives: In response to increased stakeholder concern, the U.S. nuclear power industry has committed to implementing the Groundwater Protection Initiative to mitigate leaks and spills and to prevent offsite migration of groundwater contamination (per NEI and NEI 08-08). The industry also has committed to the Underground Piping and Tanks Initiative to mitigate leaks from buried pipe systems and tanks (per NEI 09-14) at each nuclear power plant site. These initiatives highlight the need for more advanced monitoring, detection, and remediation technologies. EPRI provides the technical guidance and technologies needed to cost-effectively implement these Initiatives. Regulatory: Current regulations are not a significant driver for groundwater protection. However, in response to stakeholder concerns, the U.S. NRC is currently evaluating its policies, regulations, and industry commitments related to groundwater contamination (for example, U.S. NRC Groundwater Task Force Final Report, June 2010). This evaluation may lead to new policies and regulations based on control of licensed materials and stakeholder confidence. Nuclear power plants are required to report concentrations and associated doses of radionuclides that make up significant fractions of the total amount of radionuclides in effluent streams. As certain radionuclides are eliminated and as the total radioactivity of effluents is reduced, other radionuclides (for example, Carbon-14, Strontium-90, Cesium-137, and Chlorine-36) will likely need to be reported. Power plants need guidance to determine and understand the site-specific impacts of such radionuclides on humans and non-human biota. How to Apply Results Each nuclear power plant needs to implement the program described in the EPRI Groundwater Protection Guidelines and in the Soil and Remediation Guidelines to meet the requirements of NEI and NEI These guidelines address the risk ranking of systems, structures, components, and work practices; groundwater sampling programs; and procedures for responding to leaks and spills. Implementation of the guidelines requires the coordination of a multi-disciplinary group that includes experts on hydrogeology and plant engineering. In some cases implementation may require the installation of new plant equipment, primarily in the form of monitoring wells. The groundwater protection technologies developed by EPRI can be implemented to facilitate cost-effective groundwater characterization and remediation. Some will require vendor support for implementation. The EPRI Groundwater Protection Assessment programs provide support for utility implementation of EPRI research results. The implementation of the EPRI method for estimating carbon-14 and other radionuclide generation and release will require reactor core design information (for example, neutron flux and mass of coolant) and information on the operation of various plant systems and components (for example, gaseous effluent release practices). The precise estimation of plant dose to the public may require an updated land-use census and environmental Low-Level Waste and Radiation Management - Program p. 10

11 sampling around the nuclear power plant. EPRI will provide the guidance and technologies to accurately understand and communicate impact of site-specific radiological effluents on human and non-human biota. Groundwater Technical Strategy Group (supplemental) Key Research Question Leaks and spills from nuclear power plant operations can potentially impact site soil and groundwater throughout the life of the plant and the decommissioning of the plant. Experiences from other nuclear power plants can provide valuable insight into effective practices for addressing both technical and non-technical elements associated with groundwater protection. The Groundwater Technical Strategy Group provides a forum for sharing such experiences with industry colleagues and defining best practices applicable across the industry. The Groundwater Technical Strategy Group is available in 3-year and 1-year membership options. The 3-year membership includes one full groundwater assessment once during the 3-year period. The Groundwater Technical Strategy Group will be composed of members interested in sharing and discussing groundwater experiences and lessons learned, new technologies, and EPRI projects. Members will have access to the Groundwater Strategy Group Collaboration Website and quarterly conference calls. The Collaboration Website is a digital portal where documents can be shared and forum discussions can be held. Relevant groundwater experiences, lessons learned, and technology information will be uploaded to the Collaboration Website for member access. Members also will be able to post their own experiences, lessons learned, and technology ideas to spark discussion with other members. Questions on groundwater topics also can be posted so that EPRI groundwater experts and other members can provide answers and associated information. Conference calls on groundwater protection experiences, lessons learned, and technologies will be held each quarter (March, June, September, December.) These conference calls will be used to discuss promising technologies, key experiences and lessons learned, and EPRI projects. As previously noted, those utilities participating in the 3-year membership are eligible for one site-specific groundwater assessment once during the 3-year period. This assessment is conducted on-site for both U.S. and international members and provides a detailed evaluation of how specific research results, technologies, industry experience, and industry best practices could be applied at a given plant. Typical Groundwater Assessment topics include assistance in implementing groundwater protection programs, assistance in conducting self-assessing compliance to NEI 07-07, demonstration of innovative technologies, and plant tritium modeling. Plants can choose one of these focus topics for their groundwater assessment. Plants may elect to have a groundwater assessment performed without joining the Groundwater Technical Strategy Group. This can be arranged by contacting the project manager directly. Impact By taking action against groundwater contamination, utilities will be able to allay stakeholder concerns about environmental protection. By implementing site-specific groundwater protection programs and the best technologies available for groundwater protection at nuclear power plants, utilities will be able to optimize costs and reduce waste due to groundwater monitoring and remediation: Improve relationship with communities, government, and regulatory agencies about the industry s commitment to public radiation safety and environment protection Achieve cost savings at the decommissioning stage due to preemptive action during the operating stage Achieve cost savings due to advanced and efficient monitoring and remediation technologies Achieve cost savings due to prevention of radioactive liquid leakage to the environment Low-Level Waste and Radiation Management - Program p. 11

12 Utilities participating in the 3-year membership are eligible for one site-specific groundwater assessment once during the 3-year period. The assessment delineates actions with the largest potential benefit to the site and identifies potential gaps that, if closed, could provide economic, performance, and/or regulatory margin benefits. How to Apply Results Members can use the real-time information from the Groundwater Technical Strategy Group to implement improvements to their groundwater protection programs and to evaluate new technologies. For utilities participating in the 3-year membership option, the groundwater assessment can be used to gain insights into the plant s performance and into applying the EPRI guidance, technologies, and tools to the plant's advantage. The assessment team will develop a confidential site-specific report that details the strengths and gaps associated with the program and highlights prioritized recommendations and potential benefits. Later, generic results and lessons learned may be compiled in program reports for industry use. Plants may elect to have a groundwater assessment performed without joining the Groundwater Technical Strategy Group. This can be arranged by contacting the project manager directly. Low-Level Waste Technical Strategy Group (supplemental) (004514) Key Research Question Nuclear plants frequently benefit from broader awareness of the LLW management activities practiced at other plants. The LLW Technical Strategy Group provides a forum for discussing technical issues and sharing lessons learned regarding strategic LLW management. Emerging technical issues include the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Branch Technical Position on LLW concentration averaging; potential changes to 10CFR61; and LLW disposal site development, blending, encapsulation, solidification, and economics. Members also receive expert technical consulting as part of their membership. The LLW Technical Strategy Group is available in 3-year and 1-year membership options. The 3-year membership includes one full LLW assessment once during the 3-year period. Plants may elect to have a LLW assessment performed at their facility independent of joining the LLW Technical Strategy Group. This can be arranged by contacting the project manager or account executive directly. The Technical Strategy Group conducts periodic conference calls to keep membership appraised of emerging issues and to solicit input on industry responses to these issues. Webcasts are used to provide members with up-to-date status of LLW disposal options, presentations on new processing strategies, information on new regulatory notices, technical exchanges of lessons learned, and new ideas on cost control. Members of the LLW Technical Strategy Group receive annual on-site expert technical consulting as part of their membership. This consulting time is typically used for continuous improvement of LLW program management strategies and for analysis of special projects. On-site consultation topics are scheduled with individual members. International members participating in the LLW Technical Strategy Group will receive their site-specific support remotely. As noted above, those utilities participating in the 3-year membership are eligible for one site-specific LLW assessment once during the 3-year period. This assessment is conducted on-site for both U.S. and international members. Plants may elect to have a LLW assessment performed at their facility independent of joining the LLW Technical Strategy Group. Participants can select from several assessment focus areas: on-site storage, BC reduction, solid LLW, liquid LLW, and Liquid System Manager software installation. The utility also may specify a focus area currently challenging the plant. The utility and EPRI Project Manager will then work together to define the scope. Low-Level Waste and Radiation Management - Program p. 12

13 Impact Participation in the Technical Strategy Group keeps members abreast of emerging issues surrounding LLW management and provides members with a forum for technical exchange. Site-specific consulting time provides expert support for specific plant or corporate project requests. Individual plant and fleet strategies for LLW management are frequently evaluated with this support. Cost evaluations conducted during these consultations often identify significant cost-saving measures. The on-site assessment provided for utilities participating in the 3-year membership (or arranged independent of the LLW Technical Strategy Group) evaluates how specific research results, technologies, industry experience, and industry best practices could be applied at a given plant. The assessment delineates actions with the largest potential benefit to the site and identifies potential gaps that, if closed, could provide economic, performance, and/or regulatory margin benefits. How to Apply Results On-site consultation time is used to ensure EPRI guidance is applied to emerging and critical plant-specific LLW management issues. Participation in periodic webcasts keeps members abreast of emerging issues in the rapidly changing climate surrounding LLW management and provides members with a forum for technical exchange. The LLW assessment helps plant personnel gain insights about their plant-specific performance and how to apply EPRI guidance, technologies, and tools to the plant's advantage. Radiation Management/Source Term Technical Strategy Group (supplemental) Key Research Question While the industry s annual collective radiation exposure continues to trend down, aggressive industry goals to further minimize station dose are challenging to meet in the life extension environment. The health of radiation protection programs is regularly assessed using cumulative exposure and exposure estimating, and utilities remain obligated to minimizing the impact of ionizing radiation on plant personnel. Technology transfer and sharing of lessons learned can assist plants in driving greater implementation of EPRI guidance, technologies, and strategies related to ALARA and radiation management programs. The Radiation Management/Source Term Technical Strategy Group is designed to enhance the technology transfer between EPRI and member utilities through interactive forums, workshops, and expert assistance. Such engagement helps plants "take the research off the shelf and put it into the plant." Generic results and lessons learned will be used in base research and development (R&D) program products and reports. The Radiation Management/Source Term Technical Strategy Group is available in 3-year and 1-year membership options. The 3-year membership includes a full radiation management assessment once during the 3-year period. Members may elect to have a radiation management assessment performed at their plant independent of the Radiation Management / Source Term Technical Strategy Group. Contact the project manager or account executive to make these arrangement directly. The Radiation Management/Source Term Technical Strategy Group provides an interactive forum for members to share and get expert advice in applying ALARA technologies and to gain insights on how to effectively reduce source term. Industry lessons learned and discussion of emergent issues will provide members with the most up-to-date information for making informed decisions on job planning and preparation. This comprehensive approach to managing radiation exposure will help educate and cross-train personnel with differing backgrounds on topics highly relevant to dose minimization and management. The Strategy Group focuses on best practices, advanced technologies, the most efficient implementation options of ALARA source-term reduction technologies, and cost-effective sustainable ALARA program success. The group typically sponsors workshops on topics of interest to dose management such as source-term Low-Level Waste and Radiation Management - Program p. 13