Commercial Low-Level Waste

PHOENIX – Another company indicated Monday it would be prepared to bid on an anticipated procurement from the Department of Energy to design a facility for interim storage of nuclear waste. “We are interested in interim storage,” Rod Baltzer, chief operating officer for Deep Isolation, told Weapons Complex Morning Briefing. “With our design, we do […]

PHOENIX – The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering merging two long-running efforts to update federal regulations on disposal of radioactive waste, a senior official said here Monday. Agency staff is currently determining the paths forward for both a potential rulemaking on Greater-Than-Class C Waste and the continuing Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Rulemaking, according to Patricia […]

The state of Montana expects within a couple months to complete a new, tightened set of rules for disposal of technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive materials (TENORM) waste in landfills. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued the draft rules on Jan. 31 and plans to issue the notice of adoption by April, according […]

By John Stang US Ecology posted net income of $33.1 million on $685.5 million in revenue for 2019. That translated to income of $1.40 per diluted share, the Boise, Idaho-based waste management provider said Wednesday in its latest earnings report. By comparison for 2018, the corporation tallied $49.6 million in net income on revenue of $565.9 million. […]

US Ecology posted net income of $33.1 million on $685.5 million in revenue for 2019. That translated to income of $1.40 per diluted share, the Boise, Idaho-based waste management provider said Wednesday in its latest earnings report. By comparison for 2018, the corporation tallied $49.6 million in net income on revenue of $565.9 million. US Ecology’s Environmental […]

The New Mexico Senate on Monday voted down a bill intended to increase state oversight of a planned commercial storage facility for radioactive spent fuel from U.S. nuclear power plants. Senators voted 25-16 against the legislation from Sen. Jeff Steinborn, a Democrat from Las Cruces. Senate Bill 95 would have instituted several updates to the […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is asking a federal appeals court to dismiss a petition challenging its sole authority to regulate disposal of very low-level radioactive waste (VLLW) from nuclear power plants in the agency’s agreement states. The Nuclear Energy Institute missed the 60-day window to file a petition against the agency’s final determination of authority, […]

A transportation provider for the cleanup contractor at the Energy Department’s Oak Ridge Site in Tennessee was involved a January fender-bender while moving low-level radioactive waste along a highway in Arkansas. No injuries resulted and no radioactive soil spilled in the accident, according to a Feb.7 DOE accident report. The unidentified subcontractor hired by URS/CH2M […]

Canadian utility Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has formally terminated its plan to build a deep-underground nuclear waste disposal facility near Lake Huron after a First Nation group voted against the project. The company will now begin a new siting process that could last more than a decade and theoretically end with significant changes to the […]

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) cited the danger from radioactive waste in making the case for new legislation that would establish a nationwide prohibition on fracking for production of oil and natural gas. The Ban Fracking Act is being introduced in both the Senate and House of Representatives. If passed, it would automatically ban the federal […]

By John Stang US Ecology said Friday it agreed to a $50,000 federal fine for safety violations related to a Nov. 17, 2018, explosion in Idaho that killed one employee and injured eight others. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration had originally proposed a fine of $66,300 for five “serious” safety-related violations that led to […]

Waste Control Specialists (WCS) in late December received approval from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to provide long-term storage of Department of Energy elemental mercury at the company’s Andrews County waste facility. The Energy Department said in a Dec. 27 press release that the Texas regulators approved a modification to the Dallas-based company’s existing […]

Waste Control Specialists (WCS) this month received approval from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to provide long-term storage of elemental mercury at its Andrews County waste facility for the U.S. Department of Energy. The Energy Department said in a Dec. 27 press release that the Texas regulators approved a modification to the Dallas-based company’s […]

The U.S. Department of Energy on Tuesday awarded Waste Control Specialists (WCS) a task order for long-term storage of elemental mercury in existing buildings on its Andrews County, Texas, property. The agency’s press release did not reveal the value of the deal to lease WCS storage space for up to 6,800 metric tons (7,480 tons) […]

The U.S. Department of Energy on Friday backed storage of up to 6,800 metric tons of elemental mercury in existing buildings at the Waste Control Specialists (WCS) property near Andrews, Texas. Using two buildings at the licensed commercial waste disposal site will be cheaper than building new structures and simplify the Energy Department procurement processes, […]

The Nuclear Energy Institute is asking a federal appeals court to undo the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s determination that it has full authority to regulate disposal of very low-level radioactive waste from nuclear power plants, even in states that have taken on much of the agency’s oversight of radioactive materials. At issue is Regulatory Issue […]

The state of North Dakota has temporarily suspended its review of applications to allow disposal of technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive materials (TENORM) at two landfills in Williams County. The freeze gives time for officials in the northwestern county to decide whether to approve amendments to the conditional use permits for the landfills to begin […]

The state of North Dakota has temporarily suspended its review of applications to allow disposal of technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive materials (TENORM) at two landfills in Williams County. The freeze gives time for officials in the northwestern county to decide whether to approve amendments to the conditional use permits for the landfills to begin […]

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has suspended work on a study of potential regulatory updates for disposal of very low-level radioactive waste (VLLW) while it considers other approaches to the matter. As recently as March, the agency said it expected to issue its findings before the end of spring. However, staff is now separately gearing […]

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s timeline for completing its regulatory update on disposal of low-level radioactive waste has slid further to the right, though an agency official cautioned Wednesday the latest schedule remains tentative. During a meeting with nuclear industry stakeholders, the NRC presented a Sept. 17 schedule update on the Part 61 rulemaking. That […]

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said this week it would not withdraw a 2016 finding re-establishing the scope of its authority to regulate disposal of very low-level radioactive waste from nuclear power plants. The Nuclear Energy Institute, the trade association for the nuclear industry, in February requested the agency rescind Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 2016-11. […]

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Monday affirmed that directives in recent years regarding disposal of very low-level radioactive waste (VLLW) do not apply to a facility operated by Waste Control Specialists (WCS) on its West Texas property. John Lubinski, director of the agency’s Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, was responding to a […]

A former staffer at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) who worked on radioactive waste issues has returned as a commissioner. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Monday appointed Bobby Janecka to the third spot on the commission, according to a press release. The other members are Chairman Jon Niermann and Commissioner Emily Lindley. […]

The Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission on Aug. 22 approved reserving a set amount of disposal capacity at the compact facility for certain “small quantity” generators. The addition to the Texas Administrative Code passed unanimously without discussion by the commissioners present at a meeting in Austin, alongside an amendment redefining small-quantity generator. Texas and […]

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is taking public comments on a draft rules package that would set specific radioactivity limits and other restrictions on disposal of technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material (TENORM) waste in the state. This is the state’s second effort to establish regulations on TENORM disposal: A package issued in […]

The Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission on Thursday approved reserving a set amount of disposal capacity at the compact facility for certain “small quantity” generators. The addition to the Texas Administrative Code passed unanimously without discussion by the commissioners present at a meeting in Austin, alongside an amendment redefining small-quantity generator. Texas and Vermont […]

North Dakota’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is reviewing initial applications for disposal of technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material (TENORM) waste at existing landfills near the city of Williston. WISCO Inc. and Secure Energy Services are both going through the regulatory process, while IHD Solids Management has already withdrawn its radioactive material license application. […]

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Monday opened a public comment period on a new finding that most Greater-Than-Class C (GTCC) low-level radioactive waste could be disposed of via near-surface facilities. Stakeholders have until Sept. 20 to submit comments on the draft regulatory basis issued last week by NRC staff, according to a filing in […]

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Monday opened the public comment period on a new finding that most Greater-Than-Class C (GTCC) low-level radioactive waste could be disposed of via near-surface facilities. Stakeholders have until Sept. 20 to submit comments on the draft regulatory basis issued last week by NRC staff, according to a filing in […]

A proposed change to Texas regulations would reserve a small amount of disposal capacity in the Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact facility for “small quantity” waste generators from states that are not direct members to the agreement. The change would be made through an amendment and addition to the Texas Administrative Code, according to […]