Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
waste, is referred to as mixed waste under RCRA. An example would be radioactive
lead. If it were not radioactive, the lead would still be considered to be an environ-
mental hazard in most countries. In some countries, notably the United States, the
radioactive properties are regulated by one set of rules under the NRC, while the
conventional hazard is regulated by another set of rules under the jurisdiction of the
EPA. This dual regulation greatly increases the complexity of mixed waste manage-
ment, especially if the regulations impose contradictory requirements. In other coun-
tries, the radioactive hazard takes precedence over the nonradioactive hazard, and a
single government body regulates the waste.
Mixed waste contains radioactive and hazardous waste. A dual regulatory frame-
work exists for mixed waste, with the EPA or authorized states regulating the
hazardous waste and the NRC, NRC agreement states, or the DOE regulating the
radioactive waste. NRC generally regulates commercial and non-DOE federal facil-
ities. DOE is currently self-regulating and its orders apply to DOE sites and con-
tractors.
Under AEA, NRC and DOE regulate mixed waste with regard to radiation safety.
Using the RCRA authority, EPA regulates mixed waste with regard to hazardous
waste safety. NRC is authorized by the AEA to issue licenses to commercial users
of radioactive materials. RCRA gives EPA the authority to control hazardous waste
from “cradle-to-grave.” Once a waste is determined to be a mixed waste, the waste
handlers must comply with both AEA and RCRA statutes and regulations. The
requirements of RCRA and AEA are generally consistent and compatible. However,
the provisions in Section 1006(a) of RCRA allow the AEA to take precedence in
the event provisions of requirements of the two acts are found to be inconsistent.
3.4.1
M
IXED
W
ASTE
C
LASSIFICATION
The most common type of mixed waste is a scintillation vial that contains flammable
(toluene-based) scintillation cocktail and a small amount of radioactive isotope. The
classification of a mixed waste is based on the containment of toxic or corrosive
materials, transuranic elements, or high levels of radioactivity. With reference to
Radioactive Waste classification, the Mixed Waste can be divided into two basic
categories: DOE mixed waste and Non-DOE mixed waste.
3.4.1.1
DOE Mixed Waste
There are three main types of mixed waste being produced or stored at DOE facilities:
Low Level, High Level, and Transuranic.
•
DOE Low-Level Mixed Waste (DLLMW) is generated, projected to be
generated, or stored as a result of research, development, and production
of nuclear weapons. In the U.S., waste management activities will require
management of an estimated 226,000 m
3
of DLLMW over the next 20
years.
•
DOE High-Level Waste (DHLW) is radioactive waste resulting from
reprocessing spent nuclear fuel and irradiated targets from reactors. Some
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