A summary of de minimis/low-level radioactive waste segregation programs in Canada: Implications for new program design

Currently in Canada, a number of programs have been designed to reduce the volume of low-level radioactive wastes (LLRW) that must be stored in licensed radioactive waste management facilities. These programs are based on exempting de minimis LLRW from further licensing upon transferal for disposal, or on segregating wastes into either ''releasable'' or LLRW categories based on criteria that have obtained prior regulatory approval. These wastes arise from operation of nuclear generating plants and research facilities, medical and industrial uses, and the decommissioning of nuclear facilities. This minimization of LLRW volumes is very desirable as a matter of environmental policy, due to the high cost of their handling, storage and disposal, and due to the long-term liability incurred in their storage. This paper will summarize four cases of de minimis/LLRW Segregation Programs that have been successfully implemented in Canada. The terminologies used in the four cases to refer to the exempted or segregated wastes include ''active/inactive'', ''clean/contaminated'', ''de minimis'' and ''unconditional release''. For each case, the release criteria adopted, the procedures and instruments used in segregation or release, and the nature of the regulatory approval process will be described. Finally, the consideration of these four cases in the design of a pilot-scale facility for solid LLRW segregation at Chalk River Laboratories (CRL) will be discussed