Mixed waste regulation

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency are developing a dual regulatory program governing mixed low-level radioactive and hazardous waste. Due to the absence of a facility authorized to accept such waste for disposal, mixed waste generators are forced to store such waste on-site and thereby subject themselves to complex technical standards and permitting requirements under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The paper discusses the results to date of the nuclear utility industry's technical analyses on the mixed waste issue, describes the industry's proposals for a legislative resolution of the issue, and provides general guidance for development of a facility-specific regulatory strategy by individual mixed waste generators