Implementation of the NRC / EPA MOU on Decommissioning Sites

摘要

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enteredrninto a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on October 9, 2002, on Consultation and Finality on Decommissionins andrnDecontamination of Contaminated Sites. The MOU continues the 1983 EPA policy that EPA will defer ComprehensivernEnvironmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) authority over NRC decommissioning sites, unlessrnrequested by NRC. A process implementing the MOU through letter correspondences between the NRC and EPA has beenrnongoing for more than 1 1/2 years. From this experience, some lessons have been learned, and some improvements have beenrnmade to the process. However, a detailed consultation under the MOU has not yet been completed (the first is ongoing at therntime of this conference), and issues have arisen through the process that have made licensees doubtful of the ability of thernMOU process to prevent "dual regulation "for licensees undergoing decommissioning in accordance with NRC's regulations. NRC and EPA are working through the first detailed consultation and are hopeful the process will alleviate thernconcerns of licensees about the MOU process.