115005
. In addition to the requirements imposed by Section 115000,
the department shall develop an overall plan, in consultation with
other state, regional, and federal agencies, for the management,
treatment, and disposal of low-level radioactive waste generated
within California. The plan shall contain, at a minimum, all of the
following elements:
(a) Specific contingency plans to address the needs of the state
for the short-term storage of low-level radioactive waste in the
event of a precipitous closure of existing out-of-state commercial
waste disposal facilities and to evaluate feasible alternatives for
meeting the state's needs. This element of the plan shall include,
but is not limited to, all of the following factors:
(1) The amount and kinds of low-level radioactive waste generated
by California licensees and current disposal locations.
(2) The size and nature of an interim storage facility required to
meet California's interim low-level radioactive waste disposal
needs.
(3) The cost of developing and operating an interim storage site
by the department or contracting organizations.
(4) Criteria for the siting of an interim storage site, including,
but not limited to, all of the following:
(A) Proximity to population.
(B) Geologic stability.
(C) Proximity to ground or surface water.
(D) Availability of transportation.
(E) General public health and economic considerations.
This element of the plan shall be completed and submitted to the
appropriate committees of each house of the Legislature on or before
December 31, 1982.
(b) A classification scheme for the separation of low-level waste
that will facilitate the management, treatment, storage, and ultimate
disposal of the waste. This classification scheme shall consider the
matters as possible de minimis radiation levels for specific
radionuclides, the quantity and specific activity of the material,
its persistence, toxicity, chemical form, reactivity, and the
principal radionuclides present. The classification scheme shall also
include the specifications necessary to determine which classes of
waste may or may not be accepted for storage in an interim storage
facility established pursuant to Section 115045, that may or may not
be held by the licensee for decay to specified residual radioactivity
levels and that require long-term isolation from the environment, as
the case may be, for the protection of the public health and safety.
The department may require as a condition of licensure the
submission of information necessary to determine the total amount of
waste produced in each class of the classification scheme. The
department may, by regulation, adopt the classification scheme
establishing which wastes may or may not be accepted at an interim
storage facility or at a treatment or disposal facility.
This element of the plan shall be completed and submitted to the
appropriate committees of each house of the Legislature on or before
December 31, 1982.
(c) Siting criteria for potential land burial disposal sites and
treatment facilities within the state. In establishing these
criteria, the department shall consider the following factors,
including, but not limited to:
(1) The present and projected future uses of land, water, and
natural resources.
(2) The proximity of the site to major population centers.
(3) The presence of active earthquake faults.
(4) Geologic and other natural barriers that protect against
surface or groundwater contamination.
(5) The effectiveness of engineered barriers, waste treatment, and
waste packaging in ensuring isolation of the waste from the
environment.
(6) Transportation of radioactive materials as it relates to
public health and safety.
(7) The relative economic impact of location and operation of
treatment or disposal facilities.
This element of the plan shall be completed and submitted to the
appropriate committees of each house of the Legislature on or before
December 31, 1982.
(d) A plan of action to minimize the environmental, occupational,
and public health impact of low-level radioactive waste and to
protect the public health and safety by encouraging a reduction in
the amount and toxicity of waste produced. This activity shall
include conducting or having studies conducted that evaluate the
technical and economic feasibility of (1) reducing the volume,
reactivity, and chemical and radioactive hazard of the waste, (2)
cleaning contaminated, nonactivated metals and other materials to
permit their recycle and reuse, and (3) substituting nonradioactive
or short-lived radioactive materials for those radionuclides that
require long-term isolation from the environment. The results of
these studies, along with the departmental recommendations for their
implementation, shall be reported by the department to the
appropriate committees of the Legislature on or before December 31,
1983.
(e) Within six months after September 28, 1983, the Governor shall
direct the appropriate state agency or agencies, as determined by
the Governor, to conduct and complete a study that identifies those
regions of the state within which it is likely the criteria developed
pursuant to subdivision (c) could be met. The state agency or
agencies, so directed, may also request, when appropriate, the
assistance of state or federal agencies or private organizations.