Envirocare option

["Tupin, Edward A. 301-827-1230 Fax 594-4760" <EAT@FDADR.CDRH.FDA.GOV>]

Radsafers,

While I haven't seen the Greensboro Record article, Eugene Gleason from 
Envirocare spoke last week at the Appalachian Compact Users of 
Radioctive Isotopes (ACURI) annual meeting.  This spring they received a 
license to accept additional forms of waste - paper, plastic, glass and 
wood ("trash") and class of radioactive material (byproduct material) 
beyond the uranium mill tailings they originally could accept.  This now 
makes them a viable option for waste disposal for a lot of people.  The 
Northwest Compact is not considering them a "compact site" for purposes 
of restricting access.  Therefore, the site is open to any state where 
the compact allows export of waste.  They do have a tremendous potential 
disposal capacity - ~500 million cubic feet, and dispose of about 3 
million cubic feet per year.  (Compare that to South Carolina's hope for 
about 600,000 cubic feet.)

Consult your waste broker or Envirocare directly for specifics on 
acceptable waste packaging, radioactivity levels etc.  I'm not trying to 
advertise for Envirocare, but when the Compact says to plan for storing 
waste for at least eight more years, it is worth exploring any and all 
options.

Ed Tupin
RSO, Center for Devices and Radiological Health
EAT@fdadr.cdrh.fda.gov
(301) 827-1230
Fax:  (301) 594-4760