DEP Secretary James M. Seif, has directed the Bureau of Radiation Protection to begin negotiations with Chem-Nuclear Systems, LLC (CNS) to officially suspend the LLRW Disposal Facility Siting Project by December 31, 1998. The decision to suspend the siting process was announced after discussing the issue with the Low-Level Waste Advisory Committee and the Appalachian Compact Commission and receiving their support.
CNS and DEP signed an agreement on August 23, 1990, authorizing CNS to provide the activities and services to site, design, construct, operate, close, and decommission a regional LLRW disposal facility in Pennsylvania.
Since that time, the factors that drove the need for such a facility have changed dramatically. There is currently disposal capacity at two out-of-state facilities which are projected to be available to Pennsylvania generators for at least 25 years. In addition, volumes of LLRW generated in PA have been decreased from more the 225,000 cubic feet in 1991 to less that 30,000 cubic feet in 1997.
The Appalachian States LLRW Commission voted on June 18 to support the DEP's suspension of the siting process, and that the suspension would not violate the Commonwealth's obligation under the federal and state Compact Acts to cause a Regional Disposal Facility to be sited and developed on a timely basis.
The agreement between DEP and CNS will not be terminated by the suspension and will be structured so that the project can be expeditiously resumed if conditions are warranted.
It is anticipated that the local CNS office will be closed down by the end of the year, at which time DEP will take control of all project records and related equipment.
DEP will monitor national LLRW disposal developments to insure disposal capacity will continue to be available to generators of LLRW in the Appalachian Compact. DEP will actively promote continued LLRW volume reduction during the suspension. The Bureau of Radiation Protection has issued a Waste Minimization Guidance Document and will conduct workshops with generators to promote the best available practices in regards to LLRW waste minimization.