De minimis risk concepts in the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Part 2: Implicit uses in waste management and regulating uranium mines and mills

Abstract

Technological and regulatory solutions need to be developed to improve distributive justice in nuclear waste management. It is imperative that a balance be achieved between over-regulation and under-regulation. The historical treatment of safety issues is considered with reference to potential doses to a public residing at variable distances from a uranium mill or mill tailings site. Since 1986, NRC decisions as to whether to grant petitions for disposal of low level radioactive waste involve phrases that relate closely to de minimis risk concepts. Establishing a high level waste depository is more problematical, although it should be possible to set up de minimus risk standards. Some of the salient regulatory issues have been described. This paper is Part II of a three part series. Part III examines the setting of safety goals and treating the risk management issues of severe nuclear accidents.