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GREATER THAN WHAT????
 The United States Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Environmental Management (EM), is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for disposal of Greater-Than-Class C Low-Level Radioactive Waste (GTCC LLRW). The EIS evaluates potential alternatives involving various disposal methods for application at six federally owned sites and generic commercial sites. Disposal methods evaluated include geologic repository, intermediate depth borehole, enhanced near surface trench, and above grade vault.
Disposal locations evaluated include the Hanford Site in Washington; the Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho; the Los Alamos National Laboratory, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), and the WIPP vicinity in New Mexico; the Nevada National Security Site (formerly the Nevada Test Site) in Nevada; and the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. The Draft EIS also evaluates generic commercial disposal sites and a No Action Alternative.
DOE does not have, and therefore has not identified, a preferred alternative in the Draft EIS, but will do so in the Final EIS based on further consideration and public comment. The Draft GTCC EIS is now available for public review and comment. A public hearing will be held at North Augusta, South Carolina on April 19, 2011.
Most forms of GTCC waste are generated by routine operations at nuclear power plants, fuel research facilities, and manufacturers of radiopharmaceuticals and sealed sources. Future GTCC waste is also expected to be generated by the decommissioning of nuclear power reactors. There are four classes of LLW, in ascending order of hazard: Class A, B, C, and GTCC.
For classes A, B, and C, the NRC has regulations (10 CFR Part 61) that set concentration limits for both short-lived and long-lived radionuclides. In terms of hazard, Class A LLW is intended to be safe after 100 years, Class B after 300 years, and Class C after 500 years. These LLWs are typically disposed of in shallow land burial sites; however, because of its high hazard, GTCC waste is not typically disposed of in shallow land burial sites or commingled with Class A, B, and C LLW.
 The SRSCRO does not support the selection of the Savannah River Site as a potential candidate for the disposal of GTCC or GTCC-like waste under the scope of the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).While we are confident that SRS currently handles the disposal of low-level radioactive waste generated on-site in a technically acceptable and safe manner, the disposal of GTCC waste and GTCC-like waste at SRS would violate one of the community's guiding principle: No waste or excess materials shall be brought into South Carolina unless an approved and funded pathway exists for its processing and shipment to either a 'customer' or an out-of-state waste disposal facility.
It appears to the SRSCRO that disposal in a geologic repository like Yucca Mountain and/or the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) is a more appropriate approach for this type of waste stream and provides the additional level of safety, security, reliability to deter and eliminate any terrorist access to radioactive sealed sources in such waste.
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The proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear repository is facing a possible revival of sorts through the legal system (aka "Law and Order" style). The state of South Carolina, Aiken County, Washington State and three individuals from Washington State are arguing they are being damaged by the termination of the Yucca Mountain Project. The plaintiffs appealed in federal court in the District of Columbia on March 22 and faced questioning from a panel of three judges.
Seventy educators from school districts across the state of South Carolina discussed nuclear industry career opportunities for high school students at a recent professional development workshop, marking the first time the topic of long term nuclear industry careers was discussed at the semi-annual forum. Mindy Mets, SRSCRO Nuclear Workforce Initiative (NWI) Program Manager provided an overview of nuclear careers including those needed to meet long-term needs due to industry growth and workforce attrition. Anna Johnson, from Shaw AREVA MOX Services and chair of the NWI Staffing Committee, explained the skills employers are seeking in today's nuclear industry. Educators participating in the workshop included directors of career and technology education for career centers and school districts in South Carolina in addition to regional career specialists and state education representatives. Educators were enthusiastic about the topic and interested in receiving more information at future professional development events.
