Manejo de residuos radiactivos

Contents

NRC headquarters offices are located in Rockville, Maryland.

Contents
Radioactive Waste: An Introduction................................... 1 High-Level Radioactive Waste........................................... 7

What is high-level waste? ............................................. 7 What is the role of NRC? .............................................. 7 How hazardousis high-level waste? ............................. 7 How and where is the waste stored? ............................ 9 How much high-level waste is there? ......................... 13 How and where will high-level waste be disposed of? ..... 14
(continued)

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Contents

Low-Level Radioactive Waste ......................................... 19

What is low-level waste?............................................. 19 Where does low-level waste come from? ................... 20 What is the role of NRC? ............................................ 24 How hazardous is low-level waste? ............................ 24 How is low-level waste stored? ................................... 25 How and where is low-level waste disposed of? ......... 26
Mill Tailings...................................................................... 31 Additional Information ..................................................... 34

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Radioactive Waste: Production, Storage, Disposal

Radioactive Waste: An Introduction
Radioactive wastes are the leftovers from the use of nuclear materials for the production of electricity, diagnosis and treatment of disease, and other purposes. The materialsare either naturally occurring or man-made. Certain kinds of radioactive materials, and the wastes produced from using these materials, are subject to regulatory control by the federal government or the states. The Department of Energy (DOE) is responsible for radioactive waste related to nuclear weapons production and certain research activities. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and somestates regulate commercial radioactive waste that results from the production of electricity and other non-military uses of nuclear material. Various other federal agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Health and Human Services, also have a role in the regulation of radioactive material. The NRC regulates the management,storage and disposal of radioactive waste produced as a result of NRC-licensed activities. The agency has entered into agreements with 32 states, called Agreement States, to allow these states to regulate the management, storage and disposal of certain nuclear waste.

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Radioactive Waste: Production, Storage, Disposal

Nuclear power plants, such as this Calvert Cliffs plant near Lusby,Maryland, produce electricity and, as a byproduct, produce radioactive waste.

The commercial radioactive waste that is regulated by the NRC or the Agreement States and that is the subject of this brochure is of three basic types: high-level waste, mill tailings, and low-level waste. High-level radioactive waste consists of “irradiated” or used nuclear reactor fuel (i.e., fuel that has been used in areactor to produce electricity). The used reactor fuel is in a solid form consisting of small fuel pellets in long metal tubes.

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Radioactive Waste: Production, Storage, Disposal

Mill tailings wastes are the residues remaining after the processing of natural ore to extract uranium and thorium. Commercial radioactive wastes that are not high-level wastes or uranium and thorium millingwastes are classified as lowlevel radioactive waste. The low-level wastes can include radioactively contaminated protective clothing, tools, filters, rags, medical tubes, and many other items. NRC licensees are encouraged to manage their activities so as to limit the amount of radioactive waste they produce. Techniques include avoiding the spread of radioactive contamination, surveying items to...