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radiation-services

Radiation Services

MIXED WASTE

Waste containing both radioactive and hazardous constituents has been generated since the begining of the commercial nuclear industry. This waste has come to be known as mixed waste. When the first Federal regulations covering radioactivity were adopted, they were intended to apply to all radioactive materials, without consideration of other hazardous characteristics. During the early 1980s, State and Federal agencies began to question generators and site operators regarding mixed wastes and compliance with the requirements of RCRA. By 1995, as a result of public and congressional attention, radioactive/hazardous mixed wastes were addressed as a part of the Low-Level Radioactive Policy Amendments Act (LLRWPAA) of 1985. In 1988, the EPA assumed regulatory control of mixed waste storage and treatment facility (TSDF) permitting. Mixed wastes are now subject to joint control by the NRC/Agreement States and EPA.

ACCEPTABLE WASTES

  • Reactives
  • Isobutanol
  • Methanol
  • Methyl Ethyl Ketone
  • Napthalene
  • Pyridene
  • Toluene
  • Xylene
  • Empty containers
  • Miscellaneous chemical contaminated materials
  • Labpacks and containers to be consolidated into labpacks
  • Paint sludge
  • Paint sludge containing chlorinated solventss
  • Igniable wastes
  • Toxicity characteristic wastes
  • Acutely hazardous wastes
  • Toxics
  • Cyanides
  • Wastewater containing organics, metals and oils
  • Organic liquids
  • Sludge from oxidation/reduction
  • Solids from solvent still
  • Stabilized waste
  • Sludge from blending/separation/ storage tanks
  • Spent halogenated solvents
  • Oil and solvents
  • Acetone
  • n-Butyl alcohol
  • Corrosives
  • Waste ion exchange media and solids
  • Benzene
  • Consolidated hazardous solids
  • Cyclohexane
  • Cyclohexanone
  • 1,4 Dioxane
  • Ethyl acetate
  • Formaldehyde
  • Cumene
  • Waste carbon adsorption media and solids
  • Filter solids and media
  • Hazardous liquids and solid material
  • Ethyl ether
  • Blended hazardous waste fuel
  • Compressed hazardous waste gas
  • Spent non-halogenated solvents

STORAGE & PERMITTING

NSSI is currently permitted with a storage and processing capacity of 58,530 gallons in 20 tanks. An additional capacity of 180,793 gallons of container storage is provided in 5 container storage areas. NSSI provides temporary permitted storage services for generators of hazardous and radioactive waste.
NSSI operated as an interim status Waste Treatment and Storage facility from 1980 to 1990. NSSI subsequently submitted the required Part B application and received a final Part B permit in October, 1990.

SPECIAL PROVISION

Radioactive or nuclear waste materials (i.e., waste material which emits ionizing radiation spontaneously) which also fit the acceptable waste descriptions above.

MIXED WASTE

Mixed waste generation studies have indicated that 3-10% of all Low Level Radioactive Waste is mixed waste containing both radioactive and chemical constituents. Mixed wastes are generated by many industrial, medical, and educational facilities

PERMITTED TREATMENTS

  • Operation of Mercury Retort Unit
  • Recovery of waste chemicals and other material for reuse or resale
  • Blending of wastes to form a fuel for use off site
  • Recycling of solvents
  • Breaking down lab packs for reconsolidations for off-site disposal or onsite processing
  • Consolidation of waste containers intolabpacks
  • Neutralization, oxidation, reduction, and other chemical reactions or physical processing (e.g. distillation) to render wastes less hazardous or more suitable for offsite disposal or on-site processing in an authorized tank or container storage unit
  • Cleaning of cullet or particulate solids, empty drums, and equipment
  • Centrifugation, filtration, and ion exchange in portable equipment within an authorized storage area
  • Solidification or stabilization (including amalgamation) in portable equipment in an authorized container storage area
  • Shredding of containers for recovery of contents
  • Consolidation of miscellaneous compatible hazardous waste
  • Chemical and/or mechanical treatment to accomplish separation, settling, or clarification in portable rquipment within an authorized container storage area
  • Removal of hazardous constituents by absorption on solid media in portable equipment within an authorized container storage area
  • Drying of solids to meet off-site disposal criteria for release of water only