N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 6 §§ 383-7.4

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 45, November 2, 2024

Section 383-7.4 - Additional design and construction requirements for aboveground and belowground disposal units

(a) Loads and load combinations.

(1) The disposal units must be designed and constructed to withstand the loads and load combinations, including dead load, live load, soil and surcharge loading, and loads resulting from major natural phenomena, without undergoing deformation, settlement, or cracking that could adversely affect the ability of the land disposal facility to meet the performance objectives.

(2) All design loads and load combinations must include appropriate load factors and safety factors in accordance with standard engineering practices unless otherwise specified in these regulations. In the absence of, or deviation from, relevant codes and standard engineering practice, the applicant must provide in the application the rationale for selection of particular loads, safety factors, and/or related structural analysis methods.

(b) Structural analysis and design.

(1) Structural analysis and design must be performed under the direction of a licensed engineer and reviewed and certified by a licensed engineer. The licensed engineer must have a minimum of 10 years experience in structural analysis and design involving structures and materials similar to those proposed for the disposal units, but not necessarily disposal units for radioactive waste.

(2) Documents containing detailed design and construction plans and specifications must be submitted in the permit application. These documents must include descriptions of the foundations, structures, structural systems and major components; design drawings; material properties and reasons for selecting particular materials; design calculations, including pertinent assumptions, criteria and data references; seismic analysis; descriptions and copies of all computer programs used in design, including method of validation; listings of all relevant codes and standards followed; construction sequence; and a description of all special procedures to provide reasonable assurance that the performance objectives will be met.

(3) The bearing capacity of the foundation soils must be verified by testing. The foundation design must be based on the determined bearing capacity and include a safety factor consistent with standard engineering practice to prevent subsidence or shifting of the structure that could adversely affect the ability of the land disposal facility to meet the performance objectives.

(c) Design of concrete structures.

(1) Standard. The analysis and design procedures to be used for concrete structures must, at a minimum, be in compliance with the 1989 edition of the American Concrete Institute Manual of Concrete Practice (see section 383-1.8 of this Part). For structural steel members and components, the analysis and design must, at a minimum, be in compliance with the ninth edition (1990) of the American Institute of Steel Construction Manual of Steel Construction (see section 383-1.8 of this Part).

(2) Use of reinforcement.

(i) The use of steel reinforcement must be minimized in concrete structures that form the essential components of the disposal units. Steel reinforcement may be utilized to control shrinkage and thermal stresses to minimize cracking of concrete during the construction and operation periods, but must not be relied upon for long-term stability following facility closure.

(ii) The load-bearing capacity for any structural component must be at least 1.5 times the maximum design load assuming the concrete cover to the reinforcement and the reinforcement itself are not effective.

(iii) In minimizing the reinforcing steel required, the concrete members of the components essential to the stability of the disposal units must be designed to place as much of the structure as possible in compression throughout the design life of the disposal units while meeting the other design requirements and providing reasonable assurance that the performance objectives will be met. The design must be accomplished without the use of pre-stressing mechanisms such as rods or wires.

(iv) The use of alternative, corrosion-resistant reinforcing materials that can meet the design requirements may be proposed in the permit application.

(d) Quality and durability of construction materials.

(1) General material requirements.

(i) Construction materials used in all structures and components of the disposal units must be of adequate composition, quality and quantity to provide reasonable assurance that the structures and components will function as designed and that the performance objectives will be met. The materials must be tested and shown to meet the standards of quality and durability as specified in the plans and specifications approved in the permit, to be compatible with all other components of the disposal unit, and to provide reasonable assurance of long-term performance. All materials must be monitored for radioactive contamination prior to use. An operating portal monitoring system approved by the department will be sufficient to satisfy this requirement.

(ii) Where no codes or standards exist, or the recognized codes and standards do not adequately address the properties required, the applicant must submit documentation in the application describing the rationale of choice, test methods and data, and/or the in-service history that substantiates the selection and the use of the material for the intended application.

(iii) All synthetic and manufactured materials must be installed in accordance with the engineering plans and specifications approved in the permit and, unless otherwise authorized by the department, in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.

(2) Concrete materials.

(i) Concrete material types and proportioning, concrete placement, and curing must be specified to achieve the required design strength, minimize shrinkage and heat of hydration, and maximize density, impermeability, durability, and resistance to chemical attack. Admixtures and constituent materials the sole purpose of which is construction convenience and which may have a possible long-term detrimental effect on the concrete must not be used.

(ii) The materials used in the concrete, including admixtures and the concrete constituents, must be tested and approved as compatible, nonreactive, and acceptable for the application. The testing methods must be identified in the application.

(iii) Concrete constituents must be selected to avoid possible reactivity between the cement alkalis and the aggregate and any potential reactivity of the materials with the disposed waste.

(3) Structural steel, concrete reinforcing, and miscellaneous metals.

(i) Structural steel and miscellaneous metals utilized in the construction of the disposal units must be protected against corrosion. The use of corrosion-resistant metals must be evaluated and may be used if approved by the department.

(ii) Reinforcing steel and other metals embedded in concrete must be protected against corrosion. The design of concrete disposal units must compensate for protective methods that affect concrete bonding.

(4) The quality assurance and control program for the construction of concrete disposal unit structures must include field radiography, transmission, or back-scatter beam technology or other nondestructive techniques and related testing as specified in the QA/QC program required by section 383-7.2(c) of this Subpart to detect any voids or cracks that could lead to subsequent shielding or stability problems.

(e) Water infiltration resistance.

(1) Concrete structures and concrete components must be designed and constructed to minimize the occurrence of cracking.

(2) The use of construction joints must be limited to the maximum extent practicable. Construction and expansion joints that are installed must contain waterstops and joint sealants. The waterstops and joint sealants selected must have proven durability and compatibility with the concrete and other materials with which they will be in contact.

(3) Construction and expansion joints in the concrete must be designed to resist leakage.

(f) External drainage. An exterior passive filter and drainage system must be located under and around the base of each disposal unit to divert any water that has infiltrated the soil or rock around the disposal unit to a foundation drain and a sump so that any infiltrated water can be monitored, collected, and treated as necessary throughout the operation, closure, and post-closure periods.

(g) Internal drainage.

(1) The disposal units must be designed and constructed with an internal drainage system to minimize the contact of infiltrating water with the waste. The drainage system must be designed and constructed to ensure the passive release of infiltrating water to the permeable bottom layer of buffer material required by subdivision (h) of this section throughout the operation, closure, and post-closure periods.

(2) The drainage system must include collection sump(s) (separate from the exterior drainage system and sump) so that any water that infiltrates the disposal unit can be collected and monitored as required by section 383-10.5 of this Part.

(h) Retention of radionuclides. The disposal unit must be designed and constructed with a permeable bottom layer (or layers) of buffer material that has the capacity to retard the release of radionuclides from the disposal unit caused by water that may infiltrate the disposal unit and the waste. The properties of the buffer material, the rationale for selecting a particular buffer material, and the required buffer layer thickness must be documented as part of the application.

(i) Security and intrusion resistance.

(1) The design of the disposal units must incorporate provisions to meet the requirements of section 382.33(a) or 382.34 of this Title.

(2) The design of the disposal units must include provisions to prevent unauthorized entrance during operations.

(j) Sealing requirements. The inner surfaces of the disposal unit must be sealed to protect against water infiltration and damage by other elements. The coating or sealer material selected must have been demonstrated to have durability, impermeability, bonding strength (with respect to concrete and similar structural materials), and tensile strength.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 6 §§ 383-7.4