Section 606.80  Closure, Post-Closure, Maintenance, and Institutional Care

a)         Closure, Post-Closure, Maintenance and Institutional Care – Performance Objective:

1)         The facility shall be closed in a manner that isolates waste and requires only minor custodial care for ongoing maintenance to assure long term performance.

2)         The facility shall be closed in a manner which considers future beneficial uses, so documented in the provisions required under 32 Ill. Adm. Code 605, of the site and surrounding areas consistent with 32 Ill. Adm. Code 605.70(b).  This objective shall  not be accomplished by any method which compromises, or in any way, lessens the ability of the facility to be closed in accordance with other objectives and requirements of this Part and 32 Ill. Adm. Code 601.

b)         Closure, Post-Closure, Maintenance and Institutional Care Requirements:

1)         Closure Plan – The facility operator shall prepare a closure plan prior to constructing the facility.  The plan shall be consistent with the performance objectives of this Part and 32 Ill. Adm. Code 601, and shall include, but need not be limited to the following:

A)        A procedure for disposal of all waste and contaminated equipment remaining on site at the time of closure, removal of structures and equipment, and installation of permanent markers;

B)        An estimate of the funds needed to close the facility, and provisions for assuring the availability of those funds pursuant to 32 Ill. Adm. Code 601, and Section 14(b) of The Act;

C)        A description of how the facility closure will satisfy the performance objectives of this Section and the requirements of 32 Ill. Adm. Code 601;

D)        A description of the permissible users of the facility and buffer zone following any closure; and

E)         A description of the monitoring systems to be implemented during the closure, post-closure, and institutional control periods.

2)         Closure Funds – The facility operator shall maintain or provide for the availability of funds sufficient to implement the closure plan.  The amount of the funds shall be based on the assumption that an independent contractor other than the facility operator, will be hired to implement the plan.  Mechanisms for assuring that closure funds are available are as specified in 32 Ill. Adm. Code 601.310(g).

3)         Disposal Module Closure:

A)        The facility operator shall close each disposal module as it reaches its designed waste capacity, or sooner, if needed for safe operation, e.g., to avoid unnecessarily subjecting open modules to freeze/thaw cycles, or to avoid unnecessary worker exposures.  Closures shall be in accordance with the plan for facility closure and pursuant to a license amendment granted by the Department in accordance with 32 Ill. Adm. Code 601.

B)        The facility operator shall submit an application to the Department for a license amendment to close each disposal module not more than 90 days or less than 30 days prior to any anticipated closure.

C)        Not later than 30 days following any disposal unit closure, the facility operator shall certify in writing to the Department that the disposal unit has been closed in accordance with the requirements of this Part.

4)         Facility Closure:

A)        The facility operator shall close the facility at the end of its operating lifetime.

B)        Not more than two years nor less than one year prior to anticipated facility closure, the facility operator shall submit an application to the Department for a license amendment to close the facility.

C)        Upon granting of the license amendment, the facility operator shall close the facility in accordance with the closure plan and the license conditions imposed.

D)        Within six months of completing facility closure, the facility operator shall certify in writing to the Department that the facility has been closed in accordance with the requirements of this Part.

c)         Post-Closure Active Maintenance Requirements:

1)         Post-Closure Active Maintenance Plan − The facility operator shall prepare, prior to constructing the facility, a plan for active facility maintenance.  The plan shall be consistent with the performance objectives of this Part and 32 Ill. Adm. Code 601, and shall include, but need not be limited to:

A)        A procedure for accepting, and evaluating, the performance of both engineered and natural barriers to radionuclide release or migration at the facility.

B)        A procedure for monitoring the air, soil, surface water, and groundwater at the facility site.

C)        A procedure for confirming that the facility will meet the long term performance objectives of this Part or the requirements of 32 Ill. Adm. Code 601.

D)        A procedure for identifying potential failure to meet the performance objectives of this Part or the requirements of 32 Ill. Adm. Code 601.

E)         A procedure for correcting any condition that would result in a failure to meet the performance objectives of this Part or the performance objectives of 32 Ill. Adm. Code 601.

F)         An estimate of the funds needed to implement the plan for a period of ten years.

2)         Post-Closure Active Maintenance:

A)        The facility operator shall conduct a program for active site maintenance for a ten year period following facility closure.

B)        The operator shall remain at the facility site, inspect and repair engineered barriers, as necessary, maintain site security, and continue the program of facility monitoring and reporting to the Department.

d)         Institutional Care and Monitoring:  Requirements

1)         Institutional Care and Maintenance Plan – The facility operator shall prepare, prior to constructing the facility, a plan for the long term care, maintenance, and monitoring of the facility.  The plan shall describe the activities to be taken by the site owner following the ten year period of active maintenance by the facility operator and after transfer of title and custody and termination of the facility license.  The plan shall be consistent with the performance objectives of this Part and 32 Ill. Adm. Code 601, and shall include but need not be limited to the following:

A)        A procedure for monitoring the air, soil, surface, and groundwater at the facility site, and in the vicinity of the facility site.

B)        Plans for taking remedial action in the event that the facility fails to meet the performance objectives of this Part and 32 Ill. Adm. Code 601.

C)        An estimate of the costs necessary to carry out the institutional monitoring plan for a period of 300 years.

D)        An estimate of the costs of implementing the remedial action plans.

e)         Transfer of Custody − At the end of the post-closure care and maintenance period, the facility operator shall submit a report to the Department regarding the projected long term performance of the facility and shall apply for a license amendment, in accordance with the requirements of 32 Ill. Adm. Code 601.170, for termination of the license and transfer of title and custody of the facility to the State of Illinois.

(Source:  Amended at 12 Ill. Reg. 18171, effective October 31, 1988)