N. C. Regulations for Protection Against Radiation

15A NCAC 11 .1228          DISPOSAL SITE SUITABILITY REQUIREMENTS

(a)  The disposal site shall be capable of being characterized, modeled, analyzed, and monitored.

(b)  Within the region where the facility is to be located, a disposal site should be selected so that projected population growth and future developments are not likely to affect the ability of the disposal facility to meet the performance objectives of this Section.

(c)  Areas shall be avoided having known natural resources which, if exploited, would result in failure to meet the performance objectives of this Section.

(d)  The disposal site shall be well drained and free of areas of flooding or frequent ponding.  Waste disposal shall not take place in a 100‑year flood plain, coastal high‑hazard area or wetland, as defined in Executive Order 11988, "Floodplain Management Guidelines."

(e)  Upstream drainage areas shall be minimized to decrease the amount of runoff which could erode or inundate disposal units.

(f)  The disposal site shall provide sufficient depth to the water table that groundwater intrusion, perennial or otherwise, into the waste will not occur, provided however that the depth to the water table shall be sufficient to ensure that the bottom of the disposal facility may be at least seven feet above the seasonal high water table as provided in G.S. 104E‑25(j).

(g)  Areas shall be avoided that are the recharge areas of sole source aquifers or drinking water supply watersheds unless it can be demonstrated with reasonable assurance that the disposal site will be designed, constructed, operated, and closed without an unreasonable risk to an aquifer or drinking water supplies.

(h)  Waste disposal shall not take place within 1000 feet of drinking water wells, except for on‑site wells controlled by the licensee and used to supply water solely to the facility.  This minimum distance may be increased in any lateral direction when required by site‑specific conditions.

(i)  The hydrogeologic unit used for disposal shall not discharge groundwater to the surface within the disposal site.

(j)  Areas shall be avoided where tectonic processes such as faulting, folding, seismic activity, or vulcanism may occur with such frequency and extent to significantly affect the ability of the disposal site to meet the performance objectives of this Section, or may preclude defensible modeling and prediction of long‑term impacts.

(k)  Areas shall be avoided where surface geologic processes such as mass wasting, erosion, slumping, landsliding, or weathering occur with such frequency and extent to significantly affect the ability of the disposal site to meet the performance objectives of this Section, or may preclude defensible modeling of long‑term impacts.

(l)  The disposal site shall not be located where nearby facilities or activities could adversely impact the ability of the site to meet the performance objectives of this Section or significantly mask the environmental monitoring program.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 104E‑7; 104E‑10; 104E‑25; 104E‑26;

Eff. December 1, 1987.

NC Radiation Protection, 1645 Mail Service Center,
Raleigh, NC  27699-1645  919-571-4141  Fax  919-571-4148