The DOE is seeking legislation to establish the NRC as the regulatory agency with jurisdiction over nuclear health, safety, and security at a wide range of DOE facilities. At this stage, it appears that as many as 200 (though not all) DOE facilities would be affected. On March 28, 1997, the NRC officially endorsed taking over the responsibility for regulatory oversight of DOE nuclear facilities as the DOE had proposed, contingent upon adequate funding, staffing resources, and a clear delineation of NRC authority.This legislative initiative would create profound changes in the day-to-day operation of DOE facilities and in the conduct of remediation and waste management activities at those DOE facilities undergoing closure and decommissioning. For the first time on a large scale, DOE plants, activities, and operations that have never been subjected to external, independent nuclear safety regulation would be required to comply with the requirements of an expert, seasoned, external regulator with broad enforcement powers.To meet these new challenges, the DOE and the major contractors that operate these facilities should consider not only the "lessons learned" from the NRC's historical regulation of the commercial nuclear industry, but also the most recent, highly relevant experience of NRC regulation of DOE facilities-especially the NRC's 1996 certification of the gaseous diffusion uranium enrichment plants (GDPs).Thls article first contrasts the ways in which the NRC and the DOE carry out their basic regulatory functions. Next, it describes the NRC's current authority over DOE facilities and the status of the DOE'S initiative to expand that authority. Then, it discusses the basic changes and impacts that can be expected in the regulation of DOE facilities. The article next describes key lessons learned from the recent transition of the GDPs from DOE oversight to NRC regulation and the major regulatory issues that arose in that transition. Finally, some general strategies are suggested for resolving issues likely to arise as the

Portions of this document may be illegible in electronic image products. Images are produced from the best available original document.

Portions of this document may be illegible in electronic image products. Images are produced from the best available original document. DOEILLW-250a Licensing an Assured Isolation Facility for Low-Level Radioactive Waste Volume I: Licensing Strategy and Issues