NV5 led an effort to develop a radioactive materials license application for a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) treatment and storage facility to serve as a regional center for disposal of NORM waste. Under the Colorado regulations for low-level radioactive waste disposal, the RCRA Subtitle C disposal facility required a license to dispose of oil and gas production NORM waste. The State determined that a low-level waste disposal-type performance assessment was required as part of the licensing process. NV5 conducted the assessment using the RESRAD computer program, considered both operational and accidental releases of radioactive materials, and estimated the potential doses to workers and members of the public. In addition to onsite post-closure scenarios, a ground water scenario was included to determine if the NORM radionuclides could migrate to drinking water sources over a 10,000-year analysis period. The analysis was accepted as part of the licensing process, and the facility now serves as the designated NORM disposal facility for Rocky Mountain Compact radioactive waste.
