Lack of consistent free release standards for solid materials has been an issue that has been around for several decades. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has had specific and dose-based standards for the release of liquids and gases for several decades, but no regulatory mechanisms for the release of solid materials from a nuclear power plant. Even though free releases of small quantities of solid materials continue under existing guidelines from operating plants, the regulatory void creates major difficulties for the bulk materials that result from decommissioning projects. For the nation's fleet of nuclear reactors the cost of this regulatory void could be as high as $10 billion. The NRC has recently resumed the enhanced rulemaking process that was originally initiated in 1999 but was deferred pending a study by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS)/National Research Council.
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