ABSTRACT
The quality assurance requirements in use today for radioactive waste facilities, geologic repositories, and hazardous waste projects were developed initially for the nuclear power plant industry. The intent of those requirements is being applied by regulations and guidance documents to radioactive and hazardous waste projects. The wording of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) quality assurance requirements in Appendix B of 10 CFR 50, the related guidance documents, and the industry’s ANSI NQA-1 were developed over a period of several years to address quality assurance for the design and construction of the complex and interactive systems to produce electrical power using nuclear fuel.
Todays scientists and technical project managers are tasked with the application of quality assurance principles to waste management and environmental restoration projects using quality assurance standards developed for the nuclear power plant industry. This paper describes a suggested approach to be adopted by scientists and technical project managers that will result in meeting project objectives without the frustration of feeling overcontrolled.
