23.04.2013 Views

Management of Commercially Generated Radioactive Waste - U.S. ...

Management of Commercially Generated Radioactive Waste - U.S. ...

Management of Commercially Generated Radioactive Waste - U.S. ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Issue<br />

17<br />

SITING ISSUES<br />

One commenter suggested that the final Statement include sufficient detailed informa-<br />

tion that would outline those requirements <strong>of</strong> the Federal Land Policy and <strong>Management</strong> ACT<br />

(FLPMA) that pertain to withdrawal <strong>of</strong> public lands for a waste disposal site. This com-<br />

menter also suggested that an analysis <strong>of</strong> the trade-<strong>of</strong>fs between storage <strong>of</strong> nuclear wastes<br />

and existing uses <strong>of</strong> public lands be given attention in the final Statement. (218-DI0)<br />

Response<br />

Legislation such as the FLPMA will be considered as part <strong>of</strong> the site selection process.<br />

Such concerns would be evaluated in specific environmental impact statements following<br />

selection <strong>of</strong> several candidate sites. Except for the spoils piles the surface could reason-<br />

ably be restored to preconstruction use(s). The spoils piles, even if on the order <strong>of</strong> 2 km<br />

square would not significantly impact on most land use. It is unlikely that a repository<br />

would be sited in an area where removal <strong>of</strong> small parcels <strong>of</strong> land from present use would con-<br />

stitute a substantial impact.<br />

Issue<br />

One commenter was confused by the repository site characterization process outlined in<br />

the draft Statement and raised a question as to the land use arrangements that will be<br />

required prior to test coring at a site. (181) Another commenter felt that more informa-<br />

tion should be provided on the site evaluation process. (218-DOI)<br />

Response<br />

A revised and more detailed discussion <strong>of</strong> the site exploration and characterization<br />

process appears in Section 2.3 <strong>of</strong> the final Statement. The DOE Position Paper to the NRC<br />

rulemaking proceedings (DOE 1980a) contains a thorough presentation <strong>of</strong> the Department's pro-<br />

gram for identification, characterization, aquisition and selection <strong>of</strong> potential repository<br />

sites.<br />

Issue<br />

One commenter noted that from the analysis presented, it appears that nonradiological<br />

environmental impact considerations will not influence the selection among the six geolog-<br />

ical disposal options for a given fuel cycle operation. However, even if this is true, con-<br />

sideration <strong>of</strong> environmental impacts will be important in site selection for any <strong>of</strong> the<br />

geological options selected. It is not readily evident whether one geological option should<br />

be selected before a comparison <strong>of</strong> alternative sites is made or whether, indeed, at a later<br />

date the site selection will include consideration <strong>of</strong> different geological options. Con-<br />

siderations <strong>of</strong> this type should be part <strong>of</strong> the "programmatic strategy" selection to be sup-<br />

ported by the GEIS. (208-NRC)

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!