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

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Draft p. iv<br />

Issue<br />

26<br />

ORGANIZATION AND PRESENTATION<br />

One commenter objected to a-perceived implied accusation (paragraph 4, sentence 3) that<br />

interim away from reactor spent fuel storage is lacking a firm technological base. (181)<br />

Response<br />

This comment is the result <strong>of</strong> a misinterpretation <strong>of</strong> the topic being discussed in the<br />

referenced paragraph. The ISF referred to in this paragraph is not an away from reactor<br />

storage facility or an interim spent fuel storage facility but an intermediate-scale facil-<br />

ity for a geologic repository development.<br />

Draft p. 1.1<br />

Issue<br />

Several commenters did not feel that the two primary conclusions stated on p. 1.1 were<br />

completely substantiated by the information in the text. (43, 97, 208-NRC, 217)<br />

An additional commenter noted that it has not been established that geologic reposi-<br />

tories are the best option--only that they may be an acceptable option for the first phase<br />

<strong>of</strong> disposal. Therefore, conclusion (2) does not follow from conclusion (1). (218-DOI)<br />

Response<br />

As noted below, DOE has taken several steps to improve the organization and content <strong>of</strong><br />

the Statement. While the Department is <strong>of</strong> the opinion that the two primary conclusions<br />

- The disposal <strong>of</strong> radioactive waste in geologic formations can likely be developed<br />

with minimal environmental consequences, and<br />

- Therefore, the program emphasis should be on the establishment <strong>of</strong> mined reposi-<br />

tories as the operative disposal technology.<br />

were a logical result <strong>of</strong> the analysis in the draft, the final Statement more fully supports<br />

these conclusions. DOE is not required to develop the "best" action from an environmental<br />

perspective before proceeding, an environmentally acceptable one is sufficient.<br />

The proposed action outlined in this Statement calls for primary emphasis on geologic<br />

disposal with secondary emphasis on other disposal technologies.

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