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

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Draft p. 3.1.123<br />

Issue<br />

78<br />

CONSEQUENCE ANALYSIS<br />

A common fatal/nonfatal accident rate was used for surface construction activities<br />

which seems reasonable. However, a common rate was also used for the underground construc-<br />

tion. This rate was derived from underground mining other than coal. To be closer to the<br />

truth in this area, the accident rates for more representative industries should be used.<br />

For the salt repository, the accident statistics from salt mining and potash mining should<br />

be used. For granite and basalt, underground metal and nonmetal hardrock mining is more<br />

appropriate, and for shale, use the coal mine accident statistics. (218-DOI)<br />

Response<br />

DOE agrees that the inclusion <strong>of</strong> this information would be desirable. However, DOE<br />

does not believe that such a level <strong>of</strong> precision is necessary nor that the conclusions <strong>of</strong><br />

the Statement would be changed if more precise data had been available.<br />

Draft p. 3.1.123<br />

Issue<br />

Provide justification for all the assertions in the discussion <strong>of</strong> a tornado strike.<br />

Specifically, the dimensions <strong>of</strong> the salt pile, the size <strong>of</strong> the pieces, the probability <strong>of</strong><br />

the tornado, its maximum wind speed, the amount <strong>of</strong> material removed and the resultant con-<br />

centration in air.<br />

In addition, no reason is given for discussing this accident. Is it the worst nonradi-<br />

ological accident possible, is it the only one considered, or is there another reason for<br />

its choice? What about other accidents? No conclusions are presented. Should measures be<br />

taken to protect salt piles from tornados? Has a cost-benefit analysis been made?<br />

(208-NRC)<br />

Response<br />

Section 3.2 describes the basis for non-radiological accident analyses in the final<br />

Statement. Several non-radiological accidents were selected for analysis with potential for<br />

<strong>of</strong>f-site consequences. The tornado, striking a salt tailings pile, is considered to be rep-<br />

resentative <strong>of</strong> non-radiological accidents at a mining site with potential for <strong>of</strong>fsite con-<br />

sequences. The salt tailings pile at the waste repository is discussed in Section 7.4 <strong>of</strong><br />

DOE/ET-0028. It is 1 km wide at the bottom, 910 m at the top, 30 m tall and 940 m long.<br />

All <strong>of</strong> the pile would be covered with soil except for parts that are being used. Several<br />

days mining volume could be uncovered in a pile 100 m long by 70 m wide and at 18 m high.<br />

The size distribution <strong>of</strong> salt pieces is assumed to be typical <strong>of</strong> salt in an "as mined" con-<br />

dition. Small sizes would be required to allow mechanical handling <strong>of</strong> the mine muck.

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