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

3.5 NONTECHNICAL ISSUES
3.43
Many of the issues concerning the management and disposal of radioactive waste do not
confine themselves to strictly technical aspects of the problem. "Nontechnical issues"
refers to broad social, political, and institutional concerns. This discussion is, in large
part, based upon a Conference on Public Policy Issues in Nuclear Waste Management and on a
recent report (Hebert et al. 1978).
The first part of this discussion organizes the nuclear waste issues into a smaller
subset of issues and describes various positions on the issues. Further, the response to
the issues raised by government agencies is discussed. The second part of this discussion
examines in detail two areas of concern: short-term institutional arrangements and insti-
tutional arrangements for the long term.
3.5.1 Social Issues
A major issue concerning some people is the balancing of risks and benefits between
this generation and future generations. One position on the issue is: at present transfor-
mation of the long-lived radioactive wastes into more short-lived forms is not feasible.
As a result, future generations will have a burden of surveillance and monitoring, of risk
to health and safety, and of corrective action should a containment breach occur, either
from human or natural causes. Those holding this view state since this burden is difficult
to specify and since the nation can afford to forego nuclear power benefits, production of
more wastes would be morally irresponsible. An opposite position stresses that the risk
exported to future generations is not unique to radioactive waste, is lower than commonly
accepted risks, is a threat to relatively few people, and is low because of manmade and geo-
logic barriers. Such low risk does not constitute an unfair burden given the benefits of
nuclear power. A third position on this issue takes a more global view., Those with this
view state that the issue of waste should be considered in the context of the benefits and
costs and risks of all energy sources, not just nuclear power. For example, the problem of
nuclear wastes should be viewed in the context of the benefit of preserving fossil fuels for
future generations.
The issue of distribution of risk between generations is being examined by the Depart-
ment of Energy and also by EPA and NRC. Early draft criteria by EPA have been explicitly
concerned with this problem and reviewed in a public workshop held in Denver on March 30,
1980 (43 FR 2223). In his February 12, 1980 message on waste management, the President
stated that his paramount objective is to "protect the health and safety of all Americans,
both now and in the future." The Department of Energy in its Statement of Position on the
Waste Confidence Rulemaking Hearings (DOE-NE-0007) takes recognition of this issue in its
stated performance objectives, especially Objective 2, which specifies isolation for
10,000 years with no prediction of significant decrease in isolation thereafter, and Objec-
tive 5, which stresses conservatism in technical approach to provide assurance that regula-
tory standards can be met.