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.

96<br />

CONSEQUENCE ANALYSIS<br />

Briefly, the model is acceptable for one HLW scenario in Hanford alluvium. It is<br />

unacceptable for other scenarios at Hanford, and certainly unacceptable for any other rocks<br />

and waste types. Therefore, the seemingly comprehensive tables comparing health effects<br />

from radwaste disposal in salt, granite, shale, and basalt are difficult to justify. The<br />

draft EIS itself in several places follows the IRG in emphasizing the importance <strong>of</strong> site<br />

specific studies. We suggest the presentation <strong>of</strong> considerable numerical data in Section<br />

3.1.5.2 is not warranted; this should be resolved in the final Statement. (218-DOI)<br />

Response<br />

Modeling <strong>of</strong> groundwater migration is indeed limited because <strong>of</strong> the choice <strong>of</strong> param-<br />

eters. As suggested, less emphasis has been put on the analysis. An attempt to circumvent<br />

this problem was the introduction <strong>of</strong> a flooding and large stream flow scenario. This too<br />

is <strong>of</strong> limited use. In addition, a contaminated well scenario has been added.<br />

Draft p. I.1<br />

Issue<br />

One commenter raised questions on the following statement: "...the geologic repository<br />

system provides two potential means <strong>of</strong> protection from radioactive waste. The first means<br />

is containment <strong>of</strong> the waste for a sufficient length <strong>of</strong> time for the hazardous nuclides to<br />

decay to innocuous levels such that unrestricted release to the environment presents no<br />

radiological hazard. The second means is to limit the rate <strong>of</strong> release <strong>of</strong> nuclides to the<br />

biosphere such that their concentration in the constantly renewed local surface water and<br />

air never exceeds acceptable limits. The actual repository system will provide protection<br />

using some effective balance <strong>of</strong> these two means."<br />

What do the terms "innocuous levels," "acceptable limits," and "effective balance"<br />

really mean? These should be quantitatively defined. This statement indicates that a geo-<br />

logic repository system may be designed to include planned releases to surface water and<br />

air. Evidently the authors still support the archaic idea that the solution to pollution<br />

is dilution. (97)<br />

Response<br />

Such expressions as "innocuous levels," "acceptable limits" and "effective balance"<br />

have been, by and large, removed from the final Statement in favor <strong>of</strong> more meaningful<br />

language.

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

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!