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

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Response<br />

174<br />

WASTE MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS<br />

The number <strong>of</strong> 2000 acre repositories required is identified as a range <strong>of</strong> values for<br />

both the once-through and reprocessing cycle in Table 7.3.10 <strong>of</strong> the final Statement. The<br />

startup schedule will be dependent upon whether the proposed program or the alternative pro-<br />

gram is adopted and on the geologic medium selected for the initial repository, and on the<br />

extent that regional repositories are sited (i.e. how many repositories will be operating<br />

concurrently). Because <strong>of</strong> these variables, it is not feasible to identify the repository<br />

startup schedules in this Statement except to identify a range <strong>of</strong> dates for startup <strong>of</strong> the<br />

initial repository.<br />

Draft p. 2.1.4<br />

Issue<br />

One commenter stated that the draft did not address the question <strong>of</strong> the final disposi<br />

tion <strong>of</strong> very long-lived fission or activation products, such as 129I, 59 Ni, and 99 Tc, which<br />

are separated from TRU or high-level wastes. Cost/benefit estimates including them with the<br />

HLW and TRU wastes should be addressed. (208-NRC)<br />

Response<br />

The only long-lived fission product or activiation products that are assumed to be<br />

separated from TRU or high-level wastes in the assumed processing are 1291 and 14 C. The<br />

separated 1291 and 14 C is captured, immobilized, and packaged for disposal in a repository<br />

along with the packages <strong>of</strong> TRU waste. The 59 Ni is retained in the fuel residue (hulls and<br />

hardware) while the 99 Tc is retained with the rest <strong>of</strong> the fission products in the<br />

high-level waste. Thus, the effect <strong>of</strong> including these long lived nuclides with the TRU<br />

wastes has been addressed. See final Appendix A, Tables A.2.1a-A.3.9b.<br />

Draft pp. 2.1.17, 18, 19<br />

Issue<br />

The data on radioactivity content <strong>of</strong> the low-level TRU wastes in Section 2 <strong>of</strong> the<br />

draft Statement indicates it might not be necessary to send the low-level TRU waste to deep<br />

geologic disposal. In view <strong>of</strong> the large impact the low-level TRU waste has on repository<br />

volume, careful consideration should be given to the need for such disposal and the<br />

rationale clearly explained. (208-NRC)<br />

Response<br />

Although the volume <strong>of</strong> low-level TRU waste (referred to in the final Statement as<br />

contact-handled TRU waste) is quite large, it has a very small impact on repository area<br />

requirements. Table 7.5.3 in DOE/ET-0028 shows that these low-level TRU wastes utilize only<br />

1 to 2% <strong>of</strong> the repository area. This is because they can be placed much more compactly in

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

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!