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

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Response<br />

176<br />

WASTE MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS<br />

Conditions at specific repository sites may warrant longer (up to 50 years) periods <strong>of</strong><br />

readily retrievable emplacement before sufficient confidence exists to permit backfilling.<br />

For a repository in salt, the amount <strong>of</strong> salt creep is also highly site dependent and may be<br />

more severe at some locations. For this generic Statement, a site was assumed where 5<br />

years was a sufficient period <strong>of</strong> ready retrievability and salt creep was not excessive.<br />

Section 5.3.1.5 <strong>of</strong> the final Statement discusses alternative measures to allow longer ready<br />

retrievability periods.<br />

Draft p. 3.1.36<br />

Issue<br />

One commenter noted that seismic occurrences during repository construction and<br />

operation are the primary risk to repository integrity. (35)<br />

Response<br />

Due to the relatively short period <strong>of</strong> time that the repository is in the operational<br />

phase compared to the isolation phase, earthquakes during this period are unlikely. If an<br />

earthquake does occur during the construction and operation <strong>of</strong> the repository, consequences<br />

<strong>of</strong> the event are mitigated by a facility designed to resist ground motion and trained<br />

personnel and equipment available to respond to any localized destruction.<br />

Draft p. 3.1.37<br />

Issue<br />

The statement--"...maintaining retrievability longer than needed to reasonably assure<br />

repository operation increases the occupational and general populace risk."--is<br />

unsubstantiated. (208-NRC)<br />

Response<br />

The substantiation is as follows: If workers enter the repository for inspections,<br />

occupational dose will increase and simply being in a deep-geologic mine has a certain<br />

anount <strong>of</strong> risk involved. Also, the general populace risk increases because the geologic<br />

barrier is not sealed, thus decreasing the number <strong>of</strong> barriers that assure containment <strong>of</strong> the<br />

nuclides.

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