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

192
COSTS
3. The construction cost differences between fuel cycles for the same repository media
are mainly due to the different mining requirements noted in column 3. The rest of the
differences are due to slightly higher costs for facilities and shafts in the reproces-
sing waste repositories.
Draft p. 1.28
Issue
A question was raised whether DOE had used a reliable contractor in developing an esti-
mate of the cost of deep excavation into a hard rock formation. (213)
Response
The cost figures cited for the mining aspect of the disposal operation were developed
by a firm recognized as an expert in development of cost information for mining engineering
activites.
Draft p. 3.1.119
Issue
One commenter noted that there is an inconsistency in the unit cost of spent fuel stor-
age stated in Table 3.1.82 and the text. (113-EPA)
Response
The inconsistency noted in the question apparently refers to the assumption that six
year storage of 3/4 of the spent fuel at $6/kg/yr and 1/4 at $14/kg/yr should cost 36 and
84 $/kg respectively instead of the $30/kg and $67/kg stated in the footnotes to
Table 3.1.82.
The above calculation does not take into account the effect of the cost of money on
the timing of the storage charge receipts. This effect can be taken into account by dis-
counting the unit costs by the present worth uniform annual series factor which is 4.8 for
6 years at a 7 percent cost of money. Thus, the accurate cost calculation is (3/4 x 6
+ 1/4 x 14) x 4.8 = $39/kg.
While draft Table 3.1.82 has been deleted from the final Statement for other reasons,
similar calculations are embodied in the tables replacing it (see Section 4.9).