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.

Response<br />

239<br />

GEOLOGIC CONSIDERATIONS<br />

An effort has been made to more clearly identify the research and development needs for<br />

mined geologic disposal. See Section 5.2 and Appendix L <strong>of</strong> the final statement.<br />

Draft p. 3.1.26<br />

Issue<br />

The great deficiency in the hydrologic data base is actual field studies and methods<br />

for obtaining rock dispersivities and in-situ sorption studies for a variety <strong>of</strong> geologic,<br />

hydrologic and geochemical environments. (208-NRC)<br />

Response<br />

The Department agrees that this is an area where information is incomplete. These<br />

types <strong>of</strong> data gaps or insufficiencies are pointed out where they are known to exist and an<br />

effort is made to identify what is being done to remedy them. Both dispersivities and sorp-<br />

tion are currently being studied. See Section 5.2 <strong>of</strong> the final version.<br />

Draft p. 3.1.27<br />

Issue<br />

If aqueous radioactive waste is that which has been leached from the solid form by<br />

groundwater, this should be said. Otherwise people might think there is a plan afoot to<br />

bury liquid wastes. (181)<br />

Response<br />

The statement has been deleted.<br />

Draft p. 3.1.28<br />

Issue<br />

The discussion <strong>of</strong> the design <strong>of</strong> the repository considers most <strong>of</strong> the factors which<br />

would influence the isolation <strong>of</strong> the waste. However, there is no consideration <strong>of</strong> the pos-<br />

sibility <strong>of</strong> underground collapse. The literature is filled with accounts <strong>of</strong> underground<br />

mines which have collapsed, and caused progressive fracturing to extend upwards toward the<br />

surface. Some <strong>of</strong> these failed mines are several hundred feet deep. None <strong>of</strong> them are more<br />

than a few hundred years old. (214)

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

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!