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

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Draft p. 3.1.61<br />

Issue<br />

278<br />

MULTIBARRIERS FOR DISPOSAL<br />

One commenter stated that the stainless steel/lead/titanium composite canister is<br />

undoubtedly very expensive. Titanium is not exactly plentiful either. Mass production <strong>of</strong><br />

these canisters may become prohibitive. (35)<br />

Response<br />

Using the canister description on p. 3.1.61 <strong>of</strong> the draft Statement, the cost <strong>of</strong> a<br />

steel/lead/titanium canister was estimated as follows:<br />

lead requirement per canister 1,800 kg @ $1.10/kg $ 2,000<br />

fabricated titanium shell 108 kg @ $28/kg $ 3,000<br />

fabricated 30 cm dia. stainless steel canister $ 5,000<br />

total material cost<br />

$10,000<br />

additional fabrication and other costs $ 5,000<br />

TOTAL<br />

$15,000 or $ 5/kg HM<br />

The total cost <strong>of</strong> $5/kg HM for such packaging agrees well with EPA estimates <strong>of</strong> 4-6 $/kg HM.<br />

(EPA 1977).<br />

The incremental cost over that stated in the document is about $3/kg HM in a total<br />

waste management cost <strong>of</strong> approximately $160/kg HM or about two percent. Thus, use <strong>of</strong> such<br />

canisters does not appear to be prohibitive from an economic standpoint.<br />

In a 250 GWe system, approximately 80,000 canisters <strong>of</strong> high level waste would be gen-<br />

erated. This would require a total <strong>of</strong> 8,600 MT <strong>of</strong> titanium metal or less than half <strong>of</strong> one<br />

years average annual production for the period 1968-72 (DOI 1972). Availability, therefore,<br />

also does not appear to be a limiting factor.<br />

Draft p. 3.1.62<br />

Issue<br />

The statement is made that, "There apparently has been no information published on the<br />

corrosion resistance <strong>of</strong> the glass ceramic material under repository -- simulating test con-<br />

ditions." However, it is also stated (Table, p. 3.1.60) that glass ceramic canisters have<br />

an estimated life beyond 5,000 years. (9, 36)<br />

Response<br />

The statement is in reference to the Swedish program. The table was removed.

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