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

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297<br />

REFERENCE ENVIRONMENTS<br />

The complaint that the Statement fails to remind the reader that conclusions reached<br />

relate only to the particular conditions set forth in the reference environment are perhaps<br />

valid. To respond to this comment the following addition was made to Section 5.4 <strong>of</strong> the<br />

final Statement. "The reader should keep in mind that impact assessments and comparisons<br />

in this report that are based on reference environments are to a degree site specific and<br />

therefore limited to one set <strong>of</strong> environmental conditions. The conclusions reached relate<br />

only to these particular conditions and are not applicable in a generic sense."<br />

The reference environment used as a basis for assessing environmental impacts <strong>of</strong> con-<br />

struction and operation <strong>of</strong> waste treatment, interim storage, and/or final disposal facil-<br />

ities (draft Appendix F) was developed, with changes, from information presented in the<br />

final Environmental Impact Statement on operation <strong>of</strong> the Monticello (Minnesota) Nuclear Gen-<br />

erating Plant (Docket Number 50-263, November 1972). The reference demographic environments<br />

(draft Appendix G) used for determining socioeconomic environments impacts were centered<br />

around Monticello, Minnesota (Midwestern U.S.); Barnwell, South Carolina (Southwestern<br />

U.S.); and Eddy County, New Mexico (Southwestern U.S.).<br />

The data base for the four geologic media analyzed (salt, basalt, granite, shale) was<br />

developed from a literature search after which real stratigraphic sections were compared and<br />

combined into a composite section generally representative <strong>of</strong> each study area. By subjec-<br />

tively comparing and combining the composite stratigraphic sections, the generic strati-<br />

graphic section was developed for each media type. In developing the generic stratigraphic<br />

section for salt, the properties <strong>of</strong> bedded salt deposits from three different areas (Salina<br />

basin, Permian basin, Paradox basin) were considered. Gulf coast salt domes were also<br />

investigated. The generic basalt stratigraphy was developed after reviewing rock property<br />

data for the Dresser, Amchitka, Nevada Test Site and Columbia River Group basalts. The<br />

"typical" shales selected for review were the Pierre, Chagrin, and the Waynesville and<br />

Arnheim formations. The granite formations selected for study were the Barr, Colville,<br />

Pikes Peak, and Charcoal granites.<br />

Use <strong>of</strong> these reference environments and geologic media characterizations is not to be<br />

construed as a selection <strong>of</strong> these areas, types <strong>of</strong> environments, or media characterization<br />

for any nuclear fuel cycle facility. More specific environments will be addressed in later<br />

environmental impact statements.<br />

Draft p. F.2<br />

Issue<br />

The description <strong>of</strong> the geology at the bottom <strong>of</strong> page F.2 would be improved if there<br />

were some indication <strong>of</strong> the depth <strong>of</strong> the basement rocks and <strong>of</strong> the general nature <strong>of</strong> the<br />

overlying rocks. (113-EPA)

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