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

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315<br />

ALTERNATIVE DISPOSAL CONCEPTS<br />

the preferred alternative. In general, alternatives that are considered to have large per-<br />

formance uncertainties are ranked lower in preference than those having more well defined<br />

and acceptable performance characteristics.<br />

Draft Section 3<br />

Issue<br />

It would be useful to provide concise summaries <strong>of</strong> advantages and disadvantages for the<br />

three subsections now lacking them: chemical resynthesis (Section 3.2), very deep hole con-<br />

cept (Section 3.3), and space disposal (Section 3.10). (218-DOI)<br />

Response<br />

Section 6.1 presents a discussion <strong>of</strong> the attributes, uncertainties, disadvantages, and<br />

other characteristics <strong>of</strong> the alternative concepts. Section 6.2 <strong>of</strong> the final Statement pro-<br />

vides a comparative assessment <strong>of</strong> alternative concepts. This assessment identifies the<br />

relative merits <strong>of</strong> the concepts under review consideration.<br />

Issue<br />

One commenter noted that the alternative disposal options should be given emphasis<br />

appropriate to their plausibility. (219)<br />

Response<br />

The final Section 6.1 on the alternative disposal technologies was revised to reflect<br />

the depth <strong>of</strong> information available. An assessment <strong>of</strong> the alternatives that provides a com-<br />

parison <strong>of</strong> attributes, including current development status, is presented in Section 6.2 <strong>of</strong><br />

the final Statement.<br />

Issue<br />

Sections <strong>of</strong> the EIS discussing the alternative disposal concepts do not discuss either<br />

the problems or costs associated with the eventual decommissioning <strong>of</strong> waste disposal sites.<br />

Is this to be our legacy to future generations? Can we not consider such implications now<br />

before passing on such an irrevocable "gift"? (167)<br />

Response<br />

Decommissioning costs, where information is available from the literature, are dis-<br />

cussed in the final Statement. Section 6.1.1.6 is one specific example where the cost <strong>of</strong><br />

decommissioning and decontamination are addressed, and Section 6.1.8.6 is another.<br />

In the preparation <strong>of</strong> the final Statement the DOE has made efforts to assemble and use<br />

all <strong>of</strong> the relevant information on alternatives that is in existence. It is-important,

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