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

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

319<br />

ALTERNATIVE DISPOSAL CONCEPTS<br />

Glass is a very radiation resistant material. However, a final decision regarding the use<br />

<strong>of</strong> glass as an acceptable waste form for use in a mined repository has not been made.<br />

Before the decision can be made, consideration must be given to many factors including the<br />

synergistic effects <strong>of</strong> radiation, heat, host rock chemistry, the presence <strong>of</strong> water, and the<br />

chemistry <strong>of</strong> the glass waste form. Current ongoing studies are addressing these and other<br />

important factors relative to the use <strong>of</strong> glass as the waste form component <strong>of</strong> the multi-<br />

barrier waste package.<br />

Draft p. 3.2.13<br />

Issue<br />

We are not interested in the integrity <strong>of</strong> the mineral (referring to detrital metamict<br />

grains), but rather whether or not the radioactive elements are retained within the struc-<br />

ture. Of the minerals tabulated on Table 3.2.11, most, if not all, when analyzed by geo-<br />

chronologic methods arecommonly discordant. (43)<br />

Response<br />

It is acknowledged that the mineral forms are discordant. However, the forms are<br />

attractive for incorporation <strong>of</strong> waste because their mineral integrity is considered to be<br />

an important attribute. The draft Statement pointed out in Section 3.2.3.2 that there is<br />

virtually no data base on the stability and insolubility <strong>of</strong> synthetic materials emplaced in<br />

the appropriate repository as far as the man-made elements are concerned. It would be nec-<br />

essary to assemble such information to provide confidence that the synthetic material waste<br />

form would comply with acceptable release rates such as those proposed by the NRC in its<br />

draft 10 CFR 60.<br />

Draft p. 3.2.16<br />

Issue<br />

The first two paragraphs are highly biased in favor <strong>of</strong> the synthetic mineral (as are<br />

the sources cited) and should be rewritten in a more objective manner. (58)<br />

Response<br />

The information on synthetic minerals has been revised for the final Statement (see<br />

Section 4.3.2).

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

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!