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

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Response<br />

342<br />

ALTERNATIVE DISPOSAL CONCEPTS<br />

The "possible advantageous hydrogeological features" are discussed in Section 3.5.1.1<br />

under Groundwater Transport: Freshwater Lens Location and Groundwater Transport: Saline<br />

Lens Location <strong>of</strong> the draft Statement. However, due to the lack <strong>of</strong> site-specific data, the<br />

Statement cannot go into detail concerning hydrogeological features. From a generic<br />

description point <strong>of</strong> view, the Statement does clearly depict the present understanding <strong>of</strong><br />

the isolation features inherent with the island hydrogeology. These features may represent<br />

favorable isolation barriers. Section 6.2 <strong>of</strong> the final Statement discusses advantages and<br />

disadvantages <strong>of</strong> the alternative concepts, including the island disposal concept, and the<br />

mined repository.<br />

Draft p. 3.5.1 and 3.5.5<br />

Issue<br />

The assumption <strong>of</strong> a "practically static" salt water system below the fresh water lens<br />

should be approached with reservation. The stability depends upon many factors some <strong>of</strong><br />

which are mentioned in the text (p. 3.5.19), some aren't . Examples <strong>of</strong> these factors are:<br />

amount <strong>of</strong> rainfall, frequency <strong>of</strong> rainfall, water usage (pumping regimes), tides, sea level<br />

fluctuations, and erosion. In what sense is the ocean considered to provide an additional<br />

barrier? (208-NRC)<br />

Response<br />

The ocean is not considered a barrier. However, radionuclide leachate bearing ground-<br />

waters that might discharge into deep oceanic waters would be expected to be diluted and<br />

dispersed to very low concentrations. Shallow water releases would be expected to cause<br />

greater impacts than deep water releases. Conversely, while dispersion <strong>of</strong> the radionuclides<br />

in the ocean might occur, concentration could also take place in the food chains, especially<br />

in littoral and coastal areas.<br />

Draft p. 3.5.6<br />

Issue<br />

Response<br />

It is not clear how the need for 6 to 10 island repositories was developed. (124)<br />

The final Statement draws no conclusions regarding differences in the required numbers<br />

<strong>of</strong> island repositories as compared to continental mined repositories. However, the final<br />

Statement does note that physical limitations on useable island areas might cause a need for<br />

a greater number <strong>of</strong> island repositories than Continental mined repositories. For a compari-<br />

son <strong>of</strong> the alternatives and the mined repository see Section 6.2 <strong>of</strong> the final Statement.

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