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

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Response<br />

347<br />

ALTERNATIVE DISPOSAL CONCEPTS<br />

Such considerations are presented in Section 6.1.3.4 (Subpacts on Natural System<br />

Impacts and Resource Consumption) and Section 6.1.3.5 <strong>of</strong> the final Statement.<br />

Draft p. 3.5.21<br />

Issues<br />

It is noted that the transporation link from the mainland to the island would involve<br />

an additional potential for accidents. It would seem appropriate to note that this increase<br />

is not necessarily linear with distance, in that the most common location for accidents<br />

would be near one or the other ports, and that ship accidents are strictly proportional to<br />

the number <strong>of</strong> port calls made. (124)<br />

Response<br />

The final Statement has been revised to reflect the point made in this comment. The<br />

potential for accidents will increase although not necessarily linearly as the distance to<br />

the island increases. Reference is made to Section 6.1.4 (subseabed concept) <strong>of</strong> the final<br />

Statement for additional discussion pertinent to sea transportation as it applies to concept<br />

in terms <strong>of</strong> requiring over water transportation <strong>of</strong> the waste. Section 4.5 <strong>of</strong> the final<br />

Statement presents a comprehensive discussion <strong>of</strong> transportation impacts.<br />

Draft pp. 3.5.21, 23, 24<br />

Issue<br />

The hydraulic gradient and the stability <strong>of</strong> freshwater lens may also be affected by the<br />

sea level slope induced by coastal currents and topographic focussing <strong>of</strong> surface and inter-<br />

nal gravity waves. (23-DOC)<br />

Sea level slope is another factor in the stability <strong>of</strong> freshwater lens. (23-DOC)<br />

Factors <strong>of</strong> importance to sediment patterns and movements include tides, land dis-<br />

charges, coastal circulation, littoral currents induced by surface gravity waves, and direct<br />

wave actions during storm and tsumani. (23-DOC)<br />

Response<br />

Stability <strong>of</strong> the freshwater lens may be affected by changes in sea level, glaciation,<br />

thermal convection effects, respository construction, changes in climate and precipitation,<br />

modifications <strong>of</strong> surface run<strong>of</strong>f, and by changes in the sea level slope induced by coastal<br />

currents and topographic focussing <strong>of</strong> surface and internal gravity waves and other effects.

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