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

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Draft p. 1.27<br />

Issue<br />

352<br />

ALTERNATIVE DISPOSAL CONCEPTS<br />

If there is sufficient heat to modify the red clay <strong>of</strong> the ocean floor, there may be<br />

sufficient heat to initiate convection currents in the overlying water. If sufficiently<br />

large in a real extent, this would cause an upwelling, bringing to the surface material<br />

from the lower depth <strong>of</strong> the ocean and possibly from the ocean floor. This material could<br />

be nutrients, inert material, or if a canister ruptured on impact, radioactive material.<br />

(218-001)<br />

Response<br />

The red clays should not be modified if the temperatures are kept below 250 0 C. The<br />

organic carbon content <strong>of</strong> these clays is less than 0.1%. Thus, the nutrients which will be<br />

released will be minimal. Calculations indicate that convective currents in the sediments<br />

will move a water molecule only 3 m in 1000 years. Convection cells in the water column<br />

will not occur.<br />

Draft Section 3.6<br />

Issue<br />

More emphasis should be placed on understanding the nature <strong>of</strong> transport <strong>of</strong> materials<br />

in water column in areas under study for waste disposal. Ongoing programs in quantifying<br />

biological pathways should be expanded and comprehensive program <strong>of</strong> physical, chemical, and<br />

biological measurements should be undertaken, and models developed for deep.ocean layers.<br />

It is essential to quantify what will happen in the case <strong>of</strong> accidental breakage or unex-<br />

pected leakage in terms <strong>of</strong> the water column serving as an emergency barrier. (23-DOC)<br />

Response<br />

The Subseabed Disposal Program Plan (Sandia 1980a) details projected or ongoing studies<br />

regarding transport in the water column via physical oceanographic processes as well as bio-<br />

logical processes. Also discussed there are the impact <strong>of</strong> radionuclides on biota as well<br />

as the potential impacts on man if radionuclides were to get into the water column or to the<br />

ocean surface.

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