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Draft Section 3.6<br />

Issue<br />

353<br />

ALTERNATIVE DISPOSAL CONCEPTS<br />

Somewhere in this section several other matters should be briefly considered: How deep<br />

would the projectiles be sent? What distance beneath the sediment surface, and how far from<br />

the rock beneath? What about the concept <strong>of</strong> recovery, if unforeseen dangers are found to<br />

exist? (113-EPA)<br />

Response<br />

A methodology for canister emplacement is proposed to be determined:during Phase 3<br />

(Engineering Feasibility) <strong>of</strong> the Subseabed Program current system pursued by Sandia National<br />

Laboratory for the DOE. Questions regarding distances below the sediment surface and above<br />

the basement rocks are to be answered as part <strong>of</strong> Phase II (Technical and Environmental<br />

Feasibility) which is now in progress. Firm answers are not yet available. It appears at<br />

this point, however, that a minimum <strong>of</strong> 30 m <strong>of</strong> sediment may be needed to separate a canister<br />

from both the sediment surface and the basement rocks. Also see Emplacement and Retrieva-<br />

bility/Recoverability in Section 6.1.4.2 <strong>of</strong> the final Statment.<br />

Draft Section 3.6<br />

Issue<br />

This secton is very interesting and very well done. The concept is probably the<br />

safest one with regard to geologic factors. Some basic truths about necessary elements for<br />

demonstrating tectonic stability are expressed here that not only apply to other concepts<br />

as well, but which should be expressly set forth as guidelines in the Summary or Background<br />

section <strong>of</strong> the Final EIS. For example:<br />

p 3.6.2 ". . .ability to make long-term predictions <strong>of</strong> stability and uniformity on<br />

the basis <strong>of</strong> . . . sediments that have been accumulating for 70 million<br />

years."<br />

p 3.6.3 "The more predictable and uniform the geologic environment, the less detailed<br />

the specific site studies must be to determine the properties <strong>of</strong> the geologic<br />

formation."<br />

". areas where processes are slow and continuously depositional, and<br />

where tectonic processes have been and are predicted to be minimal for mil-<br />

lions <strong>of</strong> years, are the most uniform and pedictable on the globe."<br />

p 3.6.11 ". . . areas with the greatest uniformity and predictability will be those<br />

where uplifting will not occur again for millions <strong>of</strong> years and where deposi-<br />

tion is continuous and uniform." (154)

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