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

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Draft p. 3.6.24<br />

Issue<br />

374<br />

ALTERNATIVE DISPOSAL CONCEPTS<br />

Port accidents occurred in the 60's during the loading <strong>of</strong> 55 gallon drums. This issue<br />

should be presented. (113-EPA)<br />

Response<br />

It is not believed pertinent to include such a discussion in the final Statement. The<br />

practice <strong>of</strong> discarding low-level waste in 55-gallon drums has been discontinued by the U.S.<br />

due to this and other inherent problems. The handling techniques were routine industrial<br />

practice, and not consistent with those which would be instituted in a conservative nuclear<br />

waste disposal system.<br />

Draft p. 3.6.24<br />

Issue<br />

The Risks and Impacts section on Land and Sea Transport (Section 3.6.5.1) makes some<br />

incorrect assumptions, based on lack <strong>of</strong> review <strong>of</strong> actual ship accident data. Although in-<br />

tuition suggests operating in areas <strong>of</strong> low traffic volume will reduce accidents, data show<br />

that accidents are strictly proportional only to the number <strong>of</strong> port calls made. Thus,<br />

sailing on routes that avoid traffic does no good. Similarly, double hulls are not an<br />

accident-prevention measure, but a way <strong>of</strong> reducing the chance <strong>of</strong> an oil spill from tanker<br />

accidents. Since the radioactive waste will be in some kind <strong>of</strong> canisters, double hulls are<br />

<strong>of</strong> questionable value. (124)<br />

Response<br />

Sandia Laboratories has a program with the Department <strong>of</strong> Transportation that will<br />

address the location and frequency <strong>of</strong> ship accidents on the basis <strong>of</strong> study results; it will<br />

guide the program toward the most safe and reliable solution to the transportation problem.<br />

Little effort has been placed on ocean transport up till now because it is <strong>of</strong> greater impor-<br />

tance to assess the technical, environmental, and engineernig feasibility <strong>of</strong> the concept<br />

before major monetary outlays are made for transportation studies.<br />

DOE agrees that double hulls do not prevent accidents. However, they do decrease the<br />

chance <strong>of</strong> a ship sinking or the cargo (waste canisters) being damaged as the result <strong>of</strong> a<br />

collision.

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