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

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Draft p. 3.7.9<br />

Issue<br />

382<br />

ALTERNATIVE DISPOSAL CONCEPTS<br />

The cost figure (Table 3.7.1) seems to be low. Recent purchases <strong>of</strong> C-130's for polar<br />

work are expensive. Logistics support is extremely high. The present WSARP (NSF) program<br />

is about $40 million per year to support about 1,000 men and women in the summer and about<br />

40 in the winter. About 90 percent <strong>of</strong> the costs are in logistics, and less than 10 percent<br />

is useful science. The environmental impact, <strong>of</strong> large scale technology in polar regions may<br />

be too much to pay. (43)<br />

Response<br />

Cost figures have been updated in the final Statement (see Section 6.1.5.6).<br />

Before such a disposal option would be implemented, a thorough study <strong>of</strong> environmental<br />

impacts would be made to determine acceptability in terms <strong>of</strong> environmental "costs". Section<br />

6.1.5.4 addresses environmental concerns for the concept.<br />

Draft p. 3.7.10<br />

Issue<br />

Disposal <strong>of</strong> wastes in an ice sheet would probably entail loss <strong>of</strong> control <strong>of</strong> spacing <strong>of</strong><br />

waste containers. Flow velocities and perhaps even flow directions might change over long<br />

periods. Possible impacts should be evaluated. (218-DOI)<br />

Response<br />

Environmental impact uncertainties <strong>of</strong> ice sheet disposal are addressed in Section<br />

6.1.5.5 <strong>of</strong> the final Statement. Impacts beyond those reported are not currently known due<br />

to incomplete development <strong>of</strong> the the ice sheet concept.<br />

Draft p. 3.7.10<br />

Issue<br />

This statement should mention that there is one more handling and transportation step<br />

in ice disposal than in subseabed disposal-- from the unloading dock in the ice disposal<br />

site. (218-DOI)<br />

Response<br />

Section 6.2 <strong>of</strong> the final Statement includes a comparison <strong>of</strong> alternative concepts in-<br />

cluding ice sheet disposal and subseabed disposal transportation systems. The statement<br />

also includes the above-mentioned leg under "transport and handling", Section 6.1.5.1.

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