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

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Draft p. 3.7.10<br />

Issue<br />

383<br />

ALTERNATIVE DISPOSAL CONCEPTS<br />

This statement (first item) is debatable; the fact that these remote areas are rela-<br />

tively unexplored for resources might attract considerable exploration in the future as<br />

some <strong>of</strong> the last frontiers for new discoveries. (218-001)<br />

Response<br />

The text <strong>of</strong> the final Statement has been revised to incorporate consideration <strong>of</strong> po-<br />

tential future exploration <strong>of</strong> remote Antarctic areas.<br />

Draft p. 3.7.10<br />

Issue<br />

Elsewhere in the text sub-ice lakes are identified. Present hydrogeologic studies<br />

strongly suggest that the sub-ice lakes provide the groundwater for the discharges in the<br />

dry valleys. One drill hole by the Dry Valley Drilling Project (DVDP 13) identified upward<br />

moving groundwater at -16 0 C at a depth <strong>of</strong> 150 meters. The water appears to have moved<br />

through fractures in the crystalline bedrock. Preliminary heat flow studies by DVDP sug-<br />

gest high heat flow (equivalent to the basin and range province <strong>of</strong> the U.S.), and the possi-<br />

bility that uranium has been leached to a depth <strong>of</strong> 300 meters. (43)<br />

Response<br />

It is believed that the comment refers to the discussion <strong>of</strong> dry valleys presented in<br />

the draft Statement. If so, a repository located in bed rock caverns would be subject to<br />

the same site selection and site assessment criteria as those located in the continental<br />

U.S. Site hydrology would necessarily be completely characterized before a selection would<br />

be made. The referenced information and a great deal <strong>of</strong> additional hydrologic data would<br />

be included in the characterization.<br />

Draft p. 1.28<br />

Issue<br />

Well Injection(a)<br />

Although grout injection technology is rather well established, long-term durabilty <strong>of</strong><br />

grout seals is unknown. It appears that considerable effort is needed to develop grout<br />

types and sealing techniques that can be relied upon with confidence for many millenia.<br />

(218-001)<br />

'(a) This concept was called "Reverse Well Injection" in the draft Statement.

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