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

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Draft p. 3.8.9<br />

Issue<br />

389<br />

ALTERNATIVE DISPOSAL CONCEPTS<br />

The discussion here <strong>of</strong> retrieval fails to address the potential reasons for retrieval<br />

or the net risk reduction that might be achieved. A more thorough treatment would probably<br />

indicate retrieval to be more harmful than beneficial. (58)<br />

Response<br />

Corrective actions for the well injection concept have not yet been developed. Iden-<br />

tification <strong>of</strong> the risks and benefits <strong>of</strong> possible corrective actions would be a part <strong>of</strong> this<br />

development.<br />

Draft p. 3.8.9<br />

Issue<br />

The discussion on retrievability ought to address what fraction <strong>of</strong> the waste might be<br />

retrievable. It is difficult to see how the retrievable fraction could be much more than<br />

0.5. (154)<br />

Response<br />

For well injected waste, retrievability would be species-dependent and thus would be<br />

likely higher for 137Cs than for transuranics. It would depend to a great extent to the<br />

reactions which take place in-situ between the injected waste and the host medium. Current<br />

information is insufficient to estimate the fraction <strong>of</strong> each species that would be retrievable<br />

or the method by which such retrieval would be effected.<br />

Draft p. 3.8.9<br />

Issue<br />

The suggestion <strong>of</strong> acid flushing for retrievability is alarming. The unpredictabiity<br />

<strong>of</strong> solution mining is well known and acid flushing could never be justified in licensing<br />

procedures. (124)<br />

Response<br />

Reverse well disposal would generally be considered non-retrievable. The use <strong>of</strong> an<br />

acid-as a flushing material. forrecovery would only be as a last resort. The use<strong>of</strong>.acid<br />

flushing techniques might not be acceptable inlicensing procedures, but it is.mentioned in<br />

the final Statement for completeness.

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