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

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Response<br />

392<br />

ALTERNATIVE DISPOSAL CONCEPTS<br />

The final Statement states that the waste may progressively disperse and diffuse<br />

throughout the permeable host rock and eventually encompass a large volume, a:lthough:at a<br />

lower concentration. The concentration may be variable and unpredictable. Thus there is no<br />

assurance that the waste would be diluted.<br />

A discussion <strong>of</strong> currently accepted performance requirements for disposal <strong>of</strong> radioactive<br />

waste is presented in Section 6.2 <strong>of</strong>.the final Statement.<br />

Draft p. 3.8.19, 20<br />

Issue<br />

The following statement:<br />

"Geology. The predictive capability'<strong>of</strong> the geological sciences for basic<br />

parameters such as rock type, lithology, and structure is well developed<br />

using drilling, mapping, and geophysical techniques. However, minor varia-<br />

tions in these parameters are <strong>of</strong> significance in deep well injection. In-<br />

vestigation and predictive methods for structural features (joints, faults)<br />

and lithologic or geochemical variations will require improvement."<br />

stands in stark contrast to multiplicity <strong>of</strong> pages <strong>of</strong> geological discussion in Section 3.1.<br />

Again the treatment throughout the Final EIS should be more consistent. (154)<br />

Similarly the following statement on sealing technology<br />

"Sealing Technology. Abandoned exploration and monitoring drill holes extending<br />

into the disposal formation, together with the injection well, consititute pos-<br />

sible pathways to the biosphere. These penetrations <strong>of</strong> the containment formation<br />

are particularly critical for the deep well liquid injection concept where the<br />

waste is in a pressurized mobile form. Until techniques are proven for sealing<br />

drill holes, care must be exercised in drilling candidate areas. In particular,<br />

all drill holes must be accurately surveyed, both at the surface and by down-hole<br />

instruments, and records <strong>of</strong> drillings, casing losses, caving strate, hole closure<br />

and backfiiling must be maintained.<br />

is likewise inconsistent with the extensive discussion <strong>of</strong> this problem in Section 1.3 where<br />

the waste is not in a pressurized mobile form. (154)<br />

Response<br />

Section 6.1 <strong>of</strong> the final Statement has been significantly revised and improved with the<br />

purpose <strong>of</strong> facilitating comparative assessment betweeh alternative concepts and to establish<br />

consistency withi'n the Statement., However, because <strong>of</strong> the relatively lower state-<strong>of</strong> devel-<br />

opment <strong>of</strong> the eight alternatives to that <strong>of</strong> the mined repository, equal depth <strong>of</strong> treatment

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