23.04.2013 Views

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

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

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Response<br />

396<br />

ALTERNATIVE DISPOSAL CONCEPTS<br />

This factor is an important reason for the low potential indicated in Section 6.2 <strong>of</strong><br />

the final Statement. A number <strong>of</strong> other apparent deficiencies are also inherent to the con-<br />

cept as presented in Section 6.1.7.<br />

Draft Section 3.9.2<br />

Issue<br />

This very well written section throughout puts partitioning and transmutation: into<br />

reasonable perspective; It clearly notes in several places (for example at page 3.9.1) that<br />

"partitioning may be a pre-disposal option, but it can never be a final disposal'<br />

option by itself."<br />

In this sense the discussion is out <strong>of</strong> place in the same way that Section 3.2 is. Neither<br />

is a disposal option and they should not be presented in the Final EIS on the same level as<br />

alternatives which might become disposal options.<br />

Response<br />

The only quarrels we have at all with this section as written are:<br />

1) It should be reglated to a Predisposal Option Appendix.<br />

2) It should state the obvious conclusion which comes through at nearly every<br />

page--this predisposal option has no usefulness in the near (30 years) term and<br />

its likelihood <strong>of</strong> every being cost-beneficial is very close to zero. (154)<br />

The comments are well taken. Transmutation as treated in the revised Section 6.1.7,<br />

however, does have some potential as a disposal option in the elimination <strong>of</strong> the long-lived<br />

actinides but has a number <strong>of</strong> drawbacks. Practical achievement <strong>of</strong> this potential appears<br />

questionable. The discussion <strong>of</strong> partitioning. is now in Section 4.3.2.1 on predisposal op-<br />

tions <strong>of</strong> the final Statement.<br />

In the revised version <strong>of</strong> the GEIS, Section 6.2', Comparative Assessment <strong>of</strong> Disposal<br />

Alternatives, relegates Transmutation to a very low order <strong>of</strong> priority as an alternative for<br />

ultimate waste disposal. This evaluation and its presentation essentially confirm the<br />

comment.<br />

Draft Section 3.9.2<br />

Issue<br />

Partitioning and Transmutation - not applicable because <strong>of</strong> transportation costs, in-<br />

creased cost <strong>of</strong> waste treatment, and it does not eliminate the need for final disposal <strong>of</strong>the<br />

waste. (88, 121)

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!