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

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

405<br />

ALTERNATIVE DISPOSAL CONCEPTS<br />

waste components and incorporation <strong>of</strong> those components into a suitable waste form for space<br />

disposal has not been done. For additional discussion <strong>of</strong> R&D needs for this topic see<br />

Section 6.1.8.3.<br />

Draft p. 3. 10.30<br />

Issue<br />

The added R&D required for glass forms identifed in the ninth paragraphs should be<br />

rationalized and quantified. One would be forced to conclude that the concerns over glass<br />

stability must be related to post-abort status. If this is the case, it would appear that<br />

quantification <strong>of</strong> the overall risk would either show aborts to be <strong>of</strong> overriding concern or<br />

the potential instability problems <strong>of</strong> glass to be insignificant. (58)<br />

Response<br />

The revised presentation, Section 6.1.8.4, identifies high altitude reentry and burnup<br />

with potential dispersion <strong>of</strong> the payload as particles in the atmosphere as an important<br />

accident, to be considered with regard to radiation exposure to the general public. These<br />

potential conditions would establish requirements for waste form characteristics, and pos-<br />

sible waste form R&D. R&D requirements are discussed in Section 6.1.8.3.<br />

Draft p. 3.10.37<br />

Issue<br />

The U and/or Pu disposal method defined should be clarified (Section 3.10.5.2). Per<br />

information presented on p. 3.10.4, these isotopes are disposed in space. (124)<br />

Response<br />

Section 6.1.8 <strong>of</strong> the final Statement provides discussion <strong>of</strong> the wastes that are best<br />

suited for disposal in space. Clarification is made <strong>of</strong> the possible use <strong>of</strong> space disposal<br />

as a component <strong>of</strong> a total waste management system. Such a system would necessarily include<br />

another disposal alternative (e.g. mined geologic repositories) for those wastes which, for<br />

a number <strong>of</strong> reasons, would likely not be suitable for disposal in space.<br />

Draft p. 3.10.46<br />

Issue . .<br />

The R&D requirements seem quite modest compared to estimates for other alternatives.<br />

Surely much <strong>of</strong> the potential cost is not stated. (154)

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

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!