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

1-3
Comment
Number Comment
1-4
.5 The reference environment approach to generic evaluation is used improperly.
" ~ays.
Number
If stability is compromised, the integrity of the impermeable
Inasmuch as the GEIS is a programmatic statement, a site-specific descrip- barr i e r be t wee n t he s a l
be d a nd ov e r y i ng aqu i f er s t hat
l
i s by
assumed
tion of an environment is not necessary; however, development of data that
GEI S ay be c mpr i s e
, m o om d.
will be required in a specific evaluation is
incorporates
appropriate,
a reference environment
and
to
the
evaluate
GEIS
source terms on a generic
basis. Howncorporates
a reference having determined to evaluathe significance terms on impact on
basis.th
the reference e reference environ environment, ment, the GEIS fails to the significancd
remind the reader that conclu- onclusions
reached relate only to those particular
sions reached relate only to those particular conditions. conditions. Indeed, statements
in the GEIS indicate that even its writers
in the GEIS indicate that even its writers do
do
not not fully fully appreciate these
limitations. Effects limitations. on on the reference Effects environment are presented as the
impacts of an alternative without recognition of the fact that the impacts
could be much different for a different reference environment. For an
1.7 Retrievability of the emplaced waste is expected to be a requirement
during the early years of the conventional geologic repository. Based on
various ties and discussion attendant within
much higher
Section
costs
3.1.2,
are
it
introduced
appears that many
into
uncertain-
almost every
ties media and as attendant a result of much waste higher thermal costs effects. are introduced Intermediate into almost every
temporary storage.
of media the as waste a result for sufficient of waste thermal time to effects. perarit cooling Intermediate to manageable temporary storage.
tempera-
o f t h e wa t e f o r s u f f i e n t t i e t o p e r n i t c t o
ture would s
seem
ci m ooling manageable tempera-
to deserve considerable attention. The waste could, for
example, be stored in large vaults at some minimal depth, then transferred
be s t r e d i n
l a r g e vaul t s a t s o me m i n i mal d ep t h example of how to prepare a GEIS with detailed iscussions of siting
examoptions and impacts, separe a GES with floating on Nuclear Plants of siti(NUREGoptions
the FES and on impacts, floating see Nuclear Plants (NUREG05).
t h e n t r a n s f e r r e d
,
to the final repository depth once acceptable temperatures had been attained.
Perhaps either nonhigh-level waste could then be stored in the vacated
temporary high-level storage area or the vaults could be filled with
1.6 The use of a linear thermomechanical analysis for the design of the
excavated rock from lower levels
excavated
to
rock
minimize
from lower levels
the
to minimize
surface
the
environmental
surface environmental
reference repository is salt is an inadequate approximation. effects associated with disposal of some types of waste rock (such as *
A conclusion that readily retrievable
A conclusion that readily retrievable
conditions
conditions
in
in
a
repository
repository in in salt
would prevail in storage rooms for at least five
salt
years is based on linear
thermomechanical thermomechanical analyses. The time behavior of salt salt under thermal and
1.8 The summary comparative analysis in Chapter 1 appears to be an.attempt to
justify conventional geologic disposal. Some of the alternatives still
justify conventional geologic disposal. Some of the alternatives still
mechanical loading cannot be approximated as a linear relationship. The
GEIS makes an allowance of two feet to accommodate
GEIS makes an allowance of two feet to accommodate expected.closures.
expected.closures.
Project Salt Vault, ORNL-4555, Chapter 12, presents several figures
(Figure 12.36, etc.) that describe pir
pillar behavior
behavior
as
as
s
a
ra function
function
of
of
i gni f c ant er i t an d as i nd i c at ed i n t h e r epor t w
appear to have s t D v
s nl n
receive to currently further be at study a more by DOE. advanced Conventional stage than geologic other technologies. disposal only happens
The
t
o currently be at a more advanced stage than other technologies. The
summary section should concentrate on the recommendations for the entire
mechanical and thermal loading and time. The behavior exhibited
exhibited is
is
not
not
linear and a significant underestimation of closure will be obtained if a
program, justifying each part of the continuing range of alternatives.
This is a programmatic DOE decision and
Thi s i s a p r ogr am at i c E de i s i on and responsibility.
sponsibility.
linear
linear
approximation
approximation
is
used.
used.
If
If
later
studies
have
been
used
to
discount
discount
the results of Project Salt Vault, they have not been identified in GEIS.
1.9 From the analysis presented it appears that nonradiological environmental
imact cnsieatins wi not infuence the selectiological environ
Consideration of the creep behavior of salt under thermomechanical loading geological dispo a tions i for a given fuel cycle option. However, even
is important for the design of a respository in salt because it will
affect the short- and
affect the short- and long-term
long-term
stability of storage rooms and access
geologicl tru is ons tion fo envi mel cyc le option. However een
if in this site is selection true, consideration for any of the
of environmental impacts will be important
geological options selected. It is not
in site selection for any of the geological options selected. It is not
readily evident whether one geological option should be selected before a
salt).