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

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d. Transportation .d.5 Appendix N
Some discussion should be given of the industry's ability to meet the
2.d.l p. 1.19 demand for spent fuel casks at the rate they will be required.
The GEIS says transportation risks are the same for all options. However,
estimates of risk in the tables in the supporting documents do not seem to 2.d.6 Appendix N
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support this conclusion. The largest accident consequences presented in the GEIS occur during the
transportation of radioactive wastes. In the opening paragraph of Appendix N
2.d.2 P. 1.19 it is stated that much of the detailed analysis is contained in DOE/ET-0029.
It would be useful to provide any available risk (consequence x probability) An examination of these two documents reveals that accident release fractions,
estimates for the transportation accident being discussed. This will curie amounts of isotopes that may be released, and doses to affected
allow a comparison to be made with the risks for the other accident scenarios. individuals are provided. However, some important details concerning
accident assumption are not given. These detailed assumptions involve the
2.d.3 p. 0.4 fraction of released material that is aerosolized and in respirable form.
On page D.4, it is stated that the methodology used to calculate the Also missing are resuspension factors. In Appendix B to DOE/ET-0029,
direct radiation dose to persons along the shipping route follows that reference is given to other reports and computer codes that may contain
developed in WASH-1238. Subsequent to the issuance of WASH-1238 an environ- these factors. These assumptions need to be outlined directly in DOE/ET-0029
mental statement on transportation of radioactive material has been published - so that the degree of realism of the accident analysis can be more easily
by the NRC. This statement is NUREG-0170, "Final Environmental Statement evaluated and the conclusions compared to other study results.
on the Transportation of Radioactive Material by Air and Other Modes."
The latter document uses a more realistic demographic model in determining 2.d.7 Appendix N
population density along the transport route and an improved method for Throughout Appendix N, the total body radiation dose from the routine
evaluating integrals used in the model. We recommend this refined method- transport of radioactive materials is given in various tables. These
ology be used in the GEIS in assessing the radiological impact to the tables show the dose to the population residing along the transport route
population residing near the transport route. and to members of the transport work force. The tables omit the dose to
occupants of vehicles using the same route in the case of truck transport.
2.d.4 p. 0.5 it is not clear whether the dose that results from a delay in transit of
Population density assumptions used in determining the radiological conse- the radioactive shipment has been included. These delays could occur from
quence of transporting radioactive wastes are given on page D.5. Here it a traffic jam or a stop at a truck stop in the case of truck transport.
is stated that a value of 330 persons per square mile is used for the For rail transport, a delay can be caused by adverse track conditions or a
Eastern U.S. and California and 110 persons per square mile is used for mechanical breakdown.
the Western U.S. The environmental aspects presented in DOE/ET-0029,
page 4.1.7, use a population density of 90 person per square km (230 perso 2.
ns per square mile). If this is a weighted average, the weighting factors Some discussion should be included concerning the useful life of spent
should be given so that their validity can be evaluated, fuel casks. The analysis appears to assume the casks used in the early
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