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

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those associated with conventional geologic disposal should be presented, .d.14 p. 4.20
to determine if the multibarrier approach has been effectively utilized. Table 4.5.2 presents preliminary estimates of the socioeconomic impact of
the waste management options. An assumption stated under island disposal
4.d.9 p. 3.5.19 is that dockside shipping facilities will-be constructed in a.well
It should be noted that dispersion and diffusion may be very active in established port area. For the no recycle option, packaged spent fuel
this type of system, especially in combination with a natural zone of will be shipped to the island disposal area. The recent NRC interim rule
dispersion along the saltwater/freshwater interface, for safeguarding spent fuel shipments may prevent the use of well
established port areas so that the conclusion reached, that the
4.d.10 p. 3.5.23 incremental impact is small, may not be valid.
Under Section 3.5.2.2, some estimate should be provided of the probability
of accidents on the sea lanes, which might lead to loss of the radioactive 4.e Sub-Seabed Geological Disposal Concept
cargo. Cost estimates should also be provided.
4.e.1 p.3.6.1
4.d.ll p. 3.5.27 It is stated that the goal "to aid in solving national and international
It should be noted that current models are not able to accurately predict legal and political problems" will be started only after the technical and o
flow through fractured media, which will be normally encountered in environmental feasibility is demonstrated. Has this been factored into :
islands of volcanic origin, the schedule that has been developed for this program? What lead time and
resources have been planned? Has the DOE participated in any international
4.d.12 p. 3.5.29 discussions of this problem. A description of the programs of other
Section 3.5.6.3 identifies research and development areas that need to be countries interested in seabed disposal would be helpful.
explored in order to resolve uncertainties in island disposal. One area
is the level of risk associated with extended sea transportation paths. 4.e.2 p. 3.6.2
Since the complexity of port facilities varies with the island disposal The "difficulty of documenting a repository's location for future
option being considered the level of risk, both in terms of routine generations" is presented as a major disadvantage of the seabed concept.
occupational exposure and exposures due to accidents should also be Explain why this would be any more difficult to do for seabed than for
considered as an ares needing development. conventional geologic disposal?
4.d.13 p. 4.15 4.e.3 p. 3.6.3
It is not accurate to state that the insular geologic surroundings are o. Two study areas were identified as having been chosen in the central North
inherently dynamic nature. This is not so especially for the east coast Pacific. Where are these study areas located? (Locate on a map.)
continental islands. East coast islands are probably less likely to
contain, or be near, valuable resources than some of the west coast 4.e.4 p. 3.6.3
islands, thus lessening the possibilities of repository intrusion. The statement, "This region (the continental margin) is therefore
unsuitable for consideration as a possible waste disposal site." is too