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

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6.1<br />

Chapter 6<br />

ALTERNATIVE CONCEPTS FOR WASTE DISPOSAL<br />

A number <strong>of</strong> possible alternative methods for the disposal <strong>of</strong> nuclear waste have been sug-<br />

gested. These concepts have been evaluated and developed to various degrees by different<br />

organizations. The status <strong>of</strong> technology is described in this section, as are advantages and<br />

disadvantages <strong>of</strong> each concept. The intent is to address the various concepts as consistently<br />

as possible to facilitate the comparison <strong>of</strong> the potential impacts <strong>of</strong> their implementation.<br />

The alternative concepts discussed are: the very deep hole, rock melting, island repo-<br />

sitory, subseabed, ice sheet, well injection, transmutation, and space. These are all com-<br />

pared to the mined repository concept.<br />

6.1 PRESENTATION/ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVE DISPOSAL CONCEPTS<br />

This section presents concept descriptions and discussions <strong>of</strong> potential health and envi-<br />

ronmental impacts for eight radioactive waste disposal methods that have been suggested as<br />

alternatives to disposal in mined geologic repositories. These presentations are based on<br />

sections frpm the draft <strong>of</strong> this Statement, updated to incorporate current information result-<br />

ing from continuing development and evaluation <strong>of</strong> alternative concepts. Information pre-<br />

sented here is taken from available results <strong>of</strong> relevant studies. References, cited through-<br />

out the text to indicate sources <strong>of</strong> significant parameter values and statements, are listed<br />

at the end <strong>of</strong> subsection 6.1. In addition, bibliographies are provided in Appendix M to<br />

indicate other information sources for each concept. The concept descriptions are also sup-<br />

ported by information in Chapters 3, 4, and 5 <strong>of</strong> this EIS and reference is made to those<br />

chapters as appropriate.<br />

The discussion <strong>of</strong> each disposal concept covers the following topics:<br />

* Concept Summary<br />

* System and Facility Description<br />

* Status <strong>of</strong> Technical Development and R&D Needs<br />

* Impacts, Both Preemplacement and Postemplacement<br />

* Cost Analysis<br />

* Safeguard Requirements.<br />

Because concept descriptions, environmental impacts, and estimated costs for each option were<br />

taken from various sources that used different basic assumptions, the information provided<br />

here for each concept is not normalized to a standard set <strong>of</strong> conditions, e.g., a common

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