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

6.4
are identified for well injection because of lack of definitive program plans. Available es-
timates for space disposal go through concept definition and evaluation only. Estimates for
ice sheet disposal, however, include all of the currently anticipated activities required to
develop and implement an operational system.
Impacts. Impacts are presented on the basis of information found in the reference mater-
ial. Impacts for these sections are separated into Health Effects Impacts (the human en-
vironment) and Natural System Impacts. Natural System Impacts include impacts to ecological
and geologic/hydrologic systems. The term Natural System Impacts therefore includes impacts
other than those to the human environment. The reader is cautioned that for those alterna-
tives that are more advanced in their technical development, a greater number of environmen-
tal impacts are identified. Likewise, for those disposal methods that are in a preliminary
stage of development, there may be other environmental impacts that have not yet been
determined.
In general, the methodology followed in calculating impacts is not described, but refer-
ence is made to original material where the reader can find this information. No attempt has
been made to develop a common impact assessment methodology, so the methods applied vary from
study to study. For these reasons, the values presented are not always comparable on a one-
to-one basis. It is believed, however, that sufficient information is provided to allow a
qualitative comparison of the alternatives (see Section 6.2).
Cost Analysis. The cost analyses provide capital, operational, and decommissioning cost
estimates based on information available from references authored by organizations involved
in the evaluation or development of the specific disposal options. The costs are those
directly attributable to the disposal mode under consideration and not on support modes such
as waste preparation or routine transportation. All cost estimates are given in 1978 dol-
lars, derived by an adjustment of 10 percent per year of estimates based on non-basis years.
The reader is cautioned about the preliminary nature of the cost estimates. Also, in
many cases, due to the.underdeveloped status of most of the alternatives, full cost data are
not available. In such cases only referencable information is presented. No attempt is made
to estimate system or component development, capital, operating or decommissioning cost where
these, estimates could not be based on open literature reference. For example, in the case
of the transmutation concept, a comprehensive and conclusive fuel cycle cost analysis has not
been performed such that an aggregate cost estimate could be prepared. In addition, the
impacts to the costs of disposal of the residual wastes from the transmutation concept are
not known.
The estimates do not include transportation and waste-form preparation costs associated
with the disposal method. However, unique transportation and waste-form requirements, in ad-
dition to the need for supplemental storage or disposal, are identified.
The cost analyses for very deep hole, subseabed, rock melt, and space disposal are based
on estimates contained in a current reference that used consistent waste disposal rates over
the same time period. The available costs for the other disposal options, including the