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

6.90
* Radioactivity of water at ice-rock interface
* Hydrologic connections to open oceans and effects on ice stability.
In addition, there are serious issues connected with the ability to adequately predict
long-term ice sheet behavior, including rates of motion within the sheet, the physical state
and rates of ice flow, movement of meltwater at the base of the sheet, and the long-term sta-
bility of the total sheet.
R&D Requirements to Make System Operational
R&D requirements to resolve these issues may be grouped in terms of those related to the
handling, transportation, and emplacement of the waste, and those related to obtaining basic
information on ice sheets. In the former group, R&D would be required in the areas of waste
forms (content, shape, and materials), transportation (shielding, casks, ships, aircraft,
over-ice vehicles), facilities (port, handling, inspection, repair), and supply logistics
(fuel, equipment, personnel requirements). Research needs applying to ice sheets would in-
clude determination of ice sheet movement and stability through geological/geophysical ex-
ploration and ice movement measurements, studies of ice flow mechanics including effects of
bottom water layers, studies of global and polar climatology, and acquisition and analysis of
meteorological and environmental data.
Estimated Implementation Time and R&D Costs
If the ice sheet disposal concept were to prove viable, the time required to achieve an
operating system is estimated to be about 30 years after the start of the necessary research
program. The research program itself would require about 15 years of activity directed pri-
marily toward improved understanding of ice sheet conditions, selecting an emplacement me-
thod, identifying and assessing ice sheet areas most suitable for the method selected, and
research and preliminary development of systems unique to the particular emplacement method
and site. Should the research program culminate in a decision to proceed with project de-
velopment, an additional period of 12 to 13 years would be required to implement an opera-
tional disposal system.
R&D costs for ice sheet disposal are estimated to be $340 million (in 1978 dollars) for
the initial research and preliminary development program and between $570 million and $800
million for development, depending on the emplacement mode chosen.
Summary
Major uncertainties, shortcomings, and advantages of the concept are summarized below:
* The environment involved is non-benign to men and equipment, and the transportation
limitations are severe.
* Understanding and performance assessment of the subsurface mechanisms of transport and
package degradation are not developed to any degree.
* The concept does have the capacity for multiple barriers.