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

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6.130<br />

TABLE 6.1.26. Summary Effects (Per Plant-Year) <strong>of</strong> Non-Radiological<br />

Effluents (Fullwood and Jackson 1980)<br />

Premature Deaths/yr Permanent Disabilities/yr(a)<br />

Reference Reference<br />

Plant Facility Transmutation Facility Transmutation<br />

FRP 4 4 14 14<br />

FRP-WTF -- 7 -- 21<br />

FFP 0.2 0.2 0.6 0.6<br />

FFP-WTF -- 3 -- 9<br />

Totals 4.2 14.2 14.6 44.6<br />

(a) Based on disabilities lasting longer than 6000 person-days.<br />

Probably the single most important nonradiological hazard would result from the chemical<br />

processing, handling, and transportation activities, during which accidents could happen.<br />

The uncertainties associated with this unproven technology make precise analyses <strong>of</strong> these<br />

hazards difficult. Health evaluations, however, suggest that such hazards would pose ap-<br />

proximately 20 times the risk <strong>of</strong> the radiological occupational hazards (Blomeke et al. 1980).<br />

Other factors, such as seismic activity, fires, or severe meteorologic conditions, could<br />

lead to abnormal conditions. No such factors or their ensuing impacts, however, have been<br />

identified as warranting detailed environmental analysis for the transmutation facilities.<br />

Natural System Impacts<br />

Transmutation activity would involve handling several chemicals posing a potential health<br />

hazard. These chemicals would represent a threat to the natural environment surrounding fuel<br />

handling and processing facilities, as well as to the interconnecting transportation<br />

networks. Individual impact scenarios have not been postulated, but it can be assumed that<br />

there would be a risk <strong>of</strong> nonradiological impact associated with use <strong>of</strong> these chemicals not<br />

unlike that experienced by certain chemical process industries today.<br />

Other nonradiological ecosystem impacts would result from construction, operation, and<br />

maintenance activities. Such impacts cannot be fully addressed except for a specific site.<br />

In general, potential impact would be similar to that <strong>of</strong> a comparably sized industrial ope-<br />

ration. Reductions in the quantities <strong>of</strong> natural vegetation, an increase in run<strong>of</strong>f, and eli-<br />

mination <strong>of</strong> certain habitats are types <strong>of</strong> impacts that would be expected from such a faci-<br />

lity. Although similar to impacts described for the baseline case <strong>of</strong> a fuel reprocessing<br />

operation that includes a mined geologic repository, the transmutation impacts would be<br />

greater because additional facilities and increased transportation would be involved.

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