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6.150<br />

In general, normal operation within regulatory limits should assure that ecosystem<br />

radiological impacts are acceptable. These conclusions are confirmed by generic studies (DOE<br />

1979b).<br />

The data base for environmental assessment <strong>of</strong> the space option is very preliminary at<br />

this time. Environmental assessments could be made only when the total system has been bet-<br />

ter defined. Bechtel (1979a) provides a recommended schedule for assessing ecosystem impacts<br />

from abnormal events, which, if adhered to, would make preliminary results available late in<br />

1980.<br />

Nonradiological Impacts. The major environmental impacts from construction <strong>of</strong> required<br />

waste treatment, payload fabrication, payload receiving, and launching facilities would be<br />

qualitatively similar to those <strong>of</strong> other construction activities. Construction impacts, in<br />

general, are related to resource commitments (land, water, and materials) and to effects on<br />

environmental quality and biotic communities from the pollutants and fugitive dust released<br />

by construction activities.<br />

Water quality would be adversely affected by the creation <strong>of</strong> sedimentation resulting from<br />

run<strong>of</strong>f at construction sites, discharge <strong>of</strong> treated wastewaters and blowdown at reprocessing<br />

facilities, and salt pile run<strong>of</strong>f at the secondary waste repository (Bechtel 1979a).<br />

Air quality during construction would be adversely affected as a result <strong>of</strong> fugitive dust<br />

and diesel equipment emissions, emissions from waste and employee transportation, and salt<br />

drift (Bechtel 1979a). On the basis <strong>of</strong> results <strong>of</strong> analyses performed for air quality, water<br />

quality, land quality, weather, and ecology during normal operations, no long-term or cumula-<br />

tive effects are predicted for the abiotic and biotic communities (NASA 1978).<br />

Accidents related to Space Shuttle launches (without payloads) have been described else-<br />

where (NASA 1978) and are not expected to be environmentally significant.<br />

Socioeconomic Impacts<br />

Manpower estimates for construction and operation are a key variable in assessing socio-<br />

economic impacts. Employment related to payload handling and launch is a differentiating<br />

factor between the space option and other waste disposal options.<br />

Only preliminary data for the socioeconomic assessment <strong>of</strong> the space option are available<br />

at this time. A detailed assessment <strong>of</strong> the socioeconomic implications <strong>of</strong> the space disposal<br />

option would require more accurate employment estimates, information on the industrial sec-<br />

tors affected by capital expenditures, and identification <strong>of</strong> the specific geographic areas<br />

involved. Rochlin et al. (1976) provide a general discussion <strong>of</strong> the socioeconomic implica-<br />

tions <strong>of</strong> nuclear waste disposal in space.<br />

(a) While Kennedy Space Flight Center has already adjusted to many <strong>of</strong> the impacts mentioned<br />

below, selection <strong>of</strong> an alternative launch site would require additional impact<br />

assessment.

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