23.04.2013 Views

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

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

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

6.21<br />

The occupational hazards during normal operations <strong>of</strong> the waste disposal system would be<br />

expected to be no more, and maybe fewer, than the average associated with the var'ious<br />

trade/pr<strong>of</strong>essional workers required to operate the system.<br />

In the case <strong>of</strong> routine operation nonoccupational hazards, the expected impact would not<br />

be detectable.<br />

There are no specific data available to permit a quantitative estimate <strong>of</strong> the conse-<br />

quences <strong>of</strong> accidents that may arise. It is expected that abnormal occurrences such as fires,<br />

derailments,.transportation accidents, and equipment failures common to industry would oc-<br />

cur, but with reduced frequency. Consequently, the occupational impact would be expected to<br />

be less than that for industry in general.<br />

Natural System Impacts<br />

Currently available information is so limited that quantitative estimates <strong>of</strong> the radio-<br />

logical impact on the ecosystem are not available. However, it is expected that, during<br />

normal operations, the impact would be minimal, i.e., not greater than that for the mined<br />

geologic repository concept. Engineered safety features would be provided to ensure that the<br />

disposal system would operate in compliance with regulatory requirements. In addition, loca-<br />

tion <strong>of</strong> the waste in holes as deep as 10,000 m would increase the transport path to several<br />

kilometers more than that for the mined geologic repository. This would tend to further<br />

mitigate the consequences <strong>of</strong> radioactive waste leak, should it occur, by increasing the<br />

transport time.<br />

Micr<strong>of</strong>ractures and other openings might develop in the vicinity <strong>of</strong> the hole because <strong>of</strong><br />

the stress relief created by drilling or excavation. In addition, small openings might de-<br />

velop within the cement plug and between the plug and the hole wall if the bonding between<br />

the two were not adequate. Such channels would provide pathways for contaminated waters to<br />

migrate to the biosphere. If the hole were sited below circulating ground water, the primary<br />

driving force for migration would likely come from the thermal energy released by the<br />

radioactive waste. The travel time to the biosphere would therefore depend on the availa-<br />

bility <strong>of</strong> water, the continuity and apertures <strong>of</strong> the existing and induced fractures, the time<br />

and magnitude <strong>of</strong> the energy released, geochemical reactions, and the volume and the geometry<br />

at the opening over which the energy persists. The lack <strong>of</strong> data on the presence <strong>of</strong> water and<br />

the properties <strong>of</strong> fractures in deep rock environments prevents making any estimate <strong>of</strong> the<br />

consequences to the ecosystem.<br />

Nonradiological effects on the ecosystem might impact both water and air quality. Water<br />

quality might be affected by the discharge <strong>of</strong> treated wastewater to the surface water and by<br />

rainfall run<strong>of</strong>f from graded areas, rock piles, and paved areas. Air quality and meteorolo-<br />

gical changes would come from the generation <strong>of</strong> fugitive dust and the creation <strong>of</strong> reflecting<br />

surfaces. Air quality would also be affected by emissions from diesel-powered construction<br />

and transportation equipment, stack gases, and fugitive dust. The exact discharge quantities<br />

and run<strong>of</strong>f characteristics and the exact amount and type <strong>of</strong> construction equipment are not

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!