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

Implementation Time
6.125
The long lead time for implementing this alternative is based on the orderly development
of a commercial scale partitioning plant, which would be expected to take about 20 years.
The first 10 years would be devoted to partitioning research and the development and testing
of a pilot plant, as reflected in Table 6.1.20. All of the R&D programs involving transmuta-
tion, fuel assembly and shipping cask development, and system studies could be accomplished
in concurrence with the partitioning schedule.
Estimated R&D Costs
Table 6.1.20 identifies estimated R&D costs necessary to demonstrate the transmutation of
actinides. It does not include costs associated with providing a commercial scale partition-
ing plant, the necessary modifications to the fuel fabrication facility and light water reac-
tors, or a transportation system required to utilize the partitioning-transmutation of acti-
nides as a waste disposal alternative.
Summary
Major uncertainties, shortcomings, and advantages of the concept are summarized below:
* The concept is actually a method of waste treatment or conversion to a more benign form;
it is not an independent disposal method.
* Additional waste streams during the process are generated so that the actual volume of
waste for isolation is greater than without it.
* The technology for efficient transmutation (waste partitioning and advanced reactors)
are considered to be long-term achievements.
TABLE 6.1.20. Estimated Transmutation R&D Costs And
Implementation Time
Cost, $ million Time Span, years
Partition R&D
(Includes Pilot Plant) 560 10
Transmutation R&D 16 15
Fuel R&D 80 15
Transportion 56 10
System Studies 8 Continuous