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

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6.147<br />

(Bechtel 1979a). (See Table 6.1.30.) Of this dose, 1000 man-rem/yr derives from Space<br />

Shuttle-related activities. The nonoccupational dose is estimated at 180 man-rem/yr, with a<br />

negligible amount attributed to the Space Shuttle program.<br />

Accidents may be classified by their location within the sequence <strong>of</strong> operations as as-<br />

sociated with:<br />

* <strong>Waste</strong> treatment<br />

* Payload fabrication<br />

* Payload ground transportation<br />

* Handling and launch preparation<br />

* Launch phases (suborbital)<br />

* Orbital operations<br />

* Postemplacement.<br />

Within this sequence, many possible accidents that might be called "typical industrial" ac-<br />

cidents can be identified. These are not discussed further because they (a) are not related<br />

directly to either the nuclear or space transportation aspects, (b) have negligible environ-<br />

mental impact, and (c) are no more probable (and in fact may be less probable) in this acti-<br />

vity than in any industrial activity <strong>of</strong> similar magnitude. Of primary concern here are those<br />

accidents involving radioactive material, that would lead to the release and dispersion <strong>of</strong><br />

the radioactive material into the environment. <strong>Waste</strong> treatment, payload fabrication, payload<br />

ground transportation and handling, and launch preparation for the space disposal option<br />

would be expected to be broadly similar to the same activities as employed for terrestrial<br />

disposal options. Thus, the possible accidents and accident consequences would also be sim-<br />

ilar (subject to some variation relating to the different nuclides that might be involved).<br />

Such accidents and their consequences are treated in Chapter 4 and are not further described<br />

here.<br />

Certain types <strong>of</strong> accidents that might occur during the launch or orbital and post-<br />

emplacement operations would impose difficult environmental conditions on the payload. They<br />

could lead to the payload coming to rest in uncontrolled areas or to the release and disper-<br />

sion <strong>of</strong> some <strong>of</strong> the radioactive waste. These accident types would include:<br />

* Explosions<br />

* Intense fires<br />

* High-velocity impact<br />

* Atmospheric reentry.<br />

The payload and other mission hardware, as well as the procedures used to carry out the<br />

various operations, would be designed to

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