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

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6.152<br />

Critical Resources. Estimated commitment <strong>of</strong> critical material resources required for<br />

construction plus 40 year operation (other than those required for launching) are charac-<br />

terized as follows (Bechtel 1979a).<br />

Resource Amount<br />

Water, m 3 6.0 x 10 7<br />

Steel and Major Alloys, MT<br />

Carbon Steel 2.9 x 105<br />

Stainless Steel 3.0 x 104<br />

Chromium 5.0 x 10<br />

Nickel 2.0 x 103<br />

Major Nonferrous Metals MT<br />

Copper 3.8 x 104<br />

Lead 2.9 x 103<br />

Zinc 6.0 x 102<br />

Aluminum<br />

8.3 x 104<br />

Concrete, m 3 1.1 x 106<br />

Lumber, m 3 4.0 x 105<br />

Land. Approximately 9000 ha (22,230 acres) <strong>of</strong> land would be required for the<br />

space disposal program. There is sufficient land capacity at the Kennedy Space Center to<br />

meet this requirement (Bechtel 1979a).<br />

International and Domestic Legal and Institutional Considerations<br />

The space disposal option has elements that are unique and that would have to be<br />

addressed in a comprehensive analysis <strong>of</strong> this alternative. For example, careful assignment<br />

<strong>of</strong> responsibility and accountability will have to be made among the federal agencies that<br />

would be involved in this disposal option.<br />

The space disposal option would also present international concerns that would have to<br />

be recognized and addressed. Potential issues are:<br />

* Risk <strong>of</strong> accidents affecting the citizens <strong>of</strong> countries that did not participate in the<br />

waste disposal decision<br />

* Possibility <strong>of</strong> joint disposal programs with other countries<br />

* Assignment <strong>of</strong> associated costs to various countries.<br />

In addition to these generic international issues, there are a number <strong>of</strong> specific multi-<br />

national treaties, conventions, and agreements currently in force and subscribed to by the<br />

U.S. that bear upon the use <strong>of</strong> space for nuclear waste disposal. These include:

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