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

3.15
3.2.4 Ecological and Atmospheric Impacts
The impacts of the treatment, interim storage, transportation, and final disposal of
radioactive wastes on natural ecosystems cannot be satisfactorily dealt with in detail in a
generic sense because of the overriding influence of site-specific factors. For example,
the expected impacts of certain waste technologies on plant and animal communities in an
area of high precipitation may be markedly different from those in an arid environment. The
ability of natural systems to withstand stress will vary widely according to their environ-
ment. Similarly, the economic worth of the natural resources at risk will depend greatly
on the region and the degree of change already induced by human activities.
In this Statement, the assumption is made that environmental releases of radioactive
wastes that are within the acceptable standards designed to protect man will also be within
limits tolerable to natural plant and animal populations. In general, man is believed to
be more sensitive to radiation than are other lifeforms. Thus, the discussion of potential
radiation effects on plants and animals other than man is not considered on a generic basis.
Consequently, discussion of the ecological impacts of radioactive waste management is con-
fined mainly to 1) the effects on the use of land and surface water and 2) the impacts
resulting from the release of nonradioactive chemicals and heat to the air and to surface
water.
The main atmospheric effects evaluated in this Statement are the impacts on ambient air
quality caused by emissions to the atmosphere during construction and operation of the
facilities. Secondary emissions from construction force vehicles and construction equipment
are also included in the emissions inventory. Since heat is a by-product of each process,
its effect on the biosphere, whether released directly or via cooling tower, is also inves-
tigated.
3.2.5 Radiological Impacts Assessments and Uncertainties
Radiological impacts are probably perceived as the most important aspect of radioactive
waste management. As a consequence, radiological aspects are considered in detail in this
Statement and in its supporting documents. Radiological impacts are described principally
in terms of dose to workers and to the public (The regional population is described in
Appendix F; mathematical models are described in Appendix D.)
Doses to the public from waste management operations would be expected to arise from
inhalation of radionuclides, by direct radiation, and from ingestion of food products (e.g.,
vegetables, meat, and dairy products) either grown on land contaminated by radionuclides
deposited on the ground or contaminated by deposits directly on the food products
themselves.
Dose from exposure to planned or unplanned releases of radionuclides to the biosphere
is considered for three main categories of the public: the maximum individual,(a) the
(a) The maximum individual is a hypothetical resident whose habits would tend to maximize
his dose.