ML20148N161
| ML20148N161 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/20/1980 |
| From: | Cromer S Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards |
| To: | Lawroski S Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20148N155 | List: |
| References | |
| ACRS-CT-1297, NUDOCS 8012300758 | |
| Download: ML20148N161 (4) | |
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November 20, 1960 S, Iawroski Chaiman MEMORANCUM FOR:
Subconnaittee on Radioactive Waste Management Sylvan Cromer FROM:
ACRS Consultant Confidence in the disposal of High
SUBJECT:
Level Nuclear Waste in Geologie Repositories Reasonable assurance that high level melear waste, including spent fuel, can safely be disposed of in geologie repositories is 7tsis can be supported by the following:
technically sound, Review and analysis of the inforsnation obtained from 1
millions of dollars worth of studies and testa made by the.
U.S. Goverrament and it's Contractors Applicable experience in the Mining, Construction, hnneling, 2
Petroleum Production and other Industries Detailed studies on moloar waste management reported in 3
Position Statmeents and elsewhere by responsible scientific and technion1 organisations inoladings National Academy of Science American Institute of Chemical Engineers American Nuclear Society Association of Engineering Geologiste Position Statements filed by organisations supported by the 4
malear industry Atomie Industrial Forum Edison Electrio Institute Utility Waste Management Group 8012300 7p
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5 Position Statements filed by utilities that own and operata m dlear power reactors including:
Tennessee Valley Authority Consumers Power Company Niagara Mohawk Omaha Public Power Institutional issues may present more famidable problems for geologie disposal than the technical ones. Citisens are concerned about the safe disposal of all types of wasta and are skeptical that a safe method for melaar wasta disposal can'be devailoped, because after over ' thirty years of effort and.the arpenditure.of millions of dollars, no permanent'highievel 'disposil systan'is:ydt 'in operation.
Ibe granty.oY the.siituation 'is arpressed 'in many carefully, prepared Position 'St4tements 'in61uding ones reesiived from W 3tates of Qili-fornia, Illineia. Minnesota, New Jork and utseonsin, which state that based on existing knamiledge there.is no.ruson Yar.oonfidence that high lovs1 m61 ear maste can be disposed W wafeily. 3Htatioil vge-ments in rebuttal o'f these no confidence issues are,pented 'in the DOE Cross Statement dated'9/5/80
'DN is w611 aware 'of the ' impact =t 'ths. program *thesel issues may have, such as state moratoriums on the construction oY mew na61 ear plants, prohibition of geological surveys for r9pository locations and prohibitim of the disposal of high' level unste within the Stata.
Through their Office of' Nuclear Wastm 2sdlation,'. DOE ls developing methods for handling the probism.
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o lb It is imperative that a geologio repository be built to demon-strate that nuclear wasta can be safely disposed of. The principal waste form would be spent fuel. The repository design would permit l
waste stored in it to be retrieved.
llo spent fuel is presently being reprocessed in the U.S.
It is probably not economical at this time te reproosse fuel for use with a once through eyele in Light Water Iteactors. 11guid Metal Fast Breeder Reactors, however, are expected to produce thirty times as maich energy from fuel and will nead reprocessing to provide the uranium and.pintonium they use for bl.
When the M 'has been demonstrated, the deciarian man be made to retrieve the spent.faal from the repository for. reprocessing and replace it in the repeWitory with the high level unste produoed.
ihis will not ordy pensit the recovery of the urentum and pintonium but other eaumercial and strategic antarials sentained in b spent fuel. The energy obtained frem this spent fuel should =h4='ise the use of fossil fuels that will'be. nee 8ed in the future as feed unterial far 'ho rherical Industry.
Prior to the time the demonstration repository ' bee:maas operational, under water surfaos storage can contime to'bo used. % is ' type af interim storage :has 'been used for marty years and its reliaWV and safety has been adequataly demonstrated. The option to continue the use of this method for spent fuel storage in exooss of that needed for the repositety demonstration aan be decided at a Inter date.
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~ Casaments on the NRC Research kdget F. Arsenault is to be cessplimented on his excellent presentation of the Research kdget. The considerations used in planning NRC Ob,jectives Technical capabilities Required Status of Technicel Capabilities Research Objectives
.Rasearch Program provide a simple yet usaningful basis by which to analyze the needs for research, the structure of the c.eganisation, and b utilisation of resouroes.
.The degree of noordinatim with other Divis' ions of IXE reported is vary desirable as it minimises the digilioation af affo*t mandad b develop b basic infarination needed1 y'both EC and IXE for planning
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and executing h work for which each is responsible.
I am scenewhat noncerned aint the information presented en risk analysis, Am=Hng with water T10w from a retpository. net so smah With the methods used but h ability of obtain good field data en W oharacteristins of % flow path. JAs Miscussed in amar meeting, h presence of unter in the repositen b=ild.'be EmHMaced arQy if it a
aan be demonstrated ht it is impossib'le to locate a suitable dry sita.
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