ML20154S665
| ML20154S665 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/07/1980 |
| From: | Mccormack NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| TASK-TF, TASK-URFO NUDOCS 9810280051 | |
| Download: ML20154S665 (32) | |
Text
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9 (v' May 7,1980 t Amendment by Mr. McCormack
.g to April 24, 1980 Committee Print
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H.R. 6627 ' On page 6, delete lines 10 through 24; on page 7, delete lines 1 through 25; on page 8, delete lines 1 through 25; on page 9, delete lines 1 through 25; on page 10, delete lines 1 through 23; and insert in lieu thereof the following:
"(B) Civilian Waste Management --
"(1) Operating expenses, $176,989,000 including the following amounts for:
(a) Site exploration and investigation activities . in subparagraph 107 (B)(3)(a) and 107 (B)(3)(b), $78,400,000 (b) West Valley demonstration 5,000,000 (c) Waste technolo'gy and canister development activities in subparagraph 107 (B)(3)(c), not less than 9,000,000
,(d ) Low Level Waste, not less than
() 2,000,000 (e) Other Programs 82,589,000
"(2) No funds appropriated pursuant to any authorization in this Title may be used for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant project, Project No. 77-13-F, near Carlsbad, New Mexico.
"(3) The Secretary shall, not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this '
act, establish a research, development, and demonstration 5 program for high-level radioactive waste (hereinafter called waste) disposal to include integrated technology demonstrations to develop the necessary data and information for full-scale repositories, and to confirm the existence of technological solutions for safely disposing of high-level radioactive wastes. .To implement the pro-gram, the Secretary shall: (a) Identify four regionally distributed repository sites in the Continental United States at least one of which shall be located in each of the eastern, f') v central, and western regions of the United States. At each site excavate to provide shafts for site characterization, suitable for further development into demonstration repositories. Such sites shall be suitable for future full-scale repositories. For purposes of, minimizing delays in this program, emphasis shall be given to Federally-owned sites, including, but not limited ! to, sites where waste has been stored or deposited. Sites considered shall ] include, but not be limited to, the following geologic media: basalt, tuff, granite, and salt. Site selection shall be based upon the principle that the wastes shall be isolated from the biosphere by engineered barriers, developed pursuant to subparagraph 107 (B)(3)(c), with subsequent isolation by geologic containment. The locations of the first two sites shall be identified not later than the end of the first quarter of Fiscal Year 1981 and the third and fourth sites by the end >f Fiscal Year 1983. None of the activities in this' subparagraph including the excavation for shafts shall be considered to be a major Federal action pursuant to subsection 102 (c)of l the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. (b) Design, construct, and operate four technology-demonstration repository facilities (herein referred to as demonstration repositories) for research and development purposes at the sites selected on the basis of the site characterization above. - 9810280051 800507 PDR ORQ NOMA
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- - o o l The demonstration repositories shall be in operation by the end of Fiscal I Years 1986 for the first and 1987 for the second, with operation of the 1
third and fourth anticipated by the end of Fiscal Year 1990. Such demon-
- I a~ stration repositories shall be mined at depths and constructed with methods I suitable for development into full-scale repositories and they shall be no l ,
larger than is appropriate to conduct the necessary r,esear5h and development activities to demonstrate the safe disposal of wastes, taking into con-sideration the necessary handling, engineering, space, configurations, and heat dissipation of such wastes. Each repository shall be designed with a i capacity for receiving a minimum of 40 full-size canisters of vitrified ; i waste produced pursuant to subparagraph 107 (B)(1)(c). These 40 canisters 'l shall be designed such that the o maxfmum surface temperature of the overpack canister is in the range 90 to 100 centigrade when emplaced in demonstration repositories. All such waste stored in any demonstraticn repository authori-zed by this Act shall be fully retrievable. The operation of the demonstration i repositories shall terminate by the year 2000. The demonstration repositories shall contain wastes owned or acquired by the Federal government and pri- l I marily resulti, g from unlicensed activities. n l (c) Design, construct and operate technology-demonstration facilities to solidify (3 wastes by any suitable technique, including, but not limited to, vitrification. i l (/ Canisters of solidified wastes shall be contained in engineered barriers which shall include, but not be limited to, overpack canisters. Such barriers shall be designed to prevent the movement of radionuclides out of the container for the time needed for the health hazard of such wastes to become comparable to the health hazard of the uranium ore mined to generate such wastes. Canisters of solidified waste shall be prototypical of that suitable for permanent placement in a full-scale repository and shall be ready for placement in the demonstration repositories =at the designated time of completion of each demonstration repository. The waste at West Valley, New York may be utilized for all purposes in this subsection 107 (B). (d) As soon as is practicable, and on a continuing basis, consult and coordinate with the appropriate State officials regarding the Department's plans for, and construction of, the technology demonstration repositories which are planned to be sited in each State. O '.
"(4)' Consistent with existing law, all demonstration facilities authorized in paragraph and; demonstration facilities.107 (B)(3) shall be constructed and operated as non
"(5) The Secretary shall utilize all funds appropriated pursuant to this title and Title VII of this Ac.t for purposes consistent with the expeditious completion of L each authorized activity, and shall not provide funds, either directly or in-l
! directly, to any person (as defined by paragraph 11 (s) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended), advocating a position on such activity. l L < \
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.(d- v i ;,: Amendment by Mr. McCormack to the April 24,1980' Committee print of '
H.R. 6627 i On page 10, a.fter line 23, add a new subparagraph (5) as follows and renumber I the succeeding paragraphs accordingly:
'"(5) The' Secretary shall --
(a) conduct.research, development and demonstration on advanced techniques for disposing of low-level radioactive wastes; f-s
-( (b) conduct a study which shall include an analysis of the advantages !
and -disadvantages of (i) using a glass furnace, or other appropri- t
- ate device, to consume and reduce the volume of low-level wastes I while at the same time appropriately containing such wastes;- (ii) locating any such volume reduction and solidification facility at nuclear power plants to serve as regional processing facilities prior to shipment for final disposal of all low-level wastes '
y generated'in the region; (iii) using existing underground caverns produced by nuclear explosive detonations for dssposing of low-level wastes; and (iv) allowing short-lived, low-level wastes to be held in storage until safe for disposal as non-radioactive l wastes. l (c) submit a report by February 1,1981 containing the findings, con-clusions, and recommendations resulting from the study required '
. by subparagraph 107 (B)(5)(b) .to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the. Committee on
- -() Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate." !
4 I O h I (' l l l o -
e. March 31, 1980 ,.-; 3 WA
-MANAGEMENT CONSTRUCTION N ,
FY81 AUTHORIZATION g *
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6% l l ProjSite ectUndetermined, 81-H- 01 ', First Technology Demonstration Repository, S'6,000,000 l Design and site selection ' shall be initiated immediately upon passage of the Bill. Construction of primary shaft to full depth shall be started in fiscal year 1981. for operation, in fiscal Construction year 1986 shall be completed, ready Project 81-H- 02 !
, Second Site Undetermined, Technology Demonstration Repository.
$ 2,000,000
- Design'and site selection !
shall be initiated immediately upon passage of the Bill.
. Construction fiscal shall be completed, ready for operation, in year 198F, L ,~
s' ( ,) Project 81-HC 03
, Nuclear Waste solidification Demonstration Facility, Site Undetermined, $1,000,000. Design and site l selection shall be started immediately upon passage of the Bill. I by fiscalConstruction year 1985. shall be completed, ready for operation, !
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.f r C um The Reduced funding will r l ThE',Administr'ation'd activities in nuclear waste management are!
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cojected edule for achieving reduced fuel IRG ,1 e amirmdS%d:m rg.m,n.m.,4 ed blished the itsconclusions ofi-the: Interagency finhl'repbiyiri: March,^.197Diand:by:.the fo 1 Review Group Webhyc ho;4w.shyi.ikfh. 3 ,,dehtial position' payer ontFebruary 19fl980LThi% Presidential ~~
- fr w 6f:,.d:::.r u -se d L m. .a.,ed.i s . ,
oipaper called'for.. establishing a comprehensive' National Plan i RJ/ W:.~.: m . . dioactive Waste Managemeiit .The draft;of this plan is expected 94kiiu!?e.h
- ' rd e riom:r: rihr 8(EP NC.&
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?_ . .ptember 1980, and the final. plan is.tarseted for issuance on; .
1 e w . m .c. w is.~ . -
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.anuary 1981. The plan will present: .s
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E . N.m An overview of the total program effort and goals;
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.Basie strategy and logie sequence of key events;
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s Participants and res,ponsibthties; and . .. . . A. schedule for activities.
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v.7.r- - . - ' emphA. sis upon dis 11of sThe, Administration places 'nu prima" bear reactors in N mine [ .. . . ~
- t fuel elements from civilian P
}- .
- h ries at full geologic depths, rather than upon reproeming obe
- s. fuelin order to extract the wastes for disposal.=In the February 12, 1 ' W1980 statement of the President, the goal was to identify a site in 1985
'for a repository, which would be completed in the mid.1990's. However,
. _ - '_ two months later, the April 15,1980 " Statement of Position of the-y (e7)
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4 69 U.S. Department of Energy" on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission t I The Committee believed it was necessar, (NRC Waste Confidence Rulemaking; DOE /NFA007 delayed 3 area because of the misconceptions sharel the rep)'ository,coropletion to between 1997 (and 2006. In the)Adminis- 7 tration s program, this licensed re need for ~ licensing federally-run facilities. that unlike activities in the commercia' l se spentfuels and defense wastes..,, _. " ,pository 9,_ would be for both civihan i search, development and demonstration ac
,Harmg completed roduction'oNw;;o;. .
O Federal activity and are conducted in part vitrified 10 feet lo(glassified),@nonoliths,.{ solid."Iogs",1 -foot in diameter the technology and-as well'arthe full-stre,>hi parameters ng).m FY79,the Admuustration.ts concentratmg efforts in =1 lmlicies are formulated. It would be incons a technolo prior to the time when techt upon boards and panels;for certification and adv2ce.solidhtion have beenofkrmulated. wastes upon research m
. . ** The Canmittee recognized that Section q.. . ,et.of volume"rediictionjand.,me(mention. The DOFornization low-level wastes,.the; Act (ERA) Adm mqtia created four exceptic
- m. , Jusmg-mmmerciaVbunal ground'~pforats'Aow4eveLwaE,has.stoppe s
stes .a'Itersthe-
' of the Atomic Energy Act, none of which th d*
PQ.3te 1979.closirgftfogthe;1hr@ j nuc lear;wa)ste nali siteybemgr buifilian 6w-leveicwastejburiid of Spetio Section 202 of the 107(B of the bill. ER exerrrpts from In p.; goperatujaie Racf2g gggroundW DOE-are.cu- lowpe@tly ata11abje,tonly;fornts-usage.,7 DOE " Facilities used primarily for the re .T arCdf;1979,Epartr51ai-ly~ severe .shortaFe:of acom
- level radioactive wastes resulting from aci i m);.g.Lrsth[latte.merciallow-le (Atomic Ene Act " The Committee ]
waste.bunal-fa7ctEies.existea yhile two.of..the thre* - -- commercidsites were temporanly_ closed. Consderable national at:h3g 107(B)(3) of )e bill that all of the aut)
- (,). burial tention grounds. T,he<wasState-Plannmsr06uncils consegueptly which ,was; given4o_the appointed develop the necessary
~
need used for the purpose of research, developi data and and to confirm the existence of technologic for additio informatao1 the President y concerned about 2n response to. an civilian IRG recommendation, A of is partacu high-level pf wastes. T radioactive waste banal grounds. e possibilitiesw.s for-additional low-level i hosinositories am not to be used primar
- u. m Oyerall budgets for civih,an waste management have. - increased 9 e i
storing high level wastes, althou to effectuate the R,D&D@ purpose.gh For this receij arapidly majorpationalov,er the.past several years to a expenditure. 6. . ":o s r.. . . . . .. s. t e level _that in FY80 has become, sitories are not within the
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su paragraph 107(B) (3) (b) theofurview bill reg of 1
- COMMITTEE _ACTIOh :.. ._.._ -
-...m. .
N wastes pnmarily resultmg from unheense
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. . me.nt create.s a second independent conditi<
Civilian Waste Management-43 millindecrease . - . this exception. E Consultation and Coordination-Paragra)
, The Committee made substantial redimetions and funding reduct tions in the Adm1mstrgion,'s.progra which focused u n long term 1 The Committee' requires that the Depa-earations for repositones and.o preffed instead t that th foqus be uponn near-ternLdemonstratm_p_ro-; A nateactions any with apfanned p or conducted within 2erirop a
gratus linder the Termmal Tsolation R&D subsect2on and the waste. tee is deliberatelv using the term "coordi) Treatment Technology subsection, the Committee directed that tech A' " concurrence" us~ed by the Interagency Re
'nology-demonstration acilities be constructed ( _y President Carter in liis February 12,1980.
LicensingI - ; - 4.L s .- 3
-. +.> 9 v --di believes that " concurrence" connotes a ve Paragraph 107 B) ~
plicity, contrary to the preemptive nature waste solidificatio(n fac(4) of the bill' requires that the demonstration; E of 19M, as amended. ilities and the demonstration re The Committee believes that coord,nat. be constructed and operated as non-licensed facilities.positories are to ' J i i The Committee change of views between the Department intends that this paragraph reaffirm the existing general rule of law cluding a thorough response from the Secre (subject to four exceptions noted below) that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall not have licensing and related regulatorv autliority officer of the state. locality, or I,ndian Tri
~ cerns before any significant actmn on de:
pursuant to the Atomic Energy Act of 19M. as amended, over Depart- site characterization is taken. The consult: ment of Energy facilities, whether commercial or research develop-mest and demonstration facilities. The Committee howeve,.r encour- mittee must include early notification b,y t ages the Department to consult with the Nuclear Re,gulatory Commis- cials about proposed site explorat ons, mel s2cn at all levels of design, construction and operation to assure that The Committee expects that the wastes
- any comments that the Commission has are appropriately considered will be acquired by the Secretary in acco:
m the waste management program.: e D WNbb?A?MikNNY' wumuswa.ww.wwm$WbkkEh NN7555 $Y. N mewpeg a
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The Committee believed it was necessary to restate the law in this
""* 7 aren because of the misconceptions shared by many concerning the iyed need for licensing federally-run facilities. The Committee observes .ms. ,
that, unlike activities in the commercial sector, the Department's re-ESR i ; search, development and demonstration activities are managed as a Federal activity and are conducted in part for the purpose of deAninc
."81* ' the technology as well as the parameters from which the licensing
""d .i policies are formulated. It would be inconsistent to attempt to license, U8.?4 a technology prior to the time when technical positions, or policies,' i
""3 havebeen formulated.
*A :
The Committee recognized that Section 202 of the Energy Reorga-gP - nization Act (ERA) crea.ted four exceptions to the no-licensing rule
'P. 'd of the Atomic Energy Act, none of which apply to the facilities au-thorized in Section 107(B) of the bill. In particular, paragraph (3) g -
of Section 902 of.the ERA exempts from the no-licensing rule those DOE " Facilities used primarily for the receipt and storage of high '
' level radioactive vastes resulting from activities. licensed underh such (Atomic Energy) Acf." The Committee has specified in -d .
g - used
~
107(B)'(3) of the bill that all of the authorized facilities are to
, for the purpose of research, development and demonstration tom develop the necessary data and information for full-scale repositories" and to confirm the existence of technological solutions for safely dis -
posmg of high-level radioactive wastes. Thus, the demonstration n u
$*Q". y' storing high level wastes, although receipt' and storage is aquiredposi ygg
.to effectuate the R,D&D purpose. For this reason, the demonstration
~ repositories are not within the purview of this exception. In addition,
- "O % ( subparagraph 107(B) (3) (b) of the bill requires that the Secretary use wastes pnmarily resultmg from unlicensed activities. This require-
~2 : ? ment creates a second independent condition not within the terms of . .. M this exception.
73 Conndtation and Coordination-Paragraph 107(B)(3)(d) y [4 term' y The Committee requires that the Department consult and coordi-nate with appropriate state, local, and Indian-Tribe officials about g ,e any actions planned or conducted withinrather theirthan agions. The Commit-Egp the term IRG) and by S astel% "tee is deliberately concurrence' using the used by the Interagency term " coordinate", Group Review (he Committee / gg,3 Pasident Carter in liis February 12,1980, statement T
,1 %* believes that " concurrence": connotes a veto, either explicitly or im-M slicity, contrary to the pnemptive nature of the Atomic Energy Act v ation ! of 19M, as amended./
ee to Y, The Committee believes that coordination should ininclude in11 ex- - tittee 3 change of views between the Department and other such officials,i f law T .cluding a thorough response from the Secretary to the chief govern ng ofIicer of the state, locality, or Indian Tribe, on all. outstanding con-story cerns before any significant action on demonstration repositones or -l nty E. rt .L site characterization is taken. The consultation required by the Com-mittee must include early notification by the Department to such effi-IOP ? cials about proposed site explorations, including details of any plans.
.rt f The Committee expects that the wastes at West Valley, New 1ork, 'nis- :
will be acquired by the Secretary in accordance with p'aragraph 107 ) that - dered 4..
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wastes result prima,nly from the unlicensed N reactor at Hanford Washmgton, and may therefore be utihzed, consistent with the au., j . thorization in subparagraph 107(B 3) ,(b) and (c) of the bill. The' , s Department's wastes from defense)a(ctivities as well as from its re- 1 search and test reactors may similarly be utilized. ~ .: (a) Trim
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lanford i the aui i 'k bill. The n its wl] . , , (a) TERMINAI, Isol. mon R&D
; 5 In the Admini*tration program, spent fuel'will be encased in metal
.d canisters and placed in deep geological apositories, with provisions 2d. for retrieval. Particular attention is given to the geolog :
T' in order to assure that the long lived radionuclides,y of the sites particularly uranium and plutonium, do not migrate to the biosphere. Conse-5.c}-- quently 2::.misa logscalm, the focus of the program is upon detailed geologic and hydrovestigations. Resea dr a -
,wastesiwhich 1s%n important: component of;engineemd barriers, is, V 5@l . leing conductedin a lunited program.4 Q ~ Objecti&&R f2&$ . p..a._.hkh ,. -
f;bq* The objective' of'the Adminieration's program is to identify and aM ? fE
'l "' p:
to use in media test thehole United drillincs States. toThese explore areseveral to include sites in basa salt, granite, and possible other media. After site selection by 1985, a re-various t, tuff,beologic pository will be built with operation scheduled for 2006 or perhaps 79'9 ' as early as 1997. The program involves thorough consu,ltation and concurrence procedure with the states, localities, and the Indian tribes _. b'$ ~~ with the objective of kee infonned in the process. ping the public and its officials involved and
&],IT Strategy and scope
-w$
The Administration's program has heretofon concentrated on the c4 uw of salt as the geologic-medium for dispcsal. The Los Medanos site
+1t in Southeast New Mexico has been under consideration for the Waste d24 Isolation Pilot Plan (WIPP and is the best explored and character.
ized of salt locations. The ) Administration intends to rescind f the M WIPP project, which is now under the defense program,'and to have "fr this site available for a repository under the civilian program. $21 - N Million of FY 81 funds are requested by the Administration to con-y tinue securing land and rights for this site and continue the develop-ote$Nternative salt locations include ei ht salt domes in the OR .Is u stms-1hree in Texas, t.euisiana, anf1hme in mississippi. However, little field exploration has been conducted for these salt l 9Q ~ domes. Other possibilities are in the bedded salt of the Paradox Basin on Federal land in Southeast Utah. One full-depth core drilling will le completed by the end of FY 1980 in Gibson Dome. W@k
".E With regard to other geologic media _three_seceptable repositorv locations have been identified for possible disp ~osalinlasaltTiitG y IIanford. Washington, area on the basis of extensive core drillings U
t m er recent years. Pursuant to NRC recommendations for considering'e f
?
- s cranite ' media, field investigations in' granite are being considered. f To explore the possibility of disposal in tuff, a' partial. depth core g drilling has been made atTucca Mountain near the southwest part of {
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the Nevada Test Site (NTS). A full-depth exploratory hole will be I - completed in FY 80. I s.
, Concurrent with these site explorations demonstrations of em lac i v4 ang spent fuel and wastes at the surface a,nd at geologic depths ve .7 ' '
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- for Further Study by the U.S. Geological Survey .,
Sostee R. E. Anderson. D. H. Eargle. and R. o. Davis Geolopic and Rydrologic Sun-emary of Salt Domes sn Gstf Coast kepson of resos, Lounsione, Misewesppi, and Alatooma, Open !Ue Report UFGS-4339X.2. U.S. Geological Surrey,1973
- s od J. O. Ledtietter. W. R.
Kaiser, s ed E. A. Ripper er. Radionerne waste Monocemenj by Borsal dr. Salt bemes, . .- -
- p. 62. AEC Contract AT 40-1-4639, Entr. Mechanics Research Lat . University of Texas, UTAH AR LZON A
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i STUDY lmfC40N r 4 N toem on w Areas of the Parado for Further Evalua Source : R. J. Hite and S. W. Lohman. Geologie A pests for Weste Emplacement, Open File Report 4339
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- 76eite for Wasse Emplacement, Open Pile Report 433&-6. U.S. Geologteal Survey.1978 i
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74 75 m"""' grocessed fuel. The long. lived uranium and I-
/ ;, is a greater hazard than reprocessed wastes, evt W vears, and basically ditlerent methods am reg away from the biosphere. These methods f O nearly ideal geology for isolation, even thou N . = -" \ \ p tainties exist in predictions for future geolog
-O- 5
~
- a fore, Section 123 requires that no funds will 1
~
v spent fuels or to prepan for such disposal m th ments can be retrieved at a cost that is smal cost of the facility and the emplacement, and 1 .,. m
~ T =.= ,e f*7 '
.ible w radiological risk.
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2** Engineered Barriero-Paragraph 107(B)(3)
.- ['
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"'"" 'F The Committee 3edirected the Admini h~ '
i b>osal ese wastesprogram have, at most 0.57, to shift of the plutt the em isposa 1- ! ' % :_ , b nT ' E .s.. ha%- $ "i'Q:.c.::m tent contained in spent fuel, ,and decay sooner
. O ~4y 4 t.
g T..;. g w.a: s. As a consequence, rehance can mitially be pla< i . . n . . .- riers, which include the waste form and th< V "*"~
-- ; a ."T . mm.m. : . canisters, to contain the wastes. This redirect I it the need for ideal geology, since the geologv
~
* !I barrier. The geologic media will minumze the t=ti. e t ma. 5.n sit, c, toi n,. , 4,,o ism,3 I the waste form and canister barriers and hm a ma. rum activity in the unlikelv event any is micased
-w isum*)s -u , ntenmo
= i.ir area, n sit the geology is 'important as a sequen1 commrrE Acnow when the danger of the wastes has markedly c To implement the program that was direct Termind isolation R. & D.-$33s million decrease " ^ Department must first evaluate the ne
. The Committee made an overall $33.5 million decrease in the Adming the engineered, barriers. One of these er teri,a 2stration's proposed budget for Terminal Isolation R&D programs' properly functionmg engineered barriers wgl Trcstes from ReProces,in9 The second criterion is, the possibility of y waste leakage, from mdividual canisters durti The Committee , recognizes that the focus of the Administration's To evaluate this first criterion, the Depal Prognm on the disposal,of spent fuel as waste is dictated by and- directed to determine the time wben the healt
' supportive of the Admmistration's stated policy of indefinitely ~ defer- is comparable to the health hazard from the yn, the repro,cessme of snent fueh This policy is explicitir w2th the deferra) of breeder reactors into the next century. The m- coudo) led generation. I, from which the wastes msult. Wastes result fuel in reactors for electricity
(_nittee, based on its investigations and the results of the Na~tional Acad- are considered to be from the'first recycle to : uny of sciences. Committee on Nuclear and Alternative Enercy Svs- hazards are the carcinogenic effect of the r tems (C,0NAESI report and the International Nuclear FueT Cy'cle wastes and of uranium ore, as determined by rogram and Evah:ation the need to develop (IhTCE) study, supports proliferation-resistant fuel cycle a strong met breeder bodsin to whole-body effects upon ingestion by of the human population. The DOE can The energy content of tne spent fuel, discharged annually from the comparisons between these health hazards i existmg beensed nuclear power plants is the equivalent of about 250 .barr nillhon barrels of oil. If breeder reactors are used, the energt equi- determining To evaluate the time forcriterion, the second engineerin f iepar1 valent could be raised to about 12 billion barrels of oil annually. If all statistical porsibilities of faihires in the r of the exis:ing 7,500 tonnes of .=I?ent fuel is reprocessed and'the im- monoliths and the surrounding overpack cai ournal muuum and plutomum utihzed in a breeder reactor would have the energt equivalent of % of all the proven il reserves o,the nation ing faults. handling difficulties and initial Engineered barriers should be decigned so of the Middle East. In view of this enormous energy potential, the* wactes released for the most likely failure Committee is unwdline to adept a pohty that our nation on-ht to aie- less than, the henhh hazards of the uranii card wnt fuelespeciauy wnen most of the concerned foreign govern' Through the use of these criteria in con dente naye accided to develon, both renroceesing and breeder reactorO risk to the public is expected to be less that Safe dirposal of spent fuel is also more difficult than is waste from e o-see o - se - e l I l P m 5 * * * '
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.grocessed fueDThe long-lived uranium and plutonium in spent fuel ~
4 4 $$'~ a
. f7 3,s, u;
yJaTard than reprocessed wastes, even after several . Whm
^ hundredand basically ~_._. ~ ditierent .?
- awar from the biosphere; These methods for spent-fuel rely on t
*d g ideal geology for isolation, even though considerable uncer- =
watas Eist in predictions for future geolome performance. There. .
,. fare, section 128 mquires that. no funds willle spent for disposal of.
s cnt fuels ~or to prepare for such msposat umess,r.ne spent zuei eie f
~
ments can os'retraeved at'a' cost that, as small' compared'to both-the (W of the facility and the emplacement, and can be done~with neglid giblersdiologicalrisk.9 ,
~
Engineered Barder.Waragraph 107(B) (3) {c)
; The rammittes ~Saa+=A the _A Aministration's civihan Wasteidis-/
= :_1 of nm.w_-- - 4 wam+mai
- ooal program in e' dft the amnbeim to A' These wastes have, at fnost,0.5c/o of the plutonium and uranium con-tent containedin spent fuel, and decay sooner to safe levels of activity..
H . As a consequence, niiance can initially be placed upon engineered bar-riers, which include the waste form.and the surroundmg overpacki
; 1 canisters, to contain the wastes. This redirection significantly reduces /
lthe need for ideal geolog'y, since the nolorv is nrimarily a secondari
~
4 lagier/The geologic media will mininuze the likelihood of marupung; tFie waste form and canister barriers and limit the dispersal of radio ' AU setivity in the unlikely event any ricts.'The geolorr is imnortant am aismannentini nicased from the far harrier engineered the time bar-[-
.h N when the djifiger of f ie_ wastes has markedly decreased.
~
*2 To implement the program that was directed by the Committee, the '
Department must first evaluate the necessary criteria for design of
~I - the engineered barriers. One of there critarim is the time during which.
shg properly functioning engineered barriers will fully contain the wastes.o W The second criterion is the possibility of failures, and the resulting; ,
, :I want e leakage, from individual canisters during this time. ,
5 5 ) To evahtate this first criterion, the Department is authorized and i
;d .; i directed to determine the time when the health hazard from the wastes ,
r1 it comparable to the health hazard from the quantity of uranium ore ' 45 3.9 from which the wastes result. Wastes result from use of uranium for fuel in reactors for electricity generation. In this com aarison, T. asap I- ? atv coniidered to be from the first reevele to mirad-ari/a fnale: Health F- ' hazards are the carcinogenic effect of the radioactive content of the E a yn'tes and of uranium ore, as determined by federal regulations apply-d in; to whole-body effects u i distribution
$ of the human population.pon The DOE can ingestion by a existing utilize the many typ cal age
- comparisons between these health hazards or its own comparisons in 0 determining the time for engineering barrier reliance.
To evaluate the second criterion. Department should consider the I ' ] :atistical po sibilities of failures in the number of so@ified waste, pontdiths a.nd the surrounding otet; pack canistern, due toTnanufnetur , ( ' in.' inulte.' handling difficult _ies, and' initial eflects with the reretnrv.
- J En:rineered barriers snomd be designan to inat the health hazard of ,
wa< ten relened for the most likely failure modes is comparable to, or j ' 4-Ghan? the health hazards of the uranium ore. ! s Through the use of these criteria in constructing a repositorv the sk to the public is expected to be less than the risk from the orig,inal 3 (o - a N s _ __ t:-i:: e n-e Mm hj:- (fM gMm__ g.7-l_. .
; r - z r .a1. ; . _ , - ,_
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=
76 77 f ore bndr while it is in the cround. This results from two factors. The first factor is the smaller possitnuty that any such released wastes will reach humans than tl3 e possibility that uramum ore in the ground will j(w candidate md inchuling land wheregeologie wastes have twmedi Mitories are to be located and constru reach humans; re ositones will be much deeper than mined, bodies of "I
"% tension to fulbsize repositories. Wastes uramum ores, tm repository sites will be chosen to minumze migra tion of wastes through the geologic medium. The other factor is that Y '1* eTi sni ahle for full-scale repositories.
de valid demonstration of waste disp
. the health hazard from hypothetical in I"*"
wastesiscomparableto orlessthan,fromgestion of allofthe all released[",h.]de I the possibility the correspondmg uram,um ore. ypotheticalingestion ! repositories,if determined to of expend be appi 2
, The Department should consolidate its materials-science activities E .The maior regions of the nation are loo
. Into the Waste Treatment Technology program. Overpack canister. A "de the De artment with latitude to distr The De artment mar consider soi development is therefore discussed under that pro' cram in this Report % $. tion'd an 90' lat$tude-for an' eastern-c The Co ttee reduced the Admmqtration s, planed-5 year efforts e .toddenti .a, geologie site for4 full size repository to CrequirementM j in the zone of 105' and 110* latitude for
;ofidentification bythe end of the first quarter of FY 1981 of a site fod ! The Committee determined 'that'exca tdmdogy demonstration repositories w
;s technology-demonstratmn repository. N as bnsed on ceolome 1 : action in order to be consistent with th<
_ media servmc as a second hne of defense. The logic is a sequence oil " Disposal of High Level RadioactiveWas Frunary Darners, rather than the unduly irstnctive imtial pnmary g Proposed Licensing Procedures", and wit rehance upon geology. 7 practices. Full-size shafts are expecte,d t Technology-Demontration Repositories--Paragraph 107(B)(3) {b). t . access.for underground site charactenza' The Committee directed the construction of four (4) technology. izes and directs the Depattmentgsgart mn demonstration ' repositories . based u n er%- umnlo-v,- the ' ade. Q "y*,ntal}m act sta g quacy of which has been confirmed y consensi,is of exp,erts.'The pur- [ite characterization are underway. The pose of the projects is to demonstrate technological solutwns for safely im iact statements should minimiz~e any - disposmg of hich-level wastes. The Committee directed that $78.4 3Iil- e hon be utihzed for site exploration and mvestigations to locate and netarizntion and the start of other con The Committee decreased the Capital 3 prep,are sites for the 4, technology-demonstration repositones by nal Waste Isolation by $1.7 3fillion (v specified , dates and to similarly prepare for in11-size subsequent
# 83 'S' other place in this rejiort). Part of the The first of these demonstration repositories was authorized as confinmg experiments to pressure, teml Project SI-H--01 at $6 3Iilhon for Title I Prehmmary r.ngmeenng tions that will realistically be encounte (including geological survey work), initiation of Title II Design, and P h$rable importance should be p' commencement of site construction. This roject is to be m operation c
m 195p. See Sectwn 31, Construction of acilities. for details on con- ;,{. investigation matsalt dructwn.) 31 xico and m basalt theat the Las Hanford si hiec The second repos.i tory was.authon. zed as Proj.ect 81-H-02 for $2 depth test drillings at both locations wn! fs t fuel and other lonc-lived radio g9)g3Iillion. This reposi technology demonstration repositorv is to be, tones,1s in operation in FY 87. Each of the 4
- to contam vide mnortant information a minimum on the full-depth drillings to provide teoloci adi Ob monoliths of vitrified wastes encased m _overpack canisters. ne total
$1 number of canisters should De sufncient for necessary research and poral with encineered barriers. It woul-ment to use this information to identif, development on handlin . engineering, space, conficurations. and heat - depth drilling. althouch additional 4 disnpation. The Department should announce the locations of the first two repositories concurrently. shnfts are being excavated for site chara In directing this total of 90 m 1h.
The DOE currentiv has a broad pi nolocv-demonstration repositon! on in the budcet for thece two tech-es. models ofthe radioicotodes Committee migration did notindesignat v m which subpr,ogram tl,iese repocitones would be located. (Therefore, puter analvses. The large expenditures vond need'to be restructured, and cor this k nulhon increase is not contamed n the Committee e changes de- - cufficient information has been develope senbed at other places in this report.) direction bv the Committee from primo Reponitory Location-Paragraph 107(B)(S)(a) tion to primary reliance on encineere' The Committee inetructed that sites should be ceographically dis- repocitory program formulated by the l tributed throuch maior region = of the countrv and be in vanous ceo- nmedence over Other Pro. cran l logic media. This will provide widely spread ' demonstrations in all of (1)(e) of the bill. Specifically t e . I l -
- ypp mm-N m .35 Q?
_ c. 8. N '_m [ N km . m .h r.Oy!Y$b. wb. yr ,M. 9 L ,*
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n.Al . j 77 k b riW w+ 1 1,,35d- e.e enndidate geologie media. Sites should preferably be on federal
~;" f.'T"Q- M M D h M@. "
! ,d. including land where wastes have been stored or de osited. The l
d4 i I n'Pmit rics are to,be located and constructed to be, suit le for later '
- el. 47r,,y Q .JQ' wl-;.. .-
hies of'?=i ..nension to full-size repositones. Wastes and canisters are to be of [/ r i.4 :E'.7' >'-M ~p . _- 3 hd aq' de ign Sui abic for full-scale npositories. The program is intended to provide valid demonstration of waste disposal technology as well as to ., n orag provide the possibility of expending demonstration facilities to full $ g .o 3
- .cale repontones if determined to be appropriate at some future date.
k.c :Qw ~ . . . ~ - The maior regions of the nation are loosely defined in order to pro-dridis. vide the Department with latitude to distribute the f i h g"y - and nation. The Department may consider somewhere m, our s tes across t e the zone between _ . . P,epo - & and 90* 1atitudsfor an eastern + : tral boundary and somewhere 7 gg - in the zone of 105* and 110* 1atitude for a central-western boundary. 7 - - . n.g;g
,ig. -
r The'CommitteFdeteHnined'th'at~ercavationdor ahafts'for-these a a ~ - technology demonstration.7spoSitorieS'willwt-ba,a maior'Federalf d*P -Ahorder to be WMwith9ha me nronomedtulo in its i ' TDispoi al oL ilg,h Level RAdioacMVe Wastes in Geologic RepoSIIorieS f 7 Proposed Licanamg Procedures"i and with other site-characterization ; 7,.' - practices. Full-size shafts are expected to be required for equipment .
~
access for underground site characterization. The Committee author- %, . ,:--: 7 (3)(b)/ izes and directs the Department to start preparations 'of a dntft'en-nology_J se ade.7 vironmental i.lentified andimpact statement to prepare at the time when each site is (DEIS)hile the DEIS w evacuation for~ shafts and ,"L r
+.-1W pef .> . .x ,esaf 7 j site characterization are underway. The schedule for environmental [M LJ_
x '
?c 4 ,'
ad. se and ; - impact statements should minimize any time delay between site char-netarization and the start of other construction of the repositories. ,.. ' ~? ~ - f ies b v The Committee decreased the Capital Equipment budget for Termi- y (y ^i - nal Waste Isolation by $1.7 Million -(which is not described at any . , . . - men'th{. 2 other p Msaved g p# ^byT 4.- r . _ mnfim nglace in this report). erne.riments Part of theand to n-e. temoarom equipment costs are moisture condi. - zed as j ering 3 _tions that will realistically be encountered in properly designed re- , *EA(, - * . and 4 lositories. ON Ntion j Considerable Ingic investgat,importance should
; 7 ,
site m be placedN upon the extensive o- geo-ion m salt at the Las Medanos southeastern ew ,n con- i -. xw y Mexico and m basalt at the Hanford site. The large number of full- ar ~ ' i depth test drillings at both locations was to prove geology for disposal forr M2 [E ^ "s.' f the\ of cpent fuel and other long-lived radioactive materials, but also pro- . . vides imnortant information on the adequacy of the first one or two .1#' . . of 3 C M + 7 . y" ~ . etotal full-depth drillings to provide ceolocie information for waste dis- ,
~' '
6 and. . " pral with engineered barriers. It would be desirable for the Depart- t i,
. .i ment to use this infonnation to identify sites with as few as one full- 1 d heat, q.st " depth drilling, althounh ndditional 'drillines can continue while i - a -- .
Ahnfts are being excavated for site characterization. t. - ., % -
'r The DOE currently has a broad program. developing theoretical o%;v.Q ; n "c.S.A ,vh > .e.
m.h. l .s . .m g -en3 e mlels of radimsotopes migration m vanous media. largely by com- t v* '"
. .mb.c 7 -
puter annirses. The large expenditures planned for W 1991 and be ' ifore S ? A 4.N ';Gr C U " de] J ynd need to be reetrunnrea and correenonc inclv reduced, bacause;
<~ fi rh,ifficient rection by inf theormation Committee has eve)oped to da been from e and because of the reJ ,
c rehance on ceolocical isola-primarr 'g , [Qg ( g.py-+g $~j ]{ . g. 7*;. y
- hon to primarr renance on enemeered barriers. Tne demonstration -
~- -
W '.; g r die- ' en. w s program ionnunsu b, we Gmmittee shall take fimding .. M ' x MdA
- rwedenie over'Other Programs.' pursuant to cubparagranh 107(Bi
, e,. .
'11(e) of the bill. Sp,ecifically the DO could r uce expenditures on 8 f %g ' g J g a gN?C;
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ground demonstrationwaterprogram.transport modeling Ade unte to provide funds necessarv for the ' c " '^
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be achieved at reduced fun ing rogress in transport mod'eling can y coordtnatinc modeltne studies . within the DOE and otner government agencies to eliminate duphea-wasn4ms: s AsiN
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"9]$ce. d. 1 tion of effort. Xny ur ency in completing this far field modeling has - '
F gud been further reduced y the extensive delay in the major milestones M of '.*
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the Administration
- foroperation aslate as 0006. program for a full-scale repository, now scheduled? ..
savna vAnii . '-
' ' oiwvid.i The emphasis in modeling efforts should be changed to the near WX
,. .,, i are
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' field conditions appropriate to initial nliance on engineered barriers?viaciN v^ntY
. rather than the current focus on far-field conditions, which is moren ,
' dun
. a propriate y.~...,...for primov re%ce:on .. , . , ,
geologic media for spent-fuely [ , s s naus4p
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TAM e , L i -
"The for the Admintnttion'uhan OMVI project, 6 s ,h~$21 sed isi'enificant increase in fundinP' EAR e4ADOE sis "C' ^"%' C Million is in preparation for a surai
'^""
A civilian ~ waste apositurt st the WIPP site. Implementation of this; : **""~""^**""g V proposal depends upon . nv Congressional approval of the President's' ? ("' 5 " ' " " " request for rescinding FY 1980 funds for WIPP. The remainder of i
~
various geologic media.the increase in funds is largely for continued site investigations inq Objective * .,.
~
ROCK SALT DEPO 51 The main objective is to investigate methods and locations for a full Nationalsize re ositorv. particularly.for sites other than Hanford and the _ (NTS) istration, ocket' whichTest are Statior' separate (NRTS at the Neveda Test subactivities.)The objective Site . of the Admin- soutoin
""'" ,,,c , ,,,,,
repositorvpr gram for WIPP is to secure rights at the site and plan a M smuo ca4Ni or a civilian prog ~ ram. A test facility in a salt mine is planned is an extension of the Project Salt Vault tests in Ennsas and
~
' .)/
i # tests in Germany. ioia
,armount,lt M4~nis h ir $ 7 'tk Etrategy and scope l
y ,{u,';;o- - The Administration has r uuted that the Congress rescind WIPP e.s it has been planned for t e National Defense pro am in order signa 4 wiv4or .
- a4Nc ' ;_ qj q.__f -
to nt-fuel s makeand thisdefense-waste Las Medanos site available for a com ined civilian Ca * "5
' ca ^ Ni,T85 c;. j. s reposito '
' .i :
A p orations, including those in salt an . Continued underground ex. %, '
' D ->i i.
- V other locations on Federal lands and where arrangements have beengranite will be conducted !, / at made on non. Federal lands. Negotiations are being conducted with *
- states and localities to obtain cooperation and permission for drillings.
The ONWI task is beine conducted by the Battelle Memorial Insti-tute at Columbus, Ohiofunder DOES Richland Operations OHice. Srstematic evaluations of the safety nnd reliability of deep geologie dispos.al of spent fuel elements is being conducted. This activity is coordinated with mathematical models arid with the development of' appropnate techniques and mstrumentation. CR ANiilC FORMATI Preparations are being made for licensing full size repositories and satisfring the requirements of the Nntional Environmental Poliev Act ceologic formtions in the U1 (NEPA). Also, socio-economic studies of public perceptions and out- , l t
, locks and of the economics of waste disposal are being conducted.- .
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80 s 81 coxxrrra: Acrzox 1 The lead management role of this progr D% of Mar TNtiklation -$31.3million reduction . ; bnd OPCr rernati " f*"*,0 [ 'll h i The Committee believes that the ONWI program should be re- ' directed to emphasize the development of technology demonstration . a5525tanee for management activities. i repositories, with the goal of maintaining the possibility for future. .Thne eandidate sites suitable for e,ths ernansion into full-size renositories. 9 itory or a fun size repositorv hat
?, !! " yeation can be made by early FYB1 The Committee deleted the proposed S6.8 3fillion for a salt test- " lent facility. since this activity would basically repeat earlier tests, and 3 a com rehensive drilling and t
<annot be' developed into a repository. No clear plan for extensions r based
*8 [e.P t est holes to provide subsurfac of,the research in mines has yet a red that indicates urgency for 7 .(0(.,y y[j [eal data. Additional informatm this program. Any needs for supp ementary tests in salt that later : " appin . ground water investiga develop should probably be done more economically in labomtoriesy ana se"ismic monitorin$.NSTF on or in existing underground facilities, such as existing tests in Germani
+ mines. -
Wm . . .;. N . w.F ._. y t.rical heatets,' commercial spent fuel tests 7 The1 Committee' reduced the Administration request for ONWI byg 3
- b***lt. These firming tests'rmal pro ~perities in
.i .as
$31.3 Million. The' Committee wishes the WIPP project to continuep DNgm a defense activity. See Section 107 athehtwa the im' heated q Million of the Committee's reduction (B)(2) of the bill. Therefore,S21g .tu data to validate theoretical effects. P in ONWI fund rs epresents the b [gr rndioactive loadings. Spent fuel will y elimmation of WIPP as a civihan activity. 1 Funds for ONWI should be flexible to accommodate important > d shi a from the Encme Mair needs. Specifically, these funds should continue to be available to pro-7 "hAnfacility at'the Nevada Test Sit <
vide reprogrammed funds for Public Interaction and for any sunple- for approximately three years, followed i mentart needs for the State Planning Council.In addition, these funds' ' ware including spent fuel A contracthas should'be available for reprogramming to cover increased needs for ineering firm for performing a cone, overpack canister development and any mereased needs for low-level enbtit repositort for spent fuel at, full ce ba waste treatment technolocr. mote handling. The conceptual design 2s t Technolorv-demonstration repositories are needed earlier than the 1931-licensing of full-size repositories. Therefore, funds in the activitr " site - conurrrz:n Acr] and repository licensing" were reduced by S2.6 Million. The remain- Basalt teoste isolation proprem--35 millu. ing S2 Million was tran=fered to Title YII. since the scope of this The Committee reduced the proposed 1 activity is broader than R&D alone. Isolation Program by S5 million. Tlus c BASALT WASTE ISol.ATJoN rRooRW in emphasis from exploratory measuren Committee's program Of technology den This p gram is centered on hich-level waste disposal preparations emnhasis on en-meered barrie conducted at the Hanford Site in Washington. me e Objective ' jl1 d . n tion t { nology for waste disposal. The emniacer Part of this pr am is to identify a suitable site for dee geologic active wastes are not to b,e delay by disposal in the t k basalt flows underivine the Colum ia River the technology-demonstration rep s Plateau. with em ditions budgetary sarmgs cou Facility (NSTF)phasis is beingon theforHanford used background site.experience The Nearwith Surface ba- Test ration t r salt, including heater tests in FYS1 and later emplacement of spent _ for calculations smee the of tec mgno gy tionally, beensed, budgetary sarmgs are am, fuel and solidified wastes in this facility for experience with thermal and radiation effects. Nr; rana Tr.RMINAL was' Strctegy ard scope Basn1t investigations are concentrated on DOE's Hanford Reserra-t, ion. located m Southeastern Washmeton. The geologie system is ) *t fhe est ien e lo' lavered formations of basalt (a dense fine-grain rock forme'd by the h.igh-level wastes and spent. fuel wastec - solidification oflava). S2te-I U.... a [ [* \
- 5 . - % +* # .
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3% g) g = The lead management role of this program is veier DOE's Rich-
- .e.d Operations Office. Rockwell Hanford Operations (Rockwell In-d$ , p -nn gg$ht+ ;%
A, h.rnational Corporation) at Hanford, Washington, provides technical E W .g .AN_2 %g h y 4 _' e5 gistanee ior management activities. M. 'H: 53a3s
%: f Thwe candidate sites suitable for either a technology demonstra- u n . #..^- .
A ?."6 c;; eMMG tion repositort or a full-size repository have been identified. Final site
~
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~
L test; i.lentification can be made by early FY81. Investigations have been cf 1,ased on a compmbensive drilhng and testmg pmgram., including end mant deep te;t holes to pmvide subsurface geologic, geophysical and
~ '
sion[ W ~- - + + 1 2 Q. " *
~
hrd'ological data. Add 2tional information has been obtamed from i3
~^' -
r& ' mrrer mappin ground water investigations, analytical modeling, b and dismic mon 2tormg. 'l ,
.: . O- '
t ~ ories The NSTF,.on Gable 3 fountain will provide in-situ tests of elec-
~
+"
4 1 trical heaten, commercial spent'inel. tests, and a spent fuel ' canister " in basalt These' tests, begun.in'1979 ars to assist in repository design q~ - hv eonfirming the thermal properitie, sin basalt. determm m e tlie effects : - of fnetuns aria ~discontinuitses dif' heated. regimes and' obtaining in-g ritu data to. validate' theoretical effects / Preparations are'being'made agg for radioactive loadings. Spent' fuel willbe characterizedi, packaged, r' - and shipped * -from the Engine,0faintenance and - Disassembly - t DIAD) facility at the Nevada Test Site (NTS). The tests will run e H( .- P,,.- for approximately three yean, followed by the removal of test hard- 5 .
~ '
7- . . _ np) ware, including spent fuel. A contracthas been awarded to an architect u ds- engineering firm for performing a conceptual design of a full-size 3 'I , . s for- ya. ; .'. . c .. . . levelj losalt repository for spent fuel at full ceolocie depths. including Id Gf~
, W. J. -
mote handling. The conceptual design is to be completed in September
*~ % R '. +
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% binit scone koolation P'ro# ram-SS million decrease e .
P'e ' g The Committee nduced the proposed budget for the Basalt Waste :N ' T.colation Program by $5 million. This decrease represents a changes s in emphasis.from exploratory measurements of geology toward.the ' {, . F ~; ? ' . ys q 3 3 , Commit, tee's program of technology demonstration repositories with I" = : . T1 1 - .-: 7 N w ' M. ~ - CC ttions e i umhasta on en-ineered hamen. -
"All demonstration tests, including use of the NSTF with radio-j active materials, are of importance m providing the available tech-w ~ .
4 .t . .
.s y ;-
g nologt for waste disposal. The emniacement M anent h1 and rad 6. - . - ~ < .' 4 ' .. . active wastes are not to M eMated hv thin budg,et decrease. Since - '" : -0
> log J ta -
Rive,cq ,the reennomgy-aemonstradon repositories emohasize near fieldicon-> ' T %C .
, Test , Alitions.' budgetary savings could be obtained from the r enced needs5 ,O 49 n ,,
h ba- E 4 for" eniculations of mirration thronah 4 AIE mnditionsmAdd2- - ;- -
~ -
since the, technology demonstration repositories are un <
~
spent 4 e=nal w
,t
, h,fonally, eenwd, budgetary savings are available in licensine preparations. _. . - - - . .. " .~ . _
^
1- .'..~- xrYADA RRMINAI, WAsE Isol. mon
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-ra The Nuclear Rocke-t Test Station (NRTS) and other Federal %
m is c- land at the Nevada Test Site nrovide locations. suitable for tests with #3 "P* ^- N 6 <- %4.WM cin .x high level wastes and spent-fitel wastes and for a possible repositorv * : th l %n Q.:~wW nit e. Lf M4J%l.V9lg% - an pMw e
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82 83 05,5ccrire The DOE Nevada Operations Office has the OW=ives are development and actual er erience in handling of Sandia Labomtories, Albuquerque, provides t
- !rCli.n higii-level radioactive waste materia $s in the Engine Main.-cluding plans, technology programs, an
- e:2nte and Diwembly (EMAD
- place. ment in the NSTF at Hanfor)d,in the Climax Stock facility atBuilding conurrra of theanonNRTS fo
- he NTS. and in the surface storage facilities of caissons and a silo .
entside the EM AD Building.,Another objective is com drilling in 3 'r#da y terminal waste isolation--no change vestigations at Tucca Mountam and beater tests to determme suit., The Committee approved the Administre abilityof tuff fora civilian repository. S a Waste Isolation Program 5 g Nc Sh:tyy o=f scope de tion 'ects being conducte 1 ; important. The schedu e ould be kept for ove The DOE's NTS, located in Southern Nevada, is being investigatid'* forpotential repository sites and is being used for demonstrations,of% storage, and emplacements m gramte. The spe noo feet in granite is allowable because 2t is geo:opo sy*= includingwaste storage. Unlike other candidate sites,
'te, argillite lacement this andsite provides because.it is desivariedyA ed for eas.s amented bvsilica);and tuff eat-fusevolcam(a compact.. clay rock c Treat importance is similarly p aced upon t.
of the su:'ta'bihty of locating, a repository on, or adjac)entrto, the suitability NTS' cash m tuff .Investigationsi at Yucca Mountain, so sc) have determined thattio major impediments to other functions of the. similarly be maintained. Sites for technolog' p TS N , tories dhich have initial reliance upon engn V ocke% R provided the location is at, or_ adjacent to, the Nuclear? ? located upon the basis of fewer full-depth d t Test Station which is located in the southwestern part of the 5 ste. This location co, ntains the EMAD building and other facilities wutilized to characterize sites to date. The em far handling highlv ra dioactive materials. ' drillings at Los Medanos m salt and at the should be i2 sed by the Department to determi I= invesigations of the suitability of various geologic media, only full-depth drillin~,n, suffices for site identificat t-If wr.s determined to be suitable both geologically and in terms of inp.edimients to the operation of the NTS. ~ formation about the geology can be contmued Tucca Mountain, which is located immediately adjacent to the other site characteration work is under way. NRTS on the Nellis' Air Force Range, is under active investigation for su m nistsn
;-ologi: suitabilitv. Intermediate-depth core holes have been drilled geolhei: test drillifig now underway will be completed Seabed in FY disposal is bem.g S0.f:r mvest- tedsad rec'.ogie to livdr alternatives to underground disposy.
Rzdiencelide transport studies are under way by the Los Alamos S ientiic Laboratory to evaluate the efectiveness of granite, tuffs, and Objectid taale asa waste migration barrier. Investigations have determined that The rimar bcth su-face and subsurface seismic activity resulting from weaponsthe tecfmical, y objectiveengmeermg, environmental, of the Seabed an< Disp testine at NTS are consistent with safe operation of repositories d of disposing of processed high-level nuclear s s.' n~d to meet ground-motion design criteria. In.sttu testmg in tufi m,e. spent reactor fuelin geologic formations un( tee G Tur.nelin the northern part of the NTS is under way to deter- secondary objective is to assess the seabed d gme the response to themialloading. nations. '
) The DMD Building has been used for handline of spent fue) Strategy and scope Mimnu, their emp'lacement in stainless steel overpack canisters, and ,
ie:nc:e inndling to seal the canister. s A t t l fo a o 19 highly radioactive scabed disposal is a nearer-term alternat)ve i spmt-f:cl elements have been received through FY 1980 and success- disposal for waste isolation. The enstence of i iftilr phced c.nd welded in canisters l as deep seabed drilling, drill-hole reentry ar These canistered spent-fuel elements are to be used in various tests to dee and recovery of large equipment, makes ,the (e: :ni e rui:abili:v for surface storage at NRTS, near. surface tests reasonable candidate fo,r disposal of radioa; the Hanford sife) and for full-depth tests in the Climax Stock , form, and stable deposits of ocean sedimen mnite it the Mon. foot hen " Pile Driver" undercround tunnels in the~ r of years ano,are in the process of bec millions ncrtheri part of the NTS. FMt of a total of 11 canistered ment.bl Disposal in such sediments could provide efi W.t%ve now been empTacedin this granite,in addition to heaters ~ etsof thermaleffects. ' active wastes from the bio phere. A major assess potential sites m the orth Pacific and O fgS7g .( #s3M.I -m p-.,7r@-, ' "M "= NE - 9 '""" * * " " '--**J-v-- '"
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The DOE Nevada Operations Of5ce has the lead management role. ndling off 'v.dia Labontories, Albuquerque, provides technical assistance, in- A6 , q gg: 17#$+*- e 1
.ne Mai3.4 ':cding plans, technology programs, and status and costs.
Rfp , -s 39 k' b. .Tg**,:'
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'"The Committee approved the Administration *s budget for the "Verada Tenninal Waste Isolation Program without conducted change.
at the NTS are very, , [7~ p n m 4 .. sn :
.E :"- "
r The demonstration projects be' 4 for overpack canisters, surface; '. . _ . . . ' - . sportant Thescheduleshouldbe The s y m,.ge, and emp1seements in hamn=*.itis;pent fuel s. emplacement at '-.- _-
'unD feet in graniteKallow definitely temporary +;<-
bN.. ~ lacement and because i' is designed for easy and economic
~
L'.. . retrieval. g " ^ - day , $reatimportance is siinilarly placed upon the investigations of site .
. suitability 2n tuff'at Yucca Mountain, so schedules for:this should .-
the similarir be maintained. Sites for technology-demonstration reposi . A. ms series Which have initial reliance ~upon engmeered barriers may-bed ,
'X located upon the basis of fewer full-depth drillings than have been 2, i - .-
~ ' ~ ~
"" utilized to characterize sites ^to dateJThe experience with multiple -
facilities.f " drillings at Los Medanos in salt and at the Hanford site in basalt - ' d71- N : should be used by the Department to determine if completion of one V Q M
~
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- h. only$il a suffices for site identification. Supplementary in-full-depth 6.rmatjon about drillin$e t geology can be continued with test drillings while / e a-tenns ofg o:her site characteration work ta under way.
5--
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/ 4 uw it to thd suszo msrosan 1! MG m -
mrion forQ . 217 e " n drilledw p;@. 5: v C,, f a ".: 4 v.4 Q ull-depthy Seabed disposal is being investigated to provide possible future c alternatives to undergmund disposal :
- b. b-~
L' 50. -~ L l ' " , gj g s Alaa n g t iLe technical, environmental, engmeermg,ibility and mstitutional h'2 N "' pT NM feas,a.1- The .Cprimary 7 o [ '3," Q .]m of disposing of processed high level nuclear waste and/or repacl age 21 w J., . . . .
- ent reactor fuel m geologic formations under the world's oceans. A in tuffin gndary objective is to assess the seabed disposal options of other 7, : w; c.s e. ' J . ; , ~ ~ '
to Wr 2m nations. %x.s ~
. ) ~4 -
.ctmtegy and scope i v -h ~ j Y cet 1~
9 m 8,nd. , ;The Interagency Review Group (IRG concluded thatthe option 1~eof-' P _ 'H^ M' P & .c '*. s" ' doactne: t
+ abed disposal is a nearer-tenn alternat)ive approach ~~ to dean
'+
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3 success ma idimosal for wasteholation. The existence or oeep-sea. technology, stich : Q as deep seabed onlling, drill hole reentry and deep-sea emplacement and ncovery of large equipment, makes the deep ocean sediments a n' - 4-
- ~ -
. r p(aw tests tests to' .3 masonable candidate for disposal of radioactive wastes. Thick. uni-P
- ~-
s ; #,. .1-e F:ock - G in the . farm, and stable deposits of ocean sediment have accumulated over 9 MVOit#.. IeM
;nt-fuel dllions of years and are in the process of becoming sedimentary rock.
Daporal in such sediments could provide effective isolation of' radio- )t f .th*M ?'y WW My-
- W >~
rect e-s. v:ne wastes from the biosphere. A major effort for FY 1981 is to W'M5 PI@f.N W G wen potential sites in the horth Pacific and North Atlantic. 4ti.^y* a,_.- , m .. y Q.*. . . k . . c . e ' #-
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(b) Wasu Srsnus EvAwAnox AND P e., _
, This is a new program in the FY 1981 Ant M:EEc-mn geg%..kiMk,q,,,,d,,,g.
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studies of waste manageemnt and for pu M.YMQ eludes funding for the State Plannmg Coune M @p.EINMhkdkNMM p M %@ M M h) M S p.'s"$*'*Ia'ioi'ila,E* "
"i states having prospective repositones for t hitoE"l."'"af bk!!
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w The Waste Systems Evahiation program pr compass all wsste-management programs, pa sealment rmplacement concepts for seat,.a Isolation
, 7_
For purposes'of the' study, the reference seabed disposal systeri$ ' *I#n f nd are f
] vers of the status and . direction o,f program, ft Pla g t* *a . v(] tor fuel in a specially designed contamer mto the clavey sect *,naEement 1ments planslifa in each affected opted thestate.
emplacement o the nuddle of a suboceanic tectonic plate, under the hub of a surface; Strategy ad scope
. circular water mass. 3fethods include free-fall penetration, surface'.: Waste Systems Eraluation i,ncludes compre) controlled trencher for disposal into the seabed, and a ship borne drilli- waste management program, mterdepartment mg rig for deep drillmgs into the sediment. Current effort is in the de. preparation of generic environmental impac' termmation of technial and environmental feasibility by the end of national studies. The major expenditure for 1 1983 for concept feasibility from newly acquired oceano' graphic and environmental impact statement to com{rehec effects data. of waste management was completed in . pril The U.S. D) with the completion of the final statem Agency Rad,is oactive a,Waste participant3fanagement in theCommittee.
international Nuclear Energy, The Committee 19so. Results of the Interagency Review Gro Imblished in 31 arch 1979. Also, man overo includes a Seabed Working Group which discusses technical progress' future experiments. Joint cruises, shared facilities and test eqtupment' mmgen'ent have been completed y the techmcal mformation exchange, and international policy issues. Sciences, with some contmume. , A comprehensive National Plan for Radion. counrrrn Acnow is being prepared for the Administration,lar; poration with the assistance of the Human A Seabcd disposal.J3.5 million derrease the Battelle Memorial Institute. This Plan - 1979 and will continue throuch February 19 The Committee believes that the main focus should be unon tech. ment of President Carter s February 12.1980 Q nologr demonstration repositories in geologic mediaJ Moreover, the , u Lnnea ytates nas maue a unuateral declaration of not disposing of P.lan be developed upon the recommendatior wastes either high level orlow level,in the world's oceans. view Group report. In view of both this priority and the U.S. policy the seabed dis osal , International aspects of waste disposal hi program is a future consideration..The Comrnitiee correspondmgly sidered by Working Group 7 of the Internat reducM the Administration's budget request by $3.5 million. The re. ati n (D FCE) study mitsfinai reporti,n Fe su,lting budget of $4.5 million is an appreciable ~ reduction from the $6 The funds forWaste Systems Evaluation i milhon FY 1950 budret, but is large compared to the $2.6 million FY , ud n f r F,Y WS1 an $1.5 Mion. 1979 bud The Pubhc Interaction Program m, volv. Program.get and is commensurate with the preser.t priority of the - Planning Coimeil (SPC) and provides direc to states under consideration for waste te formed by President Carter through Exect ruarr 12i1950 and fulfills recommendation scheduled to operate for no more than 18 I formation. It consists of governors,other r( (S5) n E %k mme M hh ~N h swp . w ;w: .:+m np.mm ng~mu.s.we_pgrwnesnm.eyemck,n,esoiteed.x. m.a v . . m.... .
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> This is a newlprogram in ths FT 1981 Authorization aquest for , 1. ? !
7 ! kaad studies of wasta manageomnt and for public interactions. It in ~ ' E P clades funding for the State Planning Council and for distribution' t to states having; prospective.. repositories for their use in evaluating pmposals.yzaa eeau.::.y M r..;.:::g.nmiint.i um.12 :.nm: 0 ..n. . i x:...t acr rguz.er,r n 3t.ae. ,n.ts,3..c
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The Waste Systems Evaluatioriprogi:y.r,am provides studies that en- y! j compass all wste-management programs, particularly general-sur-revs of the status and direction of program funds. The Public Taw- r #, j
-==ta- Counc il operabon ana ror states adio m.m - - -ww waste ,
575 ten 3, n.n funds are for
.%._ we-- Sea P _- _
arueT cr anagement plans m ese 2 anocteu suue. -
..i entsm: -
s :rfndt Strclegy and scope mrfmoa Waste Systems Evaluation includes mmprehensive planning ior the 6[ f. g waste management program, interdepartmental program integration, edriBq;!g the de'. preparation of generic environmental impact statements, and inter-M endofi r.ational studies. The major expenditure for preparation of a generic j6-de andF environmental impact statement to comprehensively cover all aspects of waste management was completed in April 1979 (DOE /EIS/006- r 4 10. trith the completion of the final statement scheduled for mid-
%rgy
~,im.t i FO.Results I of the Interagency Review Group (IRG) reviews were
.egressy punished in liarch 1979. Also, many.orerall assessments of waste a
' management have been completed.by the National Academy of -
pmentg Niences. with some contmume. H m A comprehensive National Plan for RadioactiveWaste 3f anacement g(- is being prepared for the Administration,largely by the 3flTRE Cor- @ pontion w2th the assistance of the Human Affairs Research Center of I g ' le Battelle hiemorial Institute. This Plan was started in December
~.
E9 and will continue through February 1981. It is to be the fulfill- ( etech.6 ment of President Carter's February 12.1980 statement that a national 4 rer, they ng of p plan be developed upon the recommendations of the Interagency Re- j
- vier Group report. _
hternational aspects of waste disposal have been thorouchiv con- F
- w ,1"'. t A ,c G ed bv Working Group 7 of the International Fuel Cycles Evalu- i-C.*;r .
- v. ion II.TFCE) stud," in its final report in Febraury 1980.
%m 1 -
The funds forWncte Srstems Evaluation requested by the Adminis- 4g
; .3 g .
' 4 c, _ ._
w"on for FY 15T51 are S1.5 Million.
%' 77 of the The Public Interacti5h~ Program involves support for the State h.,4Q(.y;
;.r ' gr . g.m; y G g.. 7. rti,,
r, Phnning Council (SPC) and provides lirect support,through trants,
- +- M ' . wi. ' . . ? ?
m nates under consideration for waste repositories. The SPC was C .E 1 " 1"- ._ fo ned bv President Carter through Executive Order 12192 on Feb- r aJ T - -- i mrv 12.'19S0 and fulfills recommende.tions of the IRG. The SPC is f Ad.eduled to operate for no more than 18 nonths after the date of [ fo mation. It consists of governors, other regional officials, and a rep ; 27- a . . _- :.w.- -. .. , - . b.~ n ~': _ ~ '_}} f~^ &*Qg ^^ u .-
. r, _ -
A L EU*' W Y [8MhM*g.hk,fhD.g' y , w f khi(( [, *^ ih [h $ O[
86 resentuive of Indian tribes. Some heads of government agencies aW i p.rticipate. The SPC is planned to provide advice to the lederal gov. e.nment en state relations and the plannmg and building of reposi. tcries, both for high-level and low. level wastes. - The_ State Planamg Council is budgeted for $1.5 31111 ion in thi Mminatration t 1 m request, although the Councu itself esti. . (c) W as n h A m m h im mates a budget,of $1.7 is needed. 4-Grants to states under consideration for repositories are to be und Ortrrie" . for local studies and assessments of the impact upon the affected areas' The objective of th.is program is the deve3opi The Mmini<tration requested SL5 Afilhon for state grants in FA immobilizin wastes from nuclear fu 1 cycles t-1981. This was based upon the possibility of 15 such states, each g f mnverting t esa to forms which provi e, .
. ceivingan average of S0.8 Million. 4 ~ ..
l Safety and econom of management,
~
.u - " --
Fulfillment of re tory requirements 1s
.f~.
~
. cowwrrris Nnow $ A form acceptab forburial or disposat
.r. .
. . u p r.p ., u. . . ;.,m, .m. .. : . _: . .n s . ^
faste syszems4 valuation and public interactwn-$6 million decres M The pmcesses mulve a vmety of wastes ir low-level solids, transuramc p.jevel liquids, Proo-sses are utred, for re
'Aimjor, evaluations foYtbioveialllittistioii for waste managemen% solids, and gases.,
have already been completed. Greater'needs now exist for actual coii{ , vertingthematerialstostable and essdispersi stAuction of technology-demonstration repositories and sonoineauan ttation, and isolating the materials from . Minties. Accordingly, tne Committee reauced the rundmg for wag hurial for, low-level wastes or deep. geologic dJ stems evaluation by S131illion and transferred the remaining S0.5: transurame wastes. , , . p Million to the joint title VII, since the scope of this activity is broader 5 31uch of the technolo as,stmilar to that r
. than P&D alone. tion of defense wastes. T{ere1 ore, the R&D p,r Pubh.c mierectw.n
'D is being developed in close coordinat2on witl manacement programs to assure timely trai The Cormnittee reduce <1 funding for the State Planning Council bv' crience.
S0.5 31illion. The previous grotmdwork by the Department through , ex{n FY 1981, advanced research in different the many conferences and meetings that have been held for state and immobilizing wastes will be conducted as well local mvolvement. covers some of the funding needs of the SPC. Any! ment demonstrations for caseousliquid, and s addruonal funds needed for the bould be reprogrammed from'
- rovided by the Transportation Tect the OfEce of NuclearWaste I NWI). . also Centerbe for related transportation issues.
; .The Committee deleted t SL5 +illinn rannaead hv the Adminis-tration for direct support thMupdants to }iotential iecipient states. coMMrrrzz Acn0N 3Ioreover, the Committee recuired that no funds in this catecorv mar, be used by persons or groups with awahn=had nocitwns on the activitE 1raste treatment techawlogy,es.5 million del tmd&fua-vu. au:er as a direct grant by tha Henartment or a : '
The Committee reduced the overall opera.t1 secuauary panc wrougn states or 01ner covernmental entities. G,or- budget for all categories of waste treatment t p e-nmenta4 agencies. such as the Department and the U.S. Geological as part of a general reduction in funds anc Survey, necessarily advocate positions which nre allowable for this , t.onstruction bv S1 million. funcir.r. smee these are m the executwn of necessarv functions of the Nevertheless. the Committee strongly su goverr. ment. In contrast, groups or persons with established positions,, waste treatment technology, particularly f( which are often based on political or nontechnolojpcal facton. are not as at West Valler, New York. to receive funds for any activities under Titles I and VII, either di*", hinterial sciences activities should logical rectly or on a secondary pass-through basis. agement, narticularly for both high-leve,J Any funds needed for this program should be reprogrammed - ove ach cianisters for wastes. The Commu f om the O^ ice of Nuclear Waste Isolation.(ONWI) nrogram tn the ' bud et of not less than S9 3fillion for the
- categoqof Public Interactions, dttr appropriate notice to the Com- categories. The Department has given far t rv r unamg for this activlty has heremiore innarom such waco development of advanced metal overpack c management sources. In plannmc for the future repositories. ONWI is m the bect position to evaluate the competition for pubhe-mteractm,n a
of conse1uence developments stain ess steel containers have lagg for spent fuel
'unes between state programs and federal programs and the competi- g 2
don for unds between public information and technical programs. ~ ne enpropriate distribution of these funds will change as the pro-gram in technology demonstration of repositories and waste solidifica-don proceed. L. M%N mera hW , n f . l m& ~ R ?.R .'CF. . N _.i!M@:f*,i.% W . Q h W.'.8!
. . ~ wY.S $k n $. w' &.
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5 Million ind ' uncil itself ' . (c) Wars Tazirxr.xx Tocaxotoor
- - U ies are to be' o,m seio he affected The objective of this program is the' development of teclinology for Le grants" -emobihr.mg wastes from nuclear fuel cycles and other sources and (states,each evertmg these to forms which provide: . .
/-t Safety and econom of management,- _
tory requirements, and l ,. -
- 17. rp Fnifi11mentof re
, A form acceptab e for burial or disposal. ' Ef= b. N' . .7" "- ' "N . _ , ~
s,.The processes
. level liquids, low-level involve a variety:of solids, transuranic (TRU)wastes contaminated including high-level and-sie elids, and gases. Processes are required for reducing the volume, con - i L i mal c3 nning the materials to stable and less dispersible forms for safe trans-~ '
nd .solidificatFa and isolating the materials from the biosphere by either mding for wa4 brisl forertation, low-level wastes or deep-geologic disposal for high~ level or i
.re,malamg $03 : snsuranic wastes. 4 r.:v2ty is broad # Much of the technology is similar to that required for immobiliza-dos of defense wastes.Therefore, the R&D p,rogram for civilian wastes ,q
$ :s being developed in close coordination with related defense wastes e ip
% Cound. j - -~;tment Programs to assure timely transfer of knowledge and l4 ent gro-~ , rience. I CIfn FY 1981, advanced research in different methods of treating and
;[f fthe i=>
ilot scale waste treat-as well as k wastes. Support willl.. An3 rent bilizing wastesforwill demonstrations be conducted gaseousliquid, and soli grammed thebe rovided by the Transportation Technology and Information 4 Center or related transportation issues. by the . Admin 63 rec 2plent stats conmE ACrloN tis category maf- *
;s on the activity,. tr aste treatment technology-42.5 million decrease >
i ment 4 jpement or" The Committee reduced the overall operatin
'"j G.j tudget for all categories of waste treatment nology by S3.5teckand capitali equdillion h u part of a reduction in funds and increase the budget for general,lhon.
[
.o7able fo thi( mnstruction by $1 mi 4 functions .of. tlE -- Nevertheless, the Committee strongly supports demonstrations of I g
lished raste treatmerit technology, particularly for high-level wastes, such facto as at West Valley, New York. l TII' either diy Material sciences activities should lo L, [ mnent, particularly for both highgically be underand level waste solidification the same man- r, l rerrogrammed r rocram fn the jmpack camsters for wastes. The Committee established an overall a g
.hdret of not less than $9 Million for the combination of these two ,
ice to the Com- x of advanced metal overpack canisters for wastes, and as I; m such w ; eg ries. The Department has given far too inadequate attention to . , o jy, op.ast 7 ;, 7:velopment v 2 cwequence developments have lagged far behmd the development q 2 hMie.interac-ion %d the competi-
'.f stainless steel contamers for spent fuel elements for intermediate- ;.,
(87) :2 hical programs. $ge as the W 9 m =.-83S W E @ m .w nry a Waste solidi ca .. pm%sm a gg -Nf
% 4 .j
,% 3a a e-.,
m-
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' y
es (-) (n) y v gg 89 time stora-e. The limited development work already done by the De. Inon-tzvr1. wasm partment both in laboratory-development metallurgy and in caniste
' g# ,9;cc construction should, to the extent that is feasible, logically be expanded h is beine done to choose between t.
at the same facilities and continue under the same administratig D'
'"#"$reof immobilizing high-level wastes sul structure as has been used, in order to make best use of present ds ?t ability for deep geologic disposal. In o velopments and to expedite progress. ,,, g"rmf r fulf-scale solidification of high-level '
Experience should be obtained m actual construction m fiscal ye% 1961 of full scale. or nearly full scale. canisters of highly resistant ar
-"P1andThe demonstrated under the necessary r waste forms and associated overp!
material suitable for waste dis Demonstrations of welding,,oi """S s other siutable closure methods,posal. suitable for remote '"[itible operation snoug with traneportation t on Technologies Center. systems b be meluded. I amsom wasm '4 , s"iroiegsa and swpe Objective 3 High-level nuclear wastes are predomina. 2 ms Methods are to be developed and demonstrated for cipturing atf products which are chemically removed ye use encapsulating radioactive gases, particularly from nuclear facilities:t the,chemica extra t m, a, ma.nner which protects the pubhe health and safety, produed rnal.nmg m mmimal ennronmental impact, and meets all apphcable laws;arit tonmm are aIso nelu,ded.The wastesure initio regulations. - r - -
- . - - . 1. m- nmst ad Me form
.. $ a7 ion d the exacti g conditions of p Strategy and scope - -- ~r P d Radioactive gases come from nuclear reactors."p"o'r q.on spent-fuelmany years, research and develo{'me st]ordge.:
vitrified (glass-like) forms of so difie spent-fuel reprocessing and waste-treatment processec such as wastF chidin- etudies of leachmg and of the structu incineration and vitrification. In addition, a nuclear accident, such, innnolIths. In addition, in FY 1979 the spr as at Three Mile Island, can result in gases being released in contain; mehed glass forming system was used at, E ment or auxiliary buildings. t produce two full-size monolit)is of boresthca Included in the project is the development of technology for krypton; mercini fnels. One of these w,ll i be used ior <
- 85. carbon-14, and iodine-129 immobilization and storage. Various' Y' ear Surface Test Facility (1981 will shift tNS mechods for containing the Development emphasis m into bottle-like containers. Another gas are being developed.
is a process Onethe in which is compression. gas if ties of alternate *xaste forms. These melude v entrairwd onto a metal surface. which is laid down by a sputtering l including the Australian SYNROC d mmera. process throuch the cas to be entrained. Another process of particular, concentration. "supercaleme mineral form interest for krypton-85 is selective absorption. centration, and cermat forms. The Idaho Operations Office of the DOE has been given lead A thorough review system h,as been .Institt manacement responsibilitv. In the R&D work. all aspects are being ties. The Materiale Chnractenzntion Cente: considered for monitorin'g. concentrating, collecting, immobilizinci ization tests located at Ba.ttelle Northwest L: nackaging. transporting, storing and preparing these gaseous wastes Ucriew Board loented at Argonne Nat2ona for storage. burial. or disnosal for commercial facilities. The co,1 is to. ' the Materials Charactenzation Ce,nter and c develop a conceptual design for a storace facility for the noble gas tion, a broad review of materials is being cc krypton-S5 bv 19S1 to develop a capability for monitoring airborne Standards. bm.) waste streams bv 1952, and to demonstrate' suitable processes for pro- Overall supervicion of the h.igh-level, wa ducing those for'ms by 19E4. hv the Savannah River Labora, tories.with s
, tion Technology & Information Center i conurrrte Acriox lesues.
, CoMMrrrte ACrlo
. Airborne scutes-H million decreue -
The Committee reduced the Administration's budget for Airborne Ili 9h-7 crc 7 tcMfe t'Ch"0709F-U "IIl#" ' Wactes by 91 Million as part of a cencrai reduction to pince emphasis The Committee approved the budret for 1 upon demonstration repositories for high level wastec. The resulting n oueeted by the Admin 2=tratwn, hower,e budget of 61.S Million is approximatelv the same as for 1950. Prepara- million for' construction of a demonetrat,m l tions for containment of krypton-85 'that could conceivably be pro. , mphacize the close relation of solidificatim ! duced by reactor ace'identi simuld continue at the planned rate. nginenred barriers, the Committee coup Technoloc't budget with the needed resear< l pack canisters to encate the solidified monc
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' 11 1 N 5 jy?Cm9 D 38 t .1" -i 8 ada pegarch is being done to choose between the various alternative 2 of pnsen nicthods of immobilizing high level wastes suitable to provide lon,g- - -
.cnn stability for deep geolog,c disposal. In addition, methods suit-i ;.,.
ios in fiscal'y it,lo for full-scale solidification of high-level wastes are being devel- ~;rpy ~m-_ .L
.. ped and demonstrated under the necessary. remote-handim, g condi- F - : q ..t - 4 ..;
hichly res ~ . iions. The waste forms and associated overpack canisters are to be 3 5 ". y - - 1 s cf wrlding, . compatible with transportation systems being developed by the Trans- p 1.. . opera. tion su - wrH.s ' portation Technologies ,Centerg. pp
?:y.:t Strategies and scope ~%p-q' = **V. .z :: ' ' . ,n . .
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~
e.- fMc7 ' High-level sucliarMistesiaWpredominantly long-lived fission; ~~ pr apturing . products which are cheri2ically renioved from spent nuclear fuel during - p - toclear facil .the chemical extraction cycles used to recover the useful materials re- p a4~ saf 'pmd snaining in the fuel rods'.'Small residual amounts of uranium and plu- % somum are also included.*The ,vastes are initially in a liquid form and Li
- -@ ' i nust be ' converted into:a dry stable form suitable for handling, .' Cs',7 = y_ ~
L
- e. .a--$ inmsportation, and the exacting conditions of ' safe disposal. , n .- r ~~ . .. .
k has concentrated ait fisel storagth
?~iE For many vears. resear-h and develo dified high-level wastes, in.
pE TN 7 , o.' es such as waste, njon vitrified (glass-lika) forms of sobment wor udin- studies of leaching and of the structural integrity of the glass 7if % . ... F r acci, dent, sucht .nnnolfths. In addition. in FY 1979 the sprar caleme and ceramic-i" $[- %4 C , . . s~ ' md in contamj Washington, to *9 n, citedtwo produce glass forming full-size system monoliths was used of boresilicate glassat Ha'nford,from spent com
; $Q ' ..' '-
7 p9 - ~_ ; - ~ Workrvp,to .mn5 rnercini fuels. One of these will be used for emplacement tests in the ~~ ' W age Yar29nsj Near Surface Test Facility (NSTF) at the Hanford site in FY 1981. t id;c 2 "~ ~ ne ts compression; Development emphasis in 1981 will shift to confirming the proper- *6 ; . N' . chich the gas 4 ties of alternate waste forms. These include various synthetic minerals T.'.@ ' i- - e.% by a sputtermE including the Australian SYNROC mineral form liaving low waste F ;' ? ess of particulas concentration, "supercalcine" mineral form having higher waste con- i ' - T ' centration, and cermat forms. ! .dELW~g9 b .. +. , . ' , ,
*en given lead, , A thorouch review sistem has been instituted for materials pmper- 8:
ah . ,~ Fpects are be.ingi ties. The Materials Ch'nracterizntion Center is involved in standard- I g i.e@.e ,
- r. unmobihzmgi. ization tests located at Battelle Northwest Laboratories. The Materials
*D *. -
gaQs wastes : lleriew Board loented at Argonne National Laboratory will critique U[ -
~s
?,'
s Leo,1 is ter the Materials Characterization Center and other evaluations. In addi- !.' - .: . . . . the noble gas : ion. a broad review of materials is being conducted by the Bureau of i 4 *if2 : 7 C *7 . oring airborne Standards. d I-~'+'"- T ~ for prg(. Overall supervision of the high-level waste technology prog ~ ram is
- d. br the Savannah River Laboratories, with cupport by the Transporta- E i?im- ' -
4~ 7Ty^- N ~
-r pon Technology & Information Center for related transportation .
inves. ] : .,N'yw t . . e coMMrrrrE ACTION ["[fW!k(I (% j.y ,. s%
.M W ..e An . .. *-
*t for Airborne; pbce empaasis Righ 1crel 1 caste tcchnology-41 million increased The Committee approved the budret for high-level waste technology Mg@,&y j- y
.f-n.nuened by the Administration. however the Committee added $1 ;.
g,Th,ee pro-. resultmg para- million for construction of a demonstration solidification facility. To *4;c ;L@i;A '" 3MM, J J :i' M ,y nehasize the close relation of solidificatmn and overnack canisters for q -. W =-e m o ped ra. t e. .ngineered barriers. the Committee coupled the Hich-Level Waste MV7 il %.:W44.a Technology budget with the needed research and development in over- ' 6-
;iack canisters to encase the solidified monoliths. The Committee speci-i{
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() o 4 e 91 90 t rn t V a 1e Ses the orcrall bud et of both the high level waste technology and tln 7 Nuclear Service Ce , o erpack canister fevelopment to be no less than S9 milhon. ; pro cy radioactive waste is in a shuta
"" 'ge.:lleen bemonatration-Section 1&(P) (3) (c)
The Committee places emphasis upon providing vitrified monolitla "[ alnaoperator, h%[it e operation atNuclear the site at the Fuel end Servic M[M, b'off high-level wastes for use in the technology demonstration reposi. hork and S SF are co-license _j V cries. t For this purpose, Project 81-H-03 has been authorized for a the stored wastes and the West Valley facj y, e million to pmvade a Nuclear Waste SolidiScation Demonstration e Q F J glgy. Design, site select 2on, and prepantions tor any requirements ~ S. commendations, has been ma of the National Envimnmental Policy Act (NEPA) shall be startel been held. in FY 1981 immediately upon passage of the Bill. Construction shall The. program in FY 1981 will continue be scheduled for operation to produce glass monoliths by FY 1985la activities mitiated during FY 1980 which order to provide the demonstration wastes for the technology-demos 3co of the project. Included will be ch:
. stration repositories. Federally owned wastes will be used for thh hig level wastes, selection of a waste S(
purpose .- .. .
- a. a m. .
4 initial conceptual design of a Prxess sy The Department should carefully consider the existing forms'iit rtin NEPA documents, and a pro s existag adapk $e unberground tanks. FY 1981 fun , a
- foderallv-owned high-level' able facilities in deciding upon this wastes Wade and Solidany.16 cat presently ion DemonstraT ing: testing, radiation momtormg equipm tion Facihty,in order to assure meetm' g the completion date of 198k functions, remote handhng twls,and eq for the first vitrified' monoliths and for economy in constructiot
(,) Among theany considerations existing calcinedi a pbratus, nditions~otpumps, the wastes and and ofother the repi assoc
' wastes and existing buildingsshould be the at the Idaho Nucfollowing: lear EngineeM fication will probably be done are sufficiet Iiboratorr; existing salt-cake wastes and the existing sprav~ calciner: vious activities that new developments and vitrifier at the Hanford site; and existing wastes and any existing ,olidifications performed by the Departir buildings at the Savannah River Project. However, new construction demonstrations have been only for acidi should be used instead of any adaption of existing facilities that would Howeser, most of the high-level wastes cost more, be less safe, or less hkely to meet the required completion wastes derived from uramum fuel,, alt.
date for such reasons as facility location, present facilit wastes from thorium fuel. In addition, safety conditions, and extent of required reconstruction. y size, re uired present- for removal of the dense slu,d 1 Acditional monoliths of solidihed wastes can also be provided for high-level waste storage tank, for , radiol the technology-demonstration repositories. These may be of different reprocessing cell before and a,fter its us< methods of solidification, as seem appropriate for the demonstration for radioactive decontammation of the purposes of these repositories. af ter being emptiad. The Committee approves research work in alternate methods of r-olidification for uses further in the future than initial loadings in the conurrrr.n Ac
'first technologv-demonstration tepositories.
However, the Committee places emphasis upon actual demonstra- West FaBey, N.Y. demostration-No c tions and tests. The three oversight panels and boards constituted by The Committee added this program the Administration for High. Level Waste Technolog'y appear to be ex- inally placed in Title V of the bill. Boi
/O cessive. One oversight board or panel should suffice. mmistration consider the West Valley (
to be a demonstration operation for was WEST vA1.1.tT, N.T., DDioNSTRATroN am was mM Objectives tee tration's notes that the proposed bucpre [get at the same The hich-level liquid wastes at West Valley, New York. are to be tion hearmg testimony, a DOE witnes extracted from the storage tanks. Wastes are to be solidified on site. demonstration project was meluded i S.olidified wastes are to be removed for disposal in a repository. Facil. Actions (Title V) for accounting pur; ities are to be decontaminated and decommissioned. A studv'is to be a research, developmerit, and demonstrs msde d.ont the economic impact of this activity upon the surrounding The Committee directed that the DC cc=munities.
~
nuclear waste management demonstrat N.Y. site. This is to be accomplished b: 6 Wy CNf 8NP8 in a technology demonstration facility Approximately 600.000 gallons of high level radioactive wastes are solidified oste to a Federal repositor cu-r-ntly being stored in underground tanks at the Festern New York (1-90C 0 - t D
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The', program in FY 1981 will continue studies and 3 %-other long-lead
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'8" scrivit2es mitiated during FY 1980 which are necessary fh t ed L 2 L oN~t e s orselection *U % ; 'f( . ,_-- --
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, cope of the project. Included will be characterization r of a wast M. high-level wastes, design of a process system, preparations for sup- M: , . . .cc uutial conceptual porting NEPA documents, and a program to removeP~
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~ '
the underground tanks. FY,1981 funds are to be used for the follow- h+- - -- C - testing,radiati6n-monitoringequipment, surveillance disposition IN
* *f- i ing:sions, fun remote hanr11ing tools and equipment, breath;mg:supp"
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' ort apparatus, pumps,and other associated eqtupment. hich s61idi ' -
I- - Conditions of the wastes and of the reprocessing'cellin w m.-pre-fi.-stion will pmbably be done att sufSciently diferents from other ~ F mie.n% .s vious activities that new developments are l required. The prev 2oul nzf-%.m rge as w;pilot . y udidifications performed by the Department on sca es as a m . . . F '212'O 5 T_ . psmictaan a would mpM d,monstrations wastes derived from uranium fuel, althoug have h a small been only for'h% methods are h acidic-M . , b wastes fr wY,, re,p m ad wastes from thorium fuel. In addition, development o fh . r N e w.a.L& w w~ ' 1.
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4 n-guired for removal of the dense sludge layer atd the bottom O* % .:o4t id e *.;
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"- e m mded for high. level waste storage tank, for radioactive decontamination kQ'_',,a of the. f1 f mEe dc n processmg cell before and after its use for waste solidification, 7 - - . - . .
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%.;' M*"'-%i 'i ~ ;h iemonsw Trat FaDey, N.Y. demoutution-No change The Committee added this program in Title I, which was orig-'E .
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ar 9 ' inally placed in Title V of the bill.Commit- Both the Committee M .S nt and SC.6 - the Ad-
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4 ts' to be a demonstration operation for waste solidification. d (w.~ % T-:i Thenotes .M4 j that t a in: h i d 7j@S i 7 , y .e m i @ =1, ~-g 4' tration's proposed budget at the same $5 million level. Valley In aut or za- _1 4 x ' tion hearmg testimony, a DOE witness stated that the41 Westdemonstrat
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- ory, FaciF Actions (Title V) for accounting purpose only and that it is in fact Y % ".x J 4, .
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;dy is to be a research, development, and demonstration project.The Committee SW["g%%h* **d.Q
%'-4directed nuclear wrste manabement demonstration pro' ject'C rounding i L i
at % the West Valley, ac W c, 5 K.Y. site. This is to * - D%d;.91 i; in a technology demonstration facility and thea trans$ortation .w &4aw of thes ,; $-$'y3 kn?Wg -~R$5k ;% .;,
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,dne'.oped for decontamination and decommissioning of liquid high- l "agoactivity rs r leanu w'ater from the co n ei wis e sto age facihties and components. These methods will couarrrn u-rmx be d :<.ns rated at West Valler, N.Y. bv the decontamination and deco *doning of the facilitie's, materia'Is and equipme.nt after the: [
gwJeveltcaste technolo9y scudiSed waste has been removed. The Committee directed that thei-ris:as r.t West Talley be acquired by the Federal Government at an~ The Committee has directed that the Se a prop-iate time for final disposal.'During FY 81, the Committee 7 '
""d development on advanced techm, ques for d: ects the DOE to prepare plans for the safe removal of the wastesh dioactive wastes. It is anticipated that th imm tle storage inh and to evaluate techniques for handling and; holume reduction techniques that are to be an-ir mnbilization of the wastes at West Valley. ji '
uired by the Committee.,The Committee e The Committee approved use of ensting funds to study the eco-a re[9 c million for these activities- on for 1 . n :mk '
- of the waste solidification demonstration upon thet i "The Committee rations to Titlemoved VII ofS0.9 milh.
the bill, since specified ' ties nearest to the West Valle facility. Any lack c tax and 55 man revenue should be~ considere[in this study;.,s..j {entbroao r than %@.a R&D alone. TheConuntttee
. Z . . . ,, u _. ~ , Z ' J,.. jM is more than just researth and development i
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;2; ,X : ' % f,,7;~-7 g .i" ".MLg i /4 Y apgpriatelyin Title VII-Committee believ Objectice - ~ ' '; roved. Para a Objectives are to develop technology which can be made'available*. ~ Iow level wastes could be imgecretary ana{y2 cc:nmercial low-level waste mana ement, to provide ~ assistancele therefon, requires that the gd advice to states and other regions gor their low-level waste buriad ducing the volume of the wastes and at the an pe=nds, and to consider alternatives to present shallow land buriald residue. The Committee recognizes that muc ci virtually unprocessed low-level wastes. Also, a comprehensive na-T, so low in radioactivity that it is adequately 15an11nian for an adequate number of regional disposal sites for com- # ever, the Committee is concerned tha,t some 1 certiallow-level waste management is bemg planned. : radioactivity to adopt a polier of disposm; manner as to avoid the potential of migra;ti s me l*7.ond th di posa it Etrete;y and scope r s Commerciallow-level waste is a byproduct of nuclear power reactor o cperation., medical and industrial uses. and other research and develo . gt, o utilizeWarge tracts ofland ior bul gent at s. mall additional expense the volumes cari n teesacurines.
from the cleanupTvpical examples of gaseous are ion wastes, discarded exchangeequipment resms from and meta s,ie re n ed from the bios here for an tha cleanup of liquid wastes, solids into which has been incorporated . , p also requires that the' quid wastes, and nuscellanwus tras,h such as paper, rags, glass- wheth r or not the facilities ware, and protective clothing. Some hgma low-level waste is decon- 'onally atfornuclear volume p-i could be located re[these wastes originat4 gttec and released as non-radioactive materials under controlled matelv 40 percent o t P " I8C e1 d management role for this task was assigned to the DOE and mbustries o ud se d fied I r leve
. Th E1 wastes Idaho Or>e-ations 05ce with the associated lead at the DOE Oak f acili v in$'e region.
6 [nd as}i ip fg Riin 0, erations Office EG&G at the INEL and Unionwhethe Carbide Para atU 0,RNL ph 10T(B)(d) of thebill provides or not the large underground requir t les tre conducted m concert with the Defense Waste Sianagement weapon explosions should be considered 1 low level wastes. These caverns at, for < AC
, Th 2CTee low-level l. waste purification processes are currently iqmd
- x-cereloped for removal of radioactive contaminants from efHuent Alaska. Colorado, New 3ferico and 31ist strea:ns (as alternatives to evaporation). It is, planned to demonstrate' nated from the ernlosions would appen) st . east cae of these by 19S5. Current activities melude the mvestigation Paragr h 107(B)(C) of the bill requ-of nl ash ation. selective absorbants, biological concentration, proc- analyze whether or not much of the was ess.:nd con,creting as a method of solidifymg sh,idges., A review is level wastes.like some of the howitallin en rentiv nnaerway to select promismg alternative disposal tech- few weeks at the hospital,or until such ti!
nques f,or development and field testmg. Demonstration of one of cared to background levels. and then < in>sm.Be completed by the end of 19SL . wistes. This would seem to avoid unneces 7tter f om reactor accidents. such as the Three 3 file Island m.ei. dent are c:assified as low-level. The styrene resins from the EPICOR g re.m
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f gggg' , h 7 N. W 1:S rther ' couvnrz:r AcrzoN Q-h f; _. ; 4.% . . 44_. . . - t thes. c uf [se-levelscaste technology ne Committee has directed that h Secretary conduct research [ g. . . mT. W. .: .- d2ael and development on advanced techm,t eques for disposmg of low $y level n't p p p-a%sg 47 g:
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and volume reduction techniques that are to be analyzed in the report also
,, quired by the Committee. The Committee authorized a mimmum of WW-'-
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is bmader than R&D alone. The Committee confirmed that this activity 7- . . -
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ropdately in TitleVIIzu e <aru 4 - " -. u . *: . e-a he Committee believes that the existing approach to disposmg of - low level wastes could be improved. Paragraph 107(B)(6) of the bill,
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therefore, requires that the Secretary analyze the pros and cons of re- er"- ,
. ; docing the volume of the wastes and at the same time glassifying the 4 _ .J Da ..n_. -
. . ruidue. The Committee recognizes that much of the low level waste is f 1 *4 :. ~#. -
r n*$ so low in radioactivity that it is adequately safe to simply bury. How- f 2- c--
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r_dioactivity to adopt a policy of disposing of these wastes in such a marmer as tL avoid the potential of migration of radioactive elements k[.; M;;;"%.
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b .l.., J i 3 - ~ l q M f;2* Q.- g AA.,_ etd ! y,ond the disposal site or posing s,ome minimal risk duri,ng transpor-m gg ation to the disposal site. In addition the Committee beheves it is ill-adrised to utilize large tracts of land for burving low level wastes when
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#1 This pangraph also nquires that the Secretary should analyze whether or not the facilities for volume reduction and glassification
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;0E5iL , b.cilities could act as a processing point where hospitals, research labs, 1 FM ..ww .
*n't industries could send their low level wastes for volume reduction k- g fN.- *** "' "? ~ r ' T_-
Oa/ and glassification. The glassified wastes could then be shipped to a M 1 1.1 y - g bned disposal facility in the ngion. . g .. _ -
-e- . Paragraph 107(B) (0) of the bill requires that the Secretary analyze i' 4 , w .6 .
k- -J n., ySM-# 4 9; y e i: .. W a mther or not the large underground caverns created by nuclear mpon explosions should be considered for possible disposal sites for e- - ' Hx~ h % f '
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e f' e Imr level wastes. These caverns at.i, for examptlaska. are almadv contami- Colorado, ..' na New Mexico and Mississipp,le g% rated from the exnlosions would appear to be an ideal disposal site. d.f., $ ". CV. 9- ; Para:rraph 107(B)(0) of the bill requires that the Secretarv should %1: M. g # ~ G 'j"*72%~7 - E N i, m y:e whether or not much of the wastes currently classifie'd as low 6e uI was:es. like some of the hospitallinuid waves could be held for a ~++
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P N1 uA M@sm t s I k weeks at the hospital, or until such time as the radioactivity had de-o'c , i L;.
'Pd to background levels. and then disposed of as nonra'dioactive ves. This would seem to avoid unnecetsary expenses. M%y Q. M C 7.:y
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~~- i 1 i l 94 3 The Committee encourages DOE to support the State Planning Ccuncil and to other efforts by the states and regions to provide their on burial gmunds. l TRANsTJRANIC WASTE Objective -
Technolog 3. SPENT FUEL STOI transuranic (y is to be developed for safely and ' economically treating -TRU) wastes to meet an isolation. Such technology includes compaction crushing, digestion or combustion, immobihzation of residues, and' decontaminatio metallie surfaces to reduce waste quantities. ~.
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. Stmtegy and Scope .vi. .
. .-4 moe.ns .., . m atus.
TRU-contaminated solid ,vaste contains transuranic nuclides above * **""' a threshold concentration, as measured in nanocuries per gram,@ -
,,, 6, 2 derived on the basis -of certain ~. natural uranium-containing cres.D@ jZ*l$"'/'C::"i"'~~~
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au 5 Wastes below the threshold level are acceptable for shallow burialQ 3,,,u
- s. m - 7. n at con::miled sites as low-level waste at one (Hanford, WA of the g u,ita .m.E!C . -W - 1#
o 3 carrently operating low-level waste burial sites. The,p~mpo)rtion of ""TsZ*"im ....... __ -. V r3dioactive material to the contammeed waste is mmute, both in~ 4 ha ra **"* ----
- terms of Tolume and mass. 't w. wt w a-na L o - ---- -
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Techniques under development include sortin yastes, mechanica) compaction, electropolishing (g and classifying decontamination), i y,,3,, ,,,,,,,,,n, w ,a yo, mi ween.e -m e.e incneration, and immobilization of residues and ashes. By FY 1985,y the incineration designs will be documented for availability to indus ~ Objectives trr and a selected incinerator design,will be demonstrated for com- The goal of the Spent Fuel Storage I zne cial appheabihty. A non-radioactive demonstration of pmcessm ' for the safe storage of U.S. and some sodium-contaminated wastes from R&D activities will be initiate with national nuclear energy goals in FY.198L Tnis program is managed by the DOE Albuguertjue, Operations objectives' The overa llobjectivesof theprogrami OEce. Rockwell International is providing technical assistance. To ensure that space is available so that operation of nuclear power p courrm Acrwx can be maintained. Trcraurentc TVaste--S11 mi&n reduction To The Committee reduced the Admmistration's budget by $1.1 mil- ,;, rn?t1re to nu leur fuel rekome The immediate ob L,c . This results m a budget slightly less than for FY 1980. This clude the following: jectives for g decesse results from the importance the,Co,mmittee is placing upon To plan and manage a pro ~rari V otter activ2 ties ,in waste management, prmeipally the demonstration fuel storage capacity until geologi nenrities for high level wastes. able. To identify and resolve safety concerns over extended spent fuel st To establish a charge and conti provide storage and disposal servica To develop technology to mercas fuel facilities and to develop adra storage technologies. Strategy and Scope
- An essential element of this storage e fer spent fuel elements to the storage s
these sites when later disposition of th I transportation systems and procedure l storage in privately-owned, or Gover (95) l e , Am __ 33,; !- m 1,-m ;;.m.5sa g w y.;wy m .gimc;mg w 3 . y . m,ip;, g.ymp 37s .ppy__9;ggg. s g.g:4.y.Kyg,.q.s-g .m pg.cgf7 g, ,,- m ,yn ;j 1
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