Analysis of alternatives for greater-confinement disposal of low-level radioactive waste
A comparative method for evaluating technical alternatives for greater-confinement disposal (GCD) of low-level radioactive waste (LLW) is developed and applied to nine GCD alternatives. The bounding alternatives are a conventional shallow-land burial (SLB) facility (used as a reference facility for comparative determination of costs and risks) and a deep geologic repository. The other alternatives include a deep trench, improved waste form, engineered structures, boreholes, hydrofracture, and a shallow repository. The method ranks the alternatives based on a ranking parameter, RP equals C (cost in dollars) plus H (health risk converted to dollars), which is derived from benefit-cost-risk analysis. Costs are developed for a GCD facility that is co-located with a conventional SLB facility and has a capacity of 10,000 m/sup 3/ of GCD waste; risks are based on a pathway analysis for estimating the dose to individuals resulting from waste placed in a GCD facility. Application of the method, using a generic analysis based on representative waste streams of intermediate-activity and high-activity LLW that would require GCD, indicates that all alternatives except the reference SLB facility can be expected to meet performance objectives (500 mrem/yr wholebody dose to onsite intruders; 25 mrem/yr whole-body dose to members of the general public from releases to the environment). All of the alternatives considered are equivalent within the resolving power of the generic analysis, except for the repository designs, which are considerably more costly with negligible concomitant reduction in health risks. Site-specific application of the method, with more detailed design information, would be needed in order to provide a basis for selecting an optimum GCD alternative in any actual situation.
- Research Organization:
- EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-76ID01570
- OSTI ID:
- 6452794
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/LLW-31T; ON: DE86005107
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products. Original copy available until stock is exhausted
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Limited risk assessment and some cost/benefit considerations for greater confinement disposal compared to shallow land burial
Greater-confinement disposal of low-level radioactive wastes
Related Subjects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
RISK ASSESSMENT
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
DEPTH
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
DIMENSIONS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage
054000 - Nuclear Fuels- Health & Safety