Below Regulatory Concern Owners Group: Cost-benefit analysis of BRC waste disposal: Final report

Technical Report · Wed Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:6378522

Nelson, R A; Tucker, Jr, R F; Wroble, J R

The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) commissioned a series of studies to provide support for a rulemaking petition to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to exempt certain types of very low-activity nuclear power plant wastes from NRC licensed disposal facilities. This report addresses the reduction in societal costs that will be associated with the below regulatory concern (BRC) disposal of very low-activity radioactive waste. The projected annual low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) volumes from nuclear power plants, institutional and industrial generators, and UF/sub 6/ conversion and the fraction of the nuclear power plant waste that could be disposed of as BRC waste are estimated. A qualitative cost-benefit analysis of this action is also performed. The cost savings to the nuclear power plant LLRW generators and to society was estimated for various disposal site capacities and fractions of the potential BRC waste that is disposed of as BRC waste. These cost savings are estimated for the nuclear power plants and for society. The effect on small LLRW generators and the present LLRW disposal facilities are addressed. The reduction in the use of the LLRW disposal facility capacity, the consumption of resources such as steel and diesel fuel, and potential heat recovery are addressed, in addition to items that are not readily quantified. The various BRC disposal options are also discussed. 8 refs., 4 figs., 34 tabs.

• Research Organization: Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (USA); Sargent and Lundy, Chicago, IL (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6378522
• Report Number(s): EPRI-NP-5681
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
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COMPILED DATA
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
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RESINS
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ECONOMICS
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NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
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