Lessons learned from the Barnwell chosure to 31 states
- Nuclear Energy Inst., Washington, DC (United States)
The low-level radioactive waste disposal facility at Barnwell, South Carolina, closed to companies and institutions outside its region in July, 1994. An estimated 3,000 companies and institutions that use radioactive materials and generate low-level radioactive waste requiring disposal during 1992, 1993 and 1994, located in 31 states, were left stranded without a place to dispose of their low-level radioactive waste. Within a year of the Barnwell restriction Organization United for Responsible Low-Level Radioactive Waste Solutions ({open_quotes}Organizations United{close_quotes}) sponsored a survey to discover the current and prospective effects, if any, on companies, institutions and consumers. Soon after Barnwell restricted access, stories of how companies were dealing with on-site storage of waste began to surface. Companies were managing the waste safely, but some companies were forced to use space previously designed for other purposes, such as parking garages. Stories of negative impacts for consumers and medical patients also began to surface. On July 1, 1995, the Barnwell facility re-opened to all states except North Carolina - an unexpected reprieve. Thus the survey timing afforded a unique opportunity to see what would happen if disposal again became unavailable, because Barnwell`s reopening is only a temporary solution that could change with the political winds, the survey offers a look at the likely consequences if new facilities are not developed to replace the Barnwell facility.
- Research Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); Williams (Paul) and Associates, Medina, OH (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 437501
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-TR--106929; CONF-960783--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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