Low-level radioactive waste management: an economic assessment

Technical Report · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:6032897

Peery, R J

This paper has presented an overview of the economics of low-level radioactive waste disposal. It is hoped that this paper will assist the states in their efforts to determine their approach to the management of low-level wastes. Although the economies of scale realized by a larger facility are emphasized, the conclusion is that every state and region must examine its need for low-level waste disposal services and consider the interrelated factors that affect the volume of waste to be disposed, including waste reduction techniques, interim storage for radioactive decay, legal issues, and the demand for services as the price of these services change. The result is not a single recommended capacity for a facility, but an acknowledgement of contingencies. In theory, per cubic foot disposal costs decrease as facility size increases. But theory does not preclude a state from constructing its own site, or a region generating small volumes of waste from building a shared facility. All factors should be weighed before a site is chosen and its size is determined.

• Research Organization: State Planning Council on Radioactive Waste Management, Washington, DC (USA); Southern States Energy Board, Atlanta, GA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6032897
• Report Number(s): NP-2900892; ON: DE82900892
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

051000* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
052002 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Disposal & Storage
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290600 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Nuclear Energy
COST
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES