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Appendix E: Executive Summary of Report on the Review of Proposed Environmental Standards for the Management and Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel, High-Level and Transuranic Wastes
Pages 89-96

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From page 89... ... Environmental Protection Agency January 1984 89 Read the entire page →
From page 90... ... the use of a probabilistic approach, and (e) the use of qualitative assurance requirements, as modified by the Subcommittee, but issued as Federal Radiation Protection Guidance to other Federal agencies in lieu of inclusion in the proposed rule. Read the entire page →
From page 91... ... Some of these changes will result in changes to the release limits for individual radionuclides given in Table 2 of the proposed standards, and will be separate from the ten-fold change in the release limits recommended above. The Subcommittee believes that the changes in the release limits, resulting from the changes to the predictive models, are independent of and would not lead to additional modification to the proposed societal objective beyond the ten-fold increase discussed above. Read the entire page →
From page 92... ... Modeling and risk assessments for the time periods involved in radioactive waste disposal require extension of such developing techniques well beyond usual extrapolations; however, the extension for 10,000 years can be made with reasonable confidence. Also, the period of 10,000 years is likely to be free of major geologic changes, such as volcanism or renewed glaciation, and with proper site selection the risk from such changes can be made negligible. Read the entire page →
From page 93... ... and regulatory practices and to serve as a forum for exchange of scientific and technological information. Several Federal agencies are involved in the process of establishing radiation protection policies, standards and operational requirements governing the disposal of high-level radioactive wastes, including EPA, NRC, DOE and DOD, together with states, appropriate entities of Congress and the judiciary. Read the entire page →
From page 94... ... Although the Subcommittee makes a number of recommendations regarding risk assessment, pathway and health modeling and the need for improved documentation, we believe that Office of Radiation Programs, EPA, has handled these subjects well and furthermore, has been positively responsive to the recommendations of the Subcommittee. We think, however, that EPA has made overly conservative choices and decisions throughout the development of the technical bases supporting the standards, leading to overestimation of the long-term effect of disposal, and hence that the proposed standards are too restrictive and compliance may be difficult to verify. Read the entire page →
From page 95... ... It is noteworthy that, even though the savings associated with individual choices may seem relatively insignificant, the absolute costs are so large that even small percentage savings are worthwhile. The high absolute costs appear to be relatively independent of the proposed standard, and simply reflect the decision to use deep mined geologic disposal sites with multiple barriers. Read the entire page →
From page 96... ... Adding to the uncertainties implicit in a technique that is still under development are the multitude of poorly known factors associated with the extrapolation in time to 10,000 years and beyond, and the problem of securing public acceptance of the standard. We believe, nevertheless, that the EPA's effort, modified as recommended by this report, will fulfill the intent of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982. Read the entire page →

From page 89...

... Environmental Protection Agency January 1984 89

Read the entire page →

From page 90...

... the use of a probabilistic approach, and (e) the use of qualitative assurance requirements, as modified by the Subcommittee, but issued as Federal Radiation Protection Guidance to other Federal agencies in lieu of inclusion in the proposed rule.

Read the entire page →

From page 91...

... Some of these changes will result in changes to the release limits for individual radionuclides given in Table 2 of the proposed standards, and will be separate from the ten-fold change in the release limits recommended above. The Subcommittee believes that the changes in the release limits, resulting from the changes to the predictive models, are independent of and would not lead to additional modification to the proposed societal objective beyond the ten-fold increase discussed above.

Read the entire page →

From page 92...

... Modeling and risk assessments for the time periods involved in radioactive waste disposal require extension of such developing techniques well beyond usual extrapolations; however, the extension for 10,000 years can be made with reasonable confidence. Also, the period of 10,000 years is likely to be free of major geologic changes, such as volcanism or renewed glaciation, and with proper site selection the risk from such changes can be made negligible.

Read the entire page →

From page 93...

... and regulatory practices and to serve as a forum for exchange of scientific and technological information. Several Federal agencies are involved in the process of establishing radiation protection policies, standards and operational requirements governing the disposal of high-level radioactive wastes, including EPA, NRC, DOE and DOD, together with states, appropriate entities of Congress and the judiciary.

Read the entire page →

From page 94...

... Although the Subcommittee makes a number of recommendations regarding risk assessment, pathway and health modeling and the need for improved documentation, we believe that Office of Radiation Programs, EPA, has handled these subjects well and furthermore, has been positively responsive to the recommendations of the Subcommittee. We think, however, that EPA has made overly conservative choices and decisions throughout the development of the technical bases supporting the standards, leading to overestimation of the long-term effect of disposal, and hence that the proposed standards are too restrictive and compliance may be difficult to verify.

Read the entire page →

From page 95...

... It is noteworthy that, even though the savings associated with individual choices may seem relatively insignificant, the absolute costs are so large that even small percentage savings are worthwhile. The high absolute costs appear to be relatively independent of the proposed standard, and simply reflect the decision to use deep mined geologic disposal sites with multiple barriers.

Read the entire page →

From page 96...

... Adding to the uncertainties implicit in a technique that is still under development are the multitude of poorly known factors associated with the extrapolation in time to 10,000 years and beyond, and the problem of securing public acceptance of the standard. We believe, nevertheless, that the EPA's effort, modified as recommended by this report, will fulfill the intent of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982.

Read the entire page →

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Appendix E: Executive Summary of Report on the Review of Proposed Environmental Standards for the Management and Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel, High-Level and Transuranic Wastes Pages 89-96

Appendix E: Executive Summary of Report on the Review of Proposed Environmental Standards for the Management and Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel, High-Level and Transuranic Wastes
Pages 89-96