Review of the Continued Analysis of Supplemental Treatment Approaches of Low-Activity Waste at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation Review #3 (2023) / Chapter Skim
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Pages 22-35
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From page 22... ...
While it may well be that waste similar to SLAW can be and has been transported safely by rail with little or no public concern, even a single salient event, such as the recent derailment of a train carrying hazardous chemicals in East Palestine, Ohio, can create a level of public awareness and concern leading to impediments to SLAW transportation, and possibly expose weaknesses in rail safety. Despite transport of liquid and solid low-level waste by rail and truck long distances being an accepted practice, decision makers might need to expect that transportation of large quantities of liquid SLAW off the Hanford site will meet with heightened scrutiny and concern by transportation corridor and recipient state regulators and citizens.
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From page 23... ...
Grout options are clustered in red diamond data points representing on-site disposal and blue circles representing off-site disposal. Note the projected tank mission completion dates range from 2067 to 2079; however, there is significant uncertainty in the latter date as shown in Bates et al., 2023, Volume I, Figure 13-3.
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From page 24... ...
In brief, this single graph makes a defensible technical case in favor of the FFRDC's recommendation to expeditiously move in the direction of developing grouting as a pathway for managing SLAW. The primary question left for decision makers, therefore, is to evaluate whether issues of regulatory approval hurdles or public acceptance are so significant in the case of grout to overcome the technical advantages of every one of the various grouting options in the FFRDC report (or other variants not actually in the FFRDC evaluation such as grouting through modular facilities on-site, followed by on-site or off-site disposal)
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From page 25... ...
." With regard to the assumed $450 million/year budget constraint, and assuming a 4 percent escalation factor for capital expenditures (CAPEX) , vitrification is estimated to exceed that budget by $10 billion by 2070, as reported in the main FFRDC report (Table F-1)
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From page 26... ...
Thus, while it is a sufficient flat funding level to achieve a net budget neutrality for the vitrification alternative, assuming the 4 percent CAPEX escalation rate, it also would increase the estimated budget surpluses for grouting and FBSR upward by another $10 billion. The committee also notes that if the CAPEX escalation factor assumption is 8 percent, vitrification would still have an estimated budget deficit of $10 billion or more, just as it does for the case in which the funding is $450 million/year with an escalation rate of 4 percent.
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From page 27... ...
Despite not exploring the contracting options for acquiring an on-site grout facility from an existing commercial nuclear liquid LLW grout vendor or other contractual arrangements, the committee notes that the FFRDC found that such capabilities exist today at two or more commercial sites including the sites at Clive, Utah, and Andrews, Texas [Gene Ramsey presentation on January 31, 2023, 3:45 hr:min]
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From page 28... ...
However, based on National Academies' recommendations concerning that report, the drafts of the FFRDC's current report considered a number of options that involve on-site pretreatment of SLAW followed by off-site transport and disposal of monolithic grout or FBSR waste forms. Within these options, are some that involve offsite transport, treatment, and disposal of pretreated liquid SLAW to form the monolithic grout waste forms.
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From page 29... ...
. In the previous draft analysis, the FFRDC assumed that liquid SLAW would be transported in 5,000-gallon tanks and concluded "…that untreated supplemental LAW liquids…can be transported in IPs in all off-site disposal options with considerable margin." (Bates, 2022b, Vol.
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From page 30... ...
. Based on the more thorough analyses underpinning the LSA determination in the current FFRDC analysis as summarized above, it appears that their conclusion "…that untreated supplemental LAW liquids…can be transported in IPs in all off-site disposal options with considerable margin" (Bates, 2022b, Vol.
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From page 31... ...
that such transport and receipt is accepted practice should not be viewed as meaning regulatory approval and public acceptance of sustained transport of large amounts of liquid SLAW would be acceptable without question or contention. DOE should conduct additional and more detailed investigations and assessments of operational feasibility, regulatory approval, and public acceptance at receiving sites and the transportation corridors to improve understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of transporting liquid SLAW before definitely settling on offsite pathways as the solution.
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From page 33... ...
2020. Final Review of the Study on Supplemental Treatment Approaches of Low-Activity Waste at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation: Review #4.
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From page 35... ...
2769) with respect to approaches for treating the portion of low-activity waste at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, Richland, Washington, intended for supplemental treatment; and (2)
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