Year
1997
Abstract
The current decreasing volume of the civilian low-level radioactive waste stream and the increasing volume of defense-related low and intermediate level radioactive waste represent a unique problem. These streams are in process of shifting towards minimization, primarily through incineration and supercompaction technologies. Data verifying this shift are documented in the volumetric low-level radioactive waste acceptance rate by American commercial repositories. Costs for disposal of commercial low-level waste have steadily escalated (on the order of $12,712/m3 in 1996). Commercial waste sources have been primarily from nuclear power plant production and medical, industrial, and research operations as well as some governmental facilities. Waste volume steadily increased from 1963 (803 m3) to a maximum in 1980 (113, 218 m3) and has been steadily decreasing to 1994 (21,279 m3). Total accumulated volume of waste sent to commercial repositories to 1994 was 1,542,330 m3. The historical annual additions of undecayed radioactivity in gigabequerels (curies) of the low-level waste do not have a linear relationship with the volume of low-level waste rate. The radioactivity has been steadily increasing even while the volume has been decreasing. Historical data as to the origin, blending, treatment, and processing waste will be necessary for future projections and efficient repository planning and operation.