ALTERNATIVES FOR PACKAGING AND TRANSPORT OF GREATER-THAN-CLASS C LOW-LEVEL WASTE

Viable methods for packaging greater-than-class C (GTCC) low-level wastes and for transporting those wastes from the waste generator sites or from an eastern interim storage site to a geologic repository site have been identified and evaluated. Estimated costs for packaging and transporting the population of GTCC wastes expected to be accumulated through the year 2040 have been developed for three waste volume scenarios, for two preferred packaging methods for activated metals from reactor operations and from reactor decommissioning (9-in.-square canisters or 55-gallon drums), and for two packaging density assumptions for the activated metals from reactor decommissioning (either 70% or 5% of theoretical density). The analyses show that high-density packaging of the activated metals minimizes packaging and transport costs. The 9-in.-square canister may be the preferred container for the activated metals from reactor operation and decommissioning despite a small cost penalty relative to the 55-gallon drum, due to better compatibility with the anticipated transport casks and with the disposal containers postulated for use at the repository. The 55-gallon drum is the preferred container for other remote-handled or contact-handled GTCC wastes. The system costs for packaging and transport of the total inventory of GTCC wastes projected through the year 2040 ranged from less than $20 million to more than $270 million, depending upon the packaging containers and packaging densities assumed.