E.14.0 OVERPACK AND SHIP ALTERNATIVE
The Overpack and Ship alternative for Cs and Sr capsules would involve the continued storage of the capsules in the WESF water basin with final disposal in the potential geologic repository. The capsules would not be removed from the WESF pools until a repository became available. The capsules would be removed from the pools and placed in overpacks prior to shipment. The capsules would be transported by rail to the potential geologic repository.
E.14.1 CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS
The construction activities associated with the Overpack and Ship alternative are discussed in Appendix B of the EIS. It should be noted there are no radiological or chemical consequences associated with construction accidents. Occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities resulting from construction accidents are calculated in the following text.
The number of construction personnel was estimated at 1.0E+02 person-years (Jacobs 1996). The number of total recordable injuries and illnesses, lost workday cases, and fatalities for the 8 years of construction are calculated using the incidence rates from Table E.1.2.1 of this appendix as follows:
Total Recordable Cases = (1.00E+02 person-years) · (9.75E+00 incidences/100 person-years) = 9.75E+00
Lost Workday Cases = (1.00E+02 person-years) · (2.45E+00 incidences/100 person-years) = 2.45E+00
Fatalities = (1.00E+02 person-years) · (3.2E-03 fatalities/100 person-years) = 3.20E-03
There would be an estimated 10 total recordable cases, two to three lost workday case, and no fatalities resulting from construction.
E.14.2 TRANSPORTATION ACCIDENTS
Transportation activities associated with this alternative are:
- Transporting construction material from offsite by truck to support WESF modification;
- Transporting overpacked capsules by rail from WESF the potential geologic repository; and
- Employees commuting to work each day.
E.14.2.1 Radiological Cancer Risk
Radiological exposures resulting from accidents while transporting the capsules to an offsite potential geologic repository were analyzed (Green 1995). The methodology of the analysis was previously discussed in Section E.1.1.6. The results of the analysis are summarized in Tables E.14.2.1 and E.14.2.2. The calculations show there would be no fatal cancers attributed to this exposure.
Table E.14.2.1 Integrated Radiological Impact from Accidents for the Overpack and Ship Alternative
E.14.2.2 Chemical Exposure
Only small amounts of chemicals (e.g., lubricants) would be required under this alternative so only very minor chemical exposure would be expected to occur.
E.14.2.3 Occupational Fatalities and Injuries
Table E.14.2.3 provides a summary of the expected distances to be traveled by truck and rail to support construction and capsule transport activities.
Table E.14.2.3 Summary of Transportation Activities for the Overpack and Ship Alternative
Construction Transport
There would be modifications to WESF to support overpacking operations. Construction material would be transported by truck from the Tri-Cities area 70 km (43 mi) away. This would require an estimated 200 trips.
Capsule Transport
It would require 5 rail shipments to transport the capsules to an offsite potential geologic repository 1,465 km (910 mi) away (Green 1995).
The number of injuries and fatalities are calculated by multiplying the total distance traveled in each zone, shown in Table E.14.2.4 , by the appropriate unit risk factors shown in Table E.1.3.1.
In addition to transporting materials and supplies to and from the Hanford Site, site workers and other personnel required to support the various activities would be driving to the site in their vehicles. The total person-years to support the alternative for an estimated 39 years was calculated to be 241 (Jacobs 1996). Each person is assumed to work 260 days of the year. The round-trip distance traveled to work from the Tri-Cities area is estimated at 140 km (87 mi), with an estimated 1.35 passengers per vehicle (DOE 1994a). The total personnel vehicle distance was therefore calculated as follows:
(241 person-years) · (260 days/year) · (140 km/day) · (1/1.35 person) = 6.50E+06 km (4.0E+06 mi)
Table E.14.2.4 Distance Traveled in Population Zones for the Overpack and Ship Alternative
The expected injuries and fatalities resulting from transportation accidents associated with the Overpack and Ship alternative are summarized in Table E.14.2.5.
The expected number of injuries and fatalities resulting from employee vehicle accidents were calculated as follows:
Injuries = (6.50E+06 km) · (7.14E-07 injuries/km) = 4.64E+00
Fatalities = (6.50E+06 km) · (8.98E-09 fatalities/km) = 5.84E-02
The cumulative nonradiological and nontoxicological injuries and fatalities incurred as a direct result of traffic accident impacts are summarized in Table E.14.2.6. It is mostly likely there would be 4 injuries and no fatalities resulting from traffic accidents.
E.14.3 OPERATION ACCIDENTS
The potential exists for accidents resulting from operation activities. These operations are discussed in Appendix B. The operations are separated and analyzed according to the following modes of operation:
- Pool cell storage at WESF - Cs and Sr capsules would remain stored in water-filled basins until they are transported to drywell disposal.
- Capsule overpacking at WESF - Cs and Sr capsules would be removed from the basin and sealed in overpack canisters, and stored for shipment to a potential geologic repository.
E.14.3.1 Pool Cell Storage Accident at the Waste Encapsulation and Storage Facility
The dominant pool cell storage accident at WESF is the earthquake, which was previously discussed in the No Action alternative in Section E.12.2.1 and is summarized in the following.
Source-Term - The source-term presented in Section E.12.2.1.1 resulting from the breached canisters for the noninvolved worker receptor was 1.2E-01 Ci, based on 8 hours exposure. The general public was calculated to be 3.5E-01 Ci, based on 24 hours exposure. In addition to the source-term, the loss of water shielding the capsules would result in high direct radiation doses to the receptors. It was assumed that all of the workers would die in the building from the collapsed roof.
Probability - The annual exceedance frequency of the earthquake (Section E.12.2.1.2 ) was 2.5E-04 per year. The Overpack and Ship alternative was based on 19 years of operations; therefore, the probability was calculated to be 4.8E-03.
Radiological Consequences - The radiological consequences presented in Table E.2.2.2 are reproduced in Table E.14.3.1.
Table E.14.3.1 Dose Consequence for Pool Cell Storage Accident
Radiological Cancer Risk - The LCFs calculated in Section E.12.2.1.4 are the same for the Onsite Disposal alternative; however, the LCF point estimate risk is not the same due to the difference in probabilities. The LCFs and the LCF risk are calculated in TableE.14.3.2. Except for the 10 workers dying from the collapsed roof, the calculations show there would be no fatal cancers.
Table E.14.3.2 Latent Cancer Fatality Risk from Pool Cell Accident
Chemical Consequences - Chemical consequences presented in Section E.12.2.1.5 concluded there would be no exposure that would exceed the cumulative ratio of 1.0 to ERPG-1 values for toxic or corrosive/irritant chemicals.
E.14.3.2 Overpacking Accident
The dominant overpacking accident at WESF was the crushed Sr capsule previously discussed in the Onsite Disposal alternative in Section E.13.3.2 and is summarized as follows:
Source-Term - The source-term presented in Section E.13.3.2.1 resulting from the breached canisters was 38.5 Ci.
Probability - The frequency of the accident in Section E.13.3.2.2 was 1.0E-02 per year. The Overpack and Ship alternative was based on 19 years of operations; therefore, the probability was calculated to be 1.9E-01.
Radiological Consequences - The radiological consequences presented in Section E.13.3.2.3 are reproduced in Table E.14.3.3.
Radiological Cancer Risk - The LCFs calculated in Section E.13.3.2.4 are the same for the Overpack and Ship alternative and are reproduced in Table E.14.3.4.
Chemical Consequences - Chemical consequences presented in Section E.13.3.2.5 concluded there would be no exposure that would exceed the cumulative ratio of 1.0 to ERPG-1 values for toxic or corrosive/irritant chemicals.
Table E.14.3.3 Dose Consequence from Crushed Strontium Capsule
TableE.14.3.4 Latent Cancer Fatality Risk from Crushed Strontium Capsule
E.14.3.3 Occupational Injuries and Fatalities
The number of operation personnel was estimated at approximately 1.41E+02 person-years (Jacobs 1996). The number total recordable injuries and illnesses, lost workday cases, and fatalities are calculated as follows:
Total Recordable Cases = (1.41E+02 person-years) · (2.2E+00 incidences/100 person-years) = 3.10E+00
Lost Workday Cases = (1.41E+02 person-years) · (1.1E+00 incidences/100 person-years) = 1.55E+00
Fatalities = (1.41E+02 person-years) · (3.2E-03 fatalities/100 person-years) = 4.51E-03
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