Volume and Activity of Wastes Addressed in the EIS
The total volume of wastes being addressed in this EIS is estimated to be about 11,000 m3 containing about 160 million curies of activity.
How much GTCC LLRW and GTCC-like waste is there?
The current (stored) volume of GTCC LLRW and GTCC-like waste is estimated to be about 1,100 m3 containing about 1.7 million curies of activity. Most of this volume (about 970 m3 containing 0.36 million curies) is GTCC-like waste.
An additional volume of 9,900 m3 of waste containing about 160 million curies is projected to be generated from all sources in the future. This projection is through 2083 to account for the GTCC LLRW that could be generated from decommissioning all currently operating and planned commercial nuclear reactors.
About 70% of the projected volume of 9,900 m3 is GTCC LLRW with GTCC-like waste accounting for the remainder. Most of the activity (about 160 million curies) is associated with the activated metal wastes from decommissioning commercial nuclear power plants. In summary, the total volume of GTCC LLRW and GTCC-like waste being addressed in this EIS is estimated to be about 11,000 m3 containing a total of 160 million curies of activity. These estimates are preliminary and may change as the EIS progresses, as these estimates are projected over several decades.
In contrast, the total volume of Class A, B, and C LLRW disposed of at commercial radioactive waste disposal facilities over the next 50 years is estimated to be about 5,400,000 m3 containing 22 million curies. The total volume of GTCC LLRW and GTCC-like waste (11,000 m3) is a very small fraction (about 0.2%) of the total volume of Class A, B, and C LLRW waste requiring disposal over a comparable time period; however, the GTCC LLRW and GTCC-like waste contains about seven times more activity.
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