RADIOACTIVE-WASTE DISPOSAL IN THE OCEAN

Handbook 58

U. S. Department of Commerce National Bureau of Standards

U. S. Department of Commerce, National Bureau of Standards,

Sinclair Weeks, Secretary A. V. Astin, Director

Radioactive-Waste Disposal in the Ocean

Recommendations of the National Committee on Radiation Protection

National Bureau of Standards Handbook 58 Issued August 25, 1954

For sale bv the Suoerlntendentof Documents. Washlllll.ton 25, D. C .• Price 20 cent.

Contents Page

Preface_ 1. Introduction and summary of recommendations - - - -1.1. Introduction __ .. -------1.2. Summary of recommcndations _____ -a. Sitc _____ -_ b. Transportatioll_ - _ c. Regulations ___ - - d. Methods of disposal-packaged __ _ e. 1\Iethods of disposal-bulk_ f. 1\lethods of disposal-pipf'line g. Records__ _________._ 2. General considerations ___ _ 2.1. Public relations aspect 2.2. Finality of disposaL 2.3. Accidental hazards ____ _ 2.4. Rate of disposaL __ _ 2.5. General responsibilities __ _ 3. Charact.eristics of the ocean_ -_ 3.1. Volume of ocean waters _. 3.2. Relief of the ocean basins __ _ 3.:3. Chemical composition of sea water __ 3.4. Physical properties of sea water_ 3.5. Currents and mixing __ 3.6. Biology of the oeeans_ :{. 7. Marine sediments __ _ :~.S. Pollutioll_ 4. Fate of radioadive materials introduced into the oceall __ 4.1. Factors favoring dilution or di,;persaL ___ _ 4.2. Direet hazards ________ ._ ·1.3. Indirect hazards__ ______ . _ 5. Considerations for selection of a disposal method ___ _ 6. Means of disposaL ___ .' _ _ . ________ _ 6.1. Packaged dispoRaL _ __ .. _____ . 6.2. Bulk disposal at sea __ _ 6.3. Pipeline disposaL __ i. Designation or "election of sites of disposaL_ 8. Hecommended containers for packaged disposal in the ocean_ 8.1. General characteristics _ .___ _ 8.2. 1\1 aterials of constructioll __ 8.:~. Design of package_ SA. Speciflc gravity of packagp __ _ 8.5. IdentificatioIL_ 9. Recommendations for the transportation of radioactive rnaterials __ 10. General responsibilit ies alld problems for consideration _____ _ 11. References_--__ _________ . _______ _ IV

III

1 1

2 2 2 3 3

3 4 4 4 4

5 ;3 6 6 7 7 7 8 10 11 11

14 15 17 17 17 18

19 22

22 22

24 24 25 25 26 26

27 27 27 28 30

Radioactive-Waste Disposal in the Ocean 1. Introduction and Summary of

Recommendations 1.1. Introduction The ever-increasing production and use of radioactiYe isotopes has raised illlmerous quest ions concerning their handling, transportation, and ultImate disposal. It appears that the sea may be an appropriate place for the disposal of intermediate and large amounts of isotopes having long half-lives (more than 1 year) or high radiotoxicity. It is purpose of this Handbook to outline some of the factors that must be considered in the disposal in the ocean of unwanted radioactive wastes. Two factors will generally be involved in any decision as to the method of disposal employed-safety and convenience. In many instances where the quantities are small or the halfIi \-es relat ively short, unwanted isotopes or contaminated equipment. and materials may be safely disposed of by stOl'age, flushing into the or drain incineraehoice between sea disposal tion, or by burial on land.' , and other methods will in part be cletcrmined by the quantity of the radioactive material, its half-life, and i Is type; but in many instances the selection IlUlV be based upon conven· jPllce ll11d economics. It seems ve'i·y reasonable to assume that producers or users of radioactive isotopes located on or 'Some phases of th~se various llwthods are di~CllSSNI III l,revious r"pOI·ts of this Committe!;. See Xational Burellu of Standards Handbook 42, Safe handling- of ratijoacti,,, isotopcs; NBS HandlJOok 48. Control and removal of l'adioa('tivl? contamination in lahoratol'i(~s: NBS Handbook 49, Recommenda~ Hans for waste disposal of phosphorns-32 and iOdine-Ii'll for medical u~ers; and XBS Handbook 5:1. ReNlIll!nPIH1ariolls for the dis]","al of carboll-l-! wastes. 2 'rills is not to imlll~' tllat dls]l("al by hurlal in soil should be limited to small ~Ilalltities aud sbort balf-Ii\'es. Land ~torage of solids by oirect burial or in vHultS, and of Tf'sldu(1's from liqllid wastes in U1Hl~rgronnd tanks, ma;\-o b~ safe in specific areas. 'l'here will he a report on this subject by tile Xational COlllmitte(> on Radiation Protection in til" ll