Radiation doses resulting from variations in spent fuel/waste management systems without Monitored Retrievable Storage

This paper presents results of analyses of radiological dose impacts on the public and the workers of nine potential transportation-related changes in the operation of a hypothetical high-level waste management system that does not include a Monitored Retrievable Storage (MRS) facility. The analyses were performed for the US Department of Energy (DOE) to determine if some of the benefits proposed for the improved performance waste management system (one with an MRS facility) could also benefit the authorized system (one without an MRS facility). The study showed that most of the alternatives evaluated would reduce the radiation doses to the public and the workers. Of the alternatives evaluated, the primary means for reducing these radiation doses is to increase the capacity of the transportation casks.