ANALYSIS OF DISPOSITION ALTERNATIVES FOR RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED SCRAP METAL

Millions of tons of slightly radioactive scrap iron and steel, stainle ss steel, and copper are likely to become available as nuclear and oth er facilities and equipment ar e withdrawn from service. Disposition o f this material is an international policy issue under consideration c urrently. The major alternatives for managing this material are either to develop a regulatory process for decontamination and recycling tha t will safeguard human health or to dispose of the soap and replace th e metal stocks. To evaluate the alternatives, we estimate quantities o f scrap arising from nuclear power. plant decommissioning, evaluate po tential pr ice impacts of recycling on regional markers, and assess th e health and environmental impacts of the management alternatives. We conclude that decontaminating and recycling the scrap is the superior alternative. (C) 1998 The Franklin Institute. Published by Elsevier Sc ience Ltd.