Less Geology in the Geological Disposal of Nuclear Waste

Abstract

A t the end of the 20th century, one of for developing "generally applicable stanthe most pressing problems, political dards" for the repository, and the NRC is reand scientific, is the disposal and iso-sponsible for promulgating rules or regulalation of radioactive wastes (1). There is now tions, which if complied with, will ensure a worldwide consensus (2) that effective that EPA' s standards are met. The new rules long-term isolation for spent nuclear fuel and and standards rely on a probabilistic perforhigh-level radioactive or transuranic waste mance assessment (PPA) of the repository to can be achieved by geologic emplacement. provide a single quantitative measure of The chief elements of the geologic disposal compliance. This approach, when combined strategy are as follows: (i) it was to be deep, with a proscribed compliance period that is permanent, and long term, using to advan-short compared with the time for geologic or tage the decrease in radioactivity, thermal climate change (10,000 years), a point of output, and radiotoxicity over time; (ii) the geologic history of stable regions was taken as indicative of future stability Actlrddetr and and continued suitability; (iii) the passive hydrologic andgeochemical properties of the geologic formations were to be key to the isolation strate-8 gy. The large uncertainties in 8 10' F

Hydrogen suppresses UO2 corrosion

“…The disposal of spent nuclear fuel is a pressing social, political and scientific issue faced by our society (Ewing, 1999;Dresselhaus and Thomas, 2001). Currently, deep geological repositories provide the most promising solution for effective long-term isolation of the spent fuel (Stone, 2004;Inman, 2005).…”

Surface diffusivity of cleaved NaCl crystals as a function of humidity: Impedance spectroscopy measurements and implications for crack healing in rock salt

“…Rock salt has long been recognized as a highly suitable medium for geological storage of oil, gas and hazardous wastes because of its low‐permeability, high‐ductility, low‐creep strength and capacity for self‐healing by plastic flow and diffusive mass transfer [ Langer , 1993; Cosenza and Ghoreychi , 1999; Ewing , 1999; Langer , 1999; Silberschmidt and Silberschmidt , 2000; Liang et al 2007]. At present, the growing needs to reduce CO 2 emissions and to improve energy security are leading to renewed interest in rock salt as a geological storage medium.…”

Field study of the migration of90Sr,237Np,238Pu and241Am in unsaturated Chinese loess under artificial rainfall condition

“…The key to waste disposal is to isolate the radioactive waste from being contacted by human beings, and this can be achieved by geological emplacement [1]. The geological disposal concept is mainly based on the stable geological and favorable hydrological conditions of the candidate area.…”