Technology and Policy Aspects of Deep Borehole Nuclear Waste Disposal
- 1 October 2012
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in Nuclear Technology
- Vol. 180 (1), 111-121
- https://doi.org/10.13182/nt12-a14523
Abstract
The use of deep boreholes for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste is reassessed, emphasizing key enabling technical features and their strong linkage to national and international fuel cycle policy. Emplacement 2 to 4 km deep in widely available granitic continental bedrock, under a 1-km caprock layer of high-integrity bedrock, is shown in this analysis to have the potential to provide sufficiently low host rock permeability to prevent radionuclide escape by transport in water - the only plausible release mechanism. The modular nature of the concept enables multiregion siting in large user countries and is especially well-suited for small-user nations. Irretrievability can be built-in to better meet safeguards objectives, and the exceptionally high assurance of confinement makes the disposal of minor actinides (and troublesome fission products) an attractive alternative to their destruction by transmutation.Keywords
This publication has 6 references indexed in Scilit:
- Lessons Learned from the Yucca Mountain and WIPP Projects5th Forum on New Materials Part A, 2010
- Geothermal EnergyPublished by Taylor & Francis Ltd ,2010
- Geological repository systems for safe disposal of spent nuclear fuels and radioactive wastePublished by Elsevier BV ,2010
- Volcanic and Tectonic Hazard Assessment for Nuclear FacilitiesPublished by Cambridge University Press (CUP) ,2009
- Performance objectives for the Hanford Immobilized Low-Activity Waste (ILAW) performance assessmentPublished by Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI) ,1999
- Disposition of excess weapon plutonium in deep boreholes - site selection handbookPublished by Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI) ,1996