Site-specific environmental evaluation for borehole drilling: Gibson Dome, San Juan County, Utah. Boring sites: GD-1 and GD-2

Technical Report · Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1979

OSTI ID:5723024

This report is an environmental evaluation of the impacts of proposed borehole drilling activities in the Gibson Dome area of southeastern Utah. The purpose of DOE's borehole drilling activities is to collect data on in situ rock formations that are considered potentially suitable for nuclear waste repositories. The objective of the NWTS Program is to provide the capability to safely dispose of commercial radioactive waste shipped to a federal repository as required by 10 CFR 50, Appendix F, and any other waste that must be delivered to the repository for terminal storage. Technical program efforts, necessary to identify and qualify specific underground waste facility sites in candidate rock formations, include geologic and hydrogeologic studies. Borehole drilling is an integral part of the geological studies and is essential to a thorough understanding of potentially suitable geologic formations. Unavoidable environmental impact is primarily limited to the clearing of land needed for access and drilling operations. Considerations exercised during site preparation, drilling, and subsequent site restoration will limit modification of the natural environment to the minimum required for accomplishment of test objectives. The environmental impact on the sites selected for the proposed drilling is not expected to cause any significant change in the existing ecological, land use, or social and economic systems. The drilling of the boreholes will have minimal, if any, effect or impact on wildlife. Reasonable efforts will be implemented to ensure the protection, preservation, and restoration of the environment. Precautions will be exercised to protect areas of scenic, recreational, or aesthetic value. The drilling operations will be temporary and will serve no other purpose than to collect geological in situ data on rock formations at potentially suitable sites. 4 figs., 4 tabs.

• Research Organization: USDOE Richland Operations Office, WA
• OSTI ID: 5723024
• Report Number(s): DOE/RL/C-10; ON: DE85013834
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
BOREHOLES
DRILLING
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
SITE SELECTION
UTAH
SALT DEPOSITS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
GEOLOGY
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
HYDROLOGY
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
CAVITIES
FEDERAL REGION VIII
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
NORTH AMERICA
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
053000* - Nuclear Fuels- Environmental Aspects
052002 - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage