State of Nevada comments on the US Department of Energy Site Characterization Plan, Yucca Mountain site, Nevada; Volume 1
One of the most important systems to understand is the hydrologic system at Yucca Mountain. This system probably contains the most likely pathways for radionuclide escape from the repository to the accessible environment. The hydrology of the unsaturated highly-fractured tuffs, in which the proposed repository would be constructed, is poorly understood because very little scientific study of this type of hydrogeologic system had been made prior to the selection of Yucca Mountain as a potential repository. The major concerns are of: (1) the time limitations for conducting the necessary investigations; (2) the great uncertainty regarding the hydrologic processes, especially fracture flow, in the unsaturated zone; (3) the inadequate consideration of various hydrogeologic and hydrologic factors, including coupled flow processes, recharge and discharge, and perched water zones; (4) the inadequate conceptual and numerical models of the saturated and unsaturated zones, and development of scenarios; (5) the flaws in the design and monitoring of observation wells; (6) the uncertainties in estimating infiltration, ground water travel time, the extent of the disturbed zone, and waste package integrity; and (7) the overall biased approach of the SCP. This report consists of a summary of these concerns, followed by specific comments on portions of Chapters 3 and 8 of the SCP.
- Research Organization:
- Nevada Nuclear Waste Project Office, Carson City, NV (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG08-85NV10461
- OSTI ID:
- 137626
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/NV/10461--T40-Vol.1; ON: DE90005484
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
State of Nevada comments on the US Department of Energy site characterization plan, Yucca Mountain site, Nevada; Volume 2
Geologic character of tuffs in the unsaturated zone at Yucca Mountain, southern Nevada