A mountain of trouble; Nuclear waste has to go somewhere: But a Government geologist working at Yucca Mountain argues that burying it there is an invitation to disaster
Yucca Mountain is the last candidate for high-level radioactive waste disposal, selected after a stormy, decades-long, multibillion-dollar search that criss-crossed much of the nation and eliminated dozens of other potential sites, often for reasons of politics rather than science. Today, the site`s 1800 federal and contract workers feel great pressure to stay on schedule in assessing the site`s suitability and planning the repository, which would be a labyrinth of tunnels up to 115 miles long. Its cost is expected to be up to $15 billion, some $1 billion of which has already been spent. If everything goes according to plan, it will open for business in 2010. The evaluation was proceeding favorably until a young Polish geologist raised questions based on the presence of geologic faults and certain calcium carbonate mineral deposits which may have resulted from hot springs or hot water coming up through the faults. The article describes: (1) the geologic basis of their questions and their reception by previous geologists (namely US GS); and (2) the formation of review committees to resolve their new problems.
- OSTI ID:
- 138002
- Journal Information:
- New York Times Magazine, Other Information: PBD: 18 Nov 1990
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
58 GEOSCIENCES
YUCCA MOUNTAIN
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
GEOLOGY
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
PLANNING
NEVADA
STATE GOVERNMENT
US DOE
HOT SPRINGS
VOLCANOES
CALCIUM CARBONATES
PRECIPITATION
US GS
TRAVERTINE
GROUND WATER
EARTHQUAKES
RISK ASSESSMENT
ORIGIN
Yucca Mountain Project