Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Project exploratory studies facilities construction status

Conference · Fri Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:145416

Allan, J N ^[1]; Leonard, T M ^[2]

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1. Morrison Knudsen Corp., Las Vegas, NV (United States)
2. Reynolds Electrical & Engineering Co., Inc., Las Vegas, NV (United States)

This paper discusses the progress to date on the construction planning and development of the Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Project (YMP) Exploratory Studies Facilities (ESF). The purpose of the ESF is to determine early site suitability and to characterize the subsurface of the Yucca Mountain site to assess its suitability for a potential high level nuclear waste repository. The present ESF configuration concept is for two main ramps to be excavated by tunnel boring machines (TBM) from the surface to the Topopah Spring Member of the Paintbrush Tuff Formation. From the main ramps, slightly above Topopah Spring level, supplemental ramps will be penetrated to the Calico Hills formation below the potential repository. There will be exploratory development drifts driven on both levels with the Main Test Area being located on the Topopah Spring level, which is the level of the proposed repository. The Calico Hills formation lies below the Topopah Spring member and is expected to provide the main geo-hydrologic barrier between the potential repository and the underlying saturated zones in the Crater Flat Tuff.

• Research Organization: American Nuclear Society, La Grange Park, IL (United States); American Society of Civil Engineers, New York, NY (United States)
• OSTI ID: 145416
• Report Number(s): CONF-930408--Vol.2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
CONSTRUCTION
PLANNING
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
TUFF
YUCCA MOUNTAIN
Yucca Mountain Project