Application of GIS in site selection for nuclear waste disposal facility
- York Univ., North York, Ontario (Canada)
Whether designing a new facility or investigating, potential contaminant migration at an existing site, proper characterization of the subsurface conditions and their interaction with surface features is critical to the process. The Atomic Energy Control Board, states in its regulatory document R-104 that, {open_quotes}For the long-term management of radioactive wastes, the preferred approach is disposal, a permanent method of management in which there is no intention of retrieval and which, ideally uses techniques and designs that do not rely for their success on long-term institutional control beyond a reasonable period of time{close_quotes}. Thus although storage is safe, eventually disposal is necessary to avoid long-term reliance on continuing care and attention, such as monitoring and maintenance. In Canada, the concept being proposed by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) involves disposal in deep underground repositories in intrusive igneous rock. The aim of this concept as a disposal method is to build multiple barriers that would protect humans and the natural environment from contaminants in the radioactive waste. The multiple barriers include the geosphere, which consists of the rock, any sediments overlying the rock, and the groundwater. Nevertheless, immediate, as well as long-term, consequences, including, risk involved with technological systems and the inherent uncertainty of any forecast, make the prediction and analysis tasks of increasing importance. This uncertainty in the area of nuclear waste disposal is leading to growing concerns about nuclear waste site selection.
- Research Organization:
- American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), New York, NY (United States); American Nuclear Society (ANS), La Grange Park, IL (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 405194
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960421-; TRN: 97:000520
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 7. annual international high-level radioactive waste management conference, Las Vegas, NV (United States), 29 Apr - 3 May 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of High level radioactive waste management: Proceedings of the seventh annual international conference; PB: 519 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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