Preliminary evaluation of solution-mining intrusion into a salt-dome repository

Technical Report · Mon Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:5208717

This report is the product of the work of an ONWI task force to evaluate inadvertant human intrusion into a salt dome repository by solution mining. It summarizes the work in the following areas: a general review of the levels of defense that could reduce both the likelihood and potential consequences of human intrusion into a salt dome repository; evaluation of a hypothetical intrusion scenario and its consequences; recommendation for further studies. The conclusions of this task force report can be summarized as follows: (1) it is not possible at present to establish with certainty that solution mining is credible as a human-intrusion event. The likelihood of such an intrusion will depend on the effectiveness of the preventive measures; (2) an example analysis based on the realistic approach is presented in this report; it concluded that the radiological consequences are strongly dependent upon the mode of radionuclide release from the waste form, time after emplacement, package design, impurities in the host salt, the amount of a repository intercepted, the solution mining cavity form, the length of time over which solution mining occurs, the proportion of contaminated salt source for human consumption compared to other sources, and the method of salt purification for culinary purposes; (3) worst case scenarios done by other studies suggest considerable potential for exposures to man while preliminary evaluations of more realistic cases suggest significantly reduced potential consequences. Mathematical model applications to process systems, guided by more advanced assumptions about human intrusion into geomedia, will shed more light on the potential for concerns and the degree to which mitigative measures will be required.

• Research Organization: Battelle Memorial Inst., Columbus, OH (USA). Office of Nuclear Waste Isolation
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5208717
• Report Number(s): ONWI-320-1; ON: DE82020059
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052002 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Disposal & Storage
053000 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Environmental Aspects
054000* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Health & Safety
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
510300 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTINIDES
ANIMALS
CONTAINERS
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
LEACHING
MAMMALS
MAN
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
METALS
MINING
PRIMATES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
RECOMMENDATIONS
RISK ASSESSMENT
SALT DEPOSITS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLUTION MINING
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
URANIUM
VERTEBRATES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT