Disposal of high-level radioactive wastes in the unsaturated zone: technical considerations

Technical Report · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:5261905

Ostrowski, C N; Nicholson, T J; Evans, D D; Alexander, D H

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has recently published final regulations related to the disposal of high-level radioactive wastes in geologic repositories (46 FR 13971 and 48 FR 28194). These regulations were limited to geologic repositories in the saturated zone since earlier Department of Energy program plans emphasized fully saturated geologic media. However, the Department of Energy recently has initiated preliminary studies in unsaturated geologic media, and requested that NRC reexamine and modify the rule so that it will apply to all geologic media. This request also was made by several commenters on the proposed 10 CFR Part 60 technical criteria for high-level radioactive waste disposal in geologic repositories. The NRC has considered this request and has proposed amendments to ensure that the provisions of 10 CFR Part 60 are equally applicable to waste disposal in either the saturated or unsaturated zone. In reaching the decision to apply the rule to the unsaturated zone, NRC has conducted a detailed study of the arguments presented by the public commenters, the issues involved in disposal within the unsaturated zone, and the relative attributes and concerns associated with disposal in the unsaturated zone. These points form the basis for the proposed amendments and are discussed in this technical support document. The NRC staff has concluded that disposal within the unsaturated zone is possible, provided that the site and the design of the geologic repository are capable of meeting the performance objectives of 10 CFR Part 60.

• Research Organization: Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC (USA). Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
• OSTI ID: 5261905
• Report Number(s): NUREG-1046; ON: DE84900917
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
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