What do you do with land that can never be reclaimed

Journal Article · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · Landscape Archit.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5547660

Dunnington, J F

Land that is used for production and storage of nuclear materials cannot be reclaimed by any known technology. The maximum useful life of nuclear reactors is estimated to be about 40 yr; the spent plant must decay some of its radioactivity for about 100 yr before decommissioning can be achieved. Dismantling costs for presently existing nuclear facilities are in the billions of dollars, yet high level wastes will remain for another 500,000 yr. Decommissioning technology is outlined; deficiencies are identified. Overall land use of nuclear facilities is difficult to assess since questions about waste disposal methods are unsolved. Land used in the U.S. for nuclear industry, nuclear medicine, nuclear weapons, nuclear accelerators, and terminal waste disposal is discussed. (2 diagrams, 1 map, 2 photos, 9 references)

• OSTI ID: 5547660
• Journal Information: Landscape Archit.; (United States), Journal Name: Landscape Archit.; (United States) Vol. 69:3; ISSN LSARA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

053000* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Environmental Aspects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290600 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Nuclear Energy
CONTAMINATION
DECOMMISSIONING
LAND RECLAMATION
LAND USE
MANAGEMENT
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
POWER PLANTS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
REACTOR DECOMMISSIONING
SERVICE LIFE
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT