What do you do with land that can never be reclaimed
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), Vol. 69:3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
LAND RECLAMATION
CONTAMINATION
LAND USE
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
REACTOR DECOMMISSIONING
SERVICE LIFE
DECOMMISSIONING
MANAGEMENT
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THERMAL POWER PLANTS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
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