Review of science and technology for disposal of low-level waste on the seabed and high-level waste in the subseabed
In 1980 it was recommended that an effort be made to increase the scientific data base relating to the oceanographic and biological characteristic of the Northeast Atlantic dumping area. The overall safety of sea dumping operations depends on a number of factors such as the characteristics of the dumping site, the amount, composition, conditioning, and packaging of waste, and the way in which operations are organized and controlled. An NEA research and environmental surveillance program related to sea disposal of low-level radioactive waste (LLW) is proceeding. Information from these studies will apply to disposal of LLW such as reactors from nuclear submarines and contaminated soil, as well as to packaged LLW. In Sweden, construction has begun on a repository located in the granitic rock beneath the seabed. The feasibility of a concept of burying high-level radioactive waste within the geologically stable formations of the deep ocean floor is being assessed. These subseabed options for a waste repository are being considered for several reasons. The granitic rock selected for the Swedish repository has a low hydraulic gradient, thereby reducing the amount of radioactivity tht will diffuse out of the repository. The sea water that covers the repository will dilute and disperse any radioisotopes that do escape from the repository. The other nations studying the feasibility of a subseabed repository are examining the fine-grained clay formations within the stable, predictable deep-sea regions, away from the boundaries of the lithospheric plates and productive surface waters. This clay has properties that may serve to permanently isolate radioactive waste. The most important characteristics of such clays are their vertical and lateral uniformity, low permeability, very high cation retention capacity, and potential for self-healing when disturbed.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA); USDOE Albuquerque Operations Office, NM; Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, MA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 5568399
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-83-1695C; CONF-830934-1; ON: DE84003253
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 4. Pacific Basin nuclear conference, Vancouver, Canada, 11 Sep 1983
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MARINE DISPOSAL
SEA BED
ATLANTIC OCEAN
PACIFIC OCEAN
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage