Performance assessment methodologies for the analysis of high-level nuclear waste repositories

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA)

OSTI ID:5693762

Bonano, E J; Cranwell, R M; Davis, P A

The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 requires the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to evaluate a license application submitted by the US Department of Energy to construct high-level nuclear waste (HLW) repositories. The basis that NRC will use to determine the suitability of a potential HLW disposal site is the independent assessment of compliance with existing federal regulations. The regulations set forth in NRC rule 10CFR60 and in the US Environmental Protection Agency's standard 40CFR191 include criteria that must be met to ensure the effective long-term isolation of the waste by the multiple-barrier system (repository and geologic formation) and to minimize the release of radioactivity to the accessible environment. Since 1976, the NRC has contracted to Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the development of methodologies that the NRC will use to assess the performance of HLW repositories. To date, SNL has developed two methodologies: one for bedded-salt formations and another for basalt formations. Work is currently under way to develop a methodology applicable to welded-tuff formations.

• OSTI ID: 5693762
• Report Number(s): CONF-880601--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA) Journal Volume: 56
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
BASALT
CONTAINMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
IGNEOUS ROCKS
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
RADIATION PROTECTION
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
REGULATIONS
RISK ASSESSMENT
ROCKS
SAFETY
SANDIA LABORATORIES
SENSITIVITY
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US NRC
US ORGANIZATIONS
VOLCANIC ROCKS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES