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U.S. Department of Energy
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Economic impacts of waste emplacement configuration for the proposed nuclear waste repository at the Nevada Test Site

Conference ·
OSTI ID:59525
The Nevada Nuclear Waste Storage Investigations Project is developing a conceptual design for a potential repository in welded tuff at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Two different configurations are under consideration for waste emplacement: vertical, with single waste canisters placed in holes in the floor of the emplacement drift; and horizontal, with multiple canisters placed in long holes in the walls of the drift. The cost of these two alternatives varies based on the amount of mining, borehole drilling, muck handling, and repository ventilation required. The difficulty of emplacement and retrieval operations also contributes to a cost differential. This paper presents these relative costs, showing a relative total cost differential of $880 million between the two methods. 9 references, 2 figures, 10 tables.
Research Organization:
Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States); Los Alamos Technical Associates, Inc., NM (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
59525
Report Number(s):
SAND--83-2121C; CONF-840307--28; ON: DE84010598
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English