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U.S. Department of Energy
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Nevada Nuclear Waste Storage Investigations preliminary repository concepts report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:59546

This report presents the preliminary repository concepts developed for the Nevada Nuclear Waste Storage Investigations Project. The concepts are for a high-level radioactive waste repository with a capacity of up to 70,000 metric tons (77,175 tons) of heavy metal initially loaded in commercial power reactors. The repository site being investigated is on and adjacent to the Nevada Test Site. The 8,094,000-m{sup 2} (2000-acre) underground portion of the repository to be used for waste emplacement is above the water table and beneath Yucca Mountain within a welded tuff formation. The surface facilities of the repository will be located to the east of Yucca Mountain on a 304,000-m{sup 2} (75-acre) site and include the waste-handling and surface support structures. Concepts for final closure of the underground portion of the repository and for decommissioning the surface facilities are also discussed. The engineering studies being performed in support of the design bases and design criteria are summarized. The preliminary concepts presented here will be used as a basis for the conceptual design of the repository. 55 references, 39 figures, 6 tables.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
59546
Report Number(s):
SAND--83-1877; ON: DE85002132
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English