Preliminary safety assessment study for the conceptual design of a repository in tuff at Yucca Mountain

Technical Report · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:59563

Jackson, J L; Gram, H F; Hong, K J; Ng, H S; Pendergrass, A M

Preliminary estimates of the upper bounds on postulated worst-case radiological releases resulting from possible accidents during the operating period of a prospective repository in tuff at Yucca Mountain are presented. Possible disrupting events are screened to identify the accidents of greatest potential consequence. The radiological dose commitments for the general public and repository personnel are estimated for postulated releases caused by natural phenomena, man-made events, and operational accidents. All postulated worst-case releases result in doses to the public that are lower than the 0.5-rem, whole-body dose-per-accident limit set by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in 10 CFR 60. Doses to repository personnel are within the NRC`s 5.0-rem/yr occupational exposure limit set in 10 CFR 20 for normal operations. Doses are within this limit for all accidents except the transportation accident and fire in a drift. A preliminary risk assessment has also been performed. Based on this preliminary safety study, the proposed site boundaries and design criteria routinely used in constructing nuclear facilities appear to be adequate to protect the safety of the general public during the operating phase of the repository.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 59563
• Report Number(s): SAND--83-1504; ON: DE85004792
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
HUMAN POPULATIONS
OPERATION
PERSONNEL
RADIATION ACCIDENTS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
SAFETY
TUFF
YUCCA MOUNTAIN
Yucca Mountain Project