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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Surface-to-underground access study for the prospective Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:59589
The Nevada Nuclear Waste Storage Investigations (NNWSI) project has as one of its principal objectives the conceptual design of the buildings and facilities that will be required at a repository for commercially generated radioactive waste. A 10% ramp access and a shaft-and-drift access were investigated to determine the better access method for waste transfer. The ramp access was determined to be preferable from both an operational and a cost standpoint. A 10% ramp, a 20% ramp, a shaft-and-drift, and a shaft-only access were investigated to determine the best access method for mining operations. The 10% ramp, 20% ramp, and shaft-only access were determined to be equally acceptable for mining operations. The shaft-and-drift access has been eliminated from further consideration because of its higher cost in relation to the other mining access options. 13 refs., 21 figs., 43 tabs.
Research Organization:
Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States); Dravo Engineers, Inc., Denver, CO (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
59589
Report Number(s):
SAND--84-0840; ON: DE85012292
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English