Volcanic hazard assessment for disposal of high-level radioactive waste
Volcanic hazards are evaluated through risk assessment, which is a product of probability and consequences. These studies have been completed for a potential waste disposal site in the Nevada Test Site (NTS). Cenozoic volcanism of the NTS region is divided into three distinct episodes. The youngest episode, 3.7 to 0.3 m.y., comprises scattered, monogenetic Strombolian centers of small volume (<1 km{sup 3}). Rates of volcanic activity for the NTS region are estimated to be about 10{sup -6} event/yr, based on vent counts through time and calculation of rates of magma production. The conditional probability of disruption of the possible waste disposal site at the NTS by basaltic volcanism is bounded by the range of 10{sup -8} to 10{sup -10} yr{sup -1}. Consequences, expressed as radiological release levels, were evaluated by assuming disruption of a repository by basaltic magmas fed along narrow dikes. Limits are placed on the volume of waste material incorporated in magma by analogy to the abundance of lithic fragments in basalt scoria and lava. These consequences would be increased if rising magma encountered water and produced magma/water vapor explosions, which can eject large volumes of country rock. Such a mechanism would be important only if the vapor explosions excavated a crater to repository depths (380 m) - an unlikely event, based on the dimensions of hydrovolcanic craters. The total expected release from disruption of a repository by basaltic magma for a 10{sup 4}-yr period is 1.8 Ci for spent fuel and 1.3 Ci for high-level waste. 34 references.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 59980
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 1986; Related Information: Is Part Of Active tectonics; PB: 247-260 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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