Safety assessment of accident radiological releases: a study performed for the conceptual design of a geologic repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985 · Nuclear Safety

OSTI ID:60014

Jackson, J L; Gram, H F; Ng, H S; Pendergrass, A M; Pope, M C

The Nevada Nuclear Waste Storage Investigations Project is conducting studies to determine the suitability of Yucca Mountain as a site for a high-level radioactive-waste repository. In support of the conceptual design, a preliminary analysis identified events that could cause radiological releases from the surface facilities during the operating period. The consequences of the releases, which were modeled as short-duration release plumes dispersed under averaged climatic conditions, were calculated by using the AIRDOS-EPA code as 50-yr integrated dose commitments to the surrounding population. Possible health effects were estimated by using the BEIR III dose-health-effect relationship. In none of the scenarios devised could the health effects in the general public be distinguished from the effects of background radiation. The risk to the general public from each event was also assessed. First-year total-body dose commitments to the maximally exposed member of the public from each event were calculated by using the ALLDOS code conversion factors. All postulated accidents resulted in individual dose commitments lower than the limit of 0.5 rem per accident set by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM
• OSTI ID: 60014
• Journal Information: Nuclear Safety, Journal Name: Nuclear Safety Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 26; ISSN 0029-5604; ISSN NUSAAZ
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
A CODES
ACCIDENTS
AIRCRAFT
EARTHQUAKES
FISSION PRODUCTS
FLOODS
GROUND MOTION
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
NEVADA TEST SITE
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
PROBABILITY
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION HAZARDS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RISK ASSESSMENT
TRANSPORT
US NRC
WHOLE-BODY IRRADIATION
Yucca Mountain Project