Comparison of potential radiological consequences from a spent-fuel repository versus natural-uranium deposits

Conference · Mon Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:6075397

Cloninger, M O; Wick, O J

On the basis of the intrinsic properties comparison, the long-term hazard from spent fuel in a geologic repository is comparable to that of a large ore deposit, although the specific nuclide concentration in an individual fuel element is not duplicated in nature. On the basis of the second comparison, a repository constructed within reasonable constraints presents no greater hazard than a large ore deposit. Even without such constraints, however, the natural hazard due to some observed radioactive releases to the biosphere in the United States far exceeds any that could reasonably be expected from a spent-fuel repository. While at first intuition it is reasonable to use natural ore deposits as a basis for criteria for nuclear waste repositories, the variability in the natural system is so great that it does not allow a specific criterion to be stated in absolute terms. It is suggested that if the naturally radioactive environment is to be used as a basis for a criterion regarding repositories, the criterion should be based on the radiological quality of the environment in the immediate region of a specific repository, and should be in terms of an acceptable potential increase in that radiological content due to the existence of the repository. This criterion could then be used as a basis for developing, through experimentation and modeling, specific criteria for a repository system design that is reasonably assured of meeting the environmental criteria.

• Research Organization: Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6075397
• Report Number(s): PNL-SA-8881; CONF-810217-19; ON: DE81028232
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050900 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
052002 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Disposal & Storage
054000* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Health & Safety
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MINERAL RESOURCES
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
RADIATION HAZARDS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
RESOURCES
SPENT FUEL STORAGE
STORAGE
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
URANIUM DEPOSITS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT