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

Probabilistic risk assessment for salt repository conceptual design of subsurface facilities: A techical basis for Q-list determination

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6882689

Subpart G ''Quality Assurance'' of 10 CFR Part 60 requires that the US Department of Energy (DOE) apply a quality assurance program to ''all systems, structures, and components important to safety'' and to ''design and characterization of barriers important to waste isolation.'' In April 1986, DOE's Office of Geologic Repositories (OGR) issued general guidance for formulating a list of such systems, structures, and components---the Q-list. This guidance called for the use of probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) techniques to identify Q-list items. In this report, PRA techniques are applied to the underground facilities and systems described in the conceptual design report for the Salt Repository Project (SRP) in Deaf Smith County, Texas. Based on probability and dose consequence calculations, no specific items were identified for the Q-list. However, evaluation of the analyses indicated that two functions are important in precluding off-site releases of radioactivity: disposal container integrity; and isolation of the underground facility by the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Items related to these functions are recommended for further evaluation as the repository design progresses. 13 refs., 20 figs.

Research Organization:
Battelle Memorial Inst., Columbus, OH (USA). Office of Nuclear Waste Isolation
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-87CH10290
OSTI ID:
6882689
Report Number(s):
BMI/ONWI/C-249; ON: TI88016424
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English