Technical assessment of the bedrock waste storage at the Savannah River Plant
An assessment of the safety and feasibility of ultimate storage of radioactive wastes produced at the Savannah River Plant (SRP) in horizontal tunnels excavated in the bedrock beneath the plant site is presented. Results indicate that a cavern with an excavated volume of 130 million gallons could contain 80 million gallons of concentrated radioactive SRP wastes with minimal risks if the cavern is located in the impermeable Triassic Basin underlying the Savannah River site. The cavern could be placed so that it would lie wholly within the boundaries of the plantsite. The document summarizes the general geological, hydrological, and chemical knowledge of the geological structures beneath the plantsite; develops evaluation guidelines; and utilizes mathematical models to conduct risk analyses. The risk models are developed from known soil and salt solution mechanics; from past, present, and future geological behavior of the onsite rock formations; and from known waste handling technology. The greatest risk is assessed to exist during transfer of the radioactive wastes to the cavern. When the cavern is filled and sealed, further population risks are asessed to be very low.
- Research Organization:
- Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, SC (USA). Savannah River Lab.
- DOE Contract Number:
- E(07-2)-1
- OSTI ID:
- 7314336
- Report Number(s):
- DP-1438
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
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Related Subjects
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HYDROLOGY
MANAGEMENT
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
POPULATIONS
RADIATION HAZARDS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
STORAGE
TRANSPORT
US AEC
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VOLUME
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE STORAGE
WASTES