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Site characterization of the Yucca Mountain disposal system for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste

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  • Rechard, Rob P.
  • Liu, Hui-Hai
  • Tsang, Yvonne W.
  • Finsterle, Stefan

Abstract

This paper summarizes the investigations conducted to characterize the geologic barrier of the Yucca Mountain disposal system. Site characterization progressed through (1) non-intrusive evaluation and borehole completions to determine stratigraphy for site identification; (2) exploration from the surface through well testing to evaluate the repository feasibility; (3) underground exploration to study coupled processes to evaluate repository suitability; and (4) reporting of experimental conclusions to support the repository compliance phase. Some of the scientific and technical challenges encountered included the evolution from a small preconstruction characterization program with much knowledge to be acquired during construction of the repository to a large characterization program with knowledge acquired prior to submission of the license application for construction authorization in June 2008 (i.e., the evolution from a preconstruction characterization program costing <$0.04×109 as estimated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 1982 to a thorough characterization, design, and analysis program costing $11×109—latter in 2010 constant dollars). Scientific understanding of unsaturated flow in fractures and seepage into an open drift in a thermally perturbed environment was initially lacking, so much site characterization expense was required to develop this knowledge.

Suggested Citation

  • Rechard, Rob P. & Liu, Hui-Hai & Tsang, Yvonne W. & Finsterle, Stefan, 2014. "Site characterization of the Yucca Mountain disposal system for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 32-52.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:reensy:v:122:y:2014:i:c:p:32-52
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ress.2013.06.020
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    3. Bernard Gazier & Jean - Philippe Touffut, 2006. "Introduction. Bien public, bien social," Post-Print halshs-00270232, HAL.
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    Cited by:

    1. François Diaz-Maurin & Rodney C. Ewing, 2018. "Mission Impossible? Socio-Technical Integration of Nuclear Waste Geological Disposal Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-39, November.
    2. Richard A. Muller & Stefan Finsterle & John Grimsich & Rod Baltzer & Elizabeth A. Muller & James W. Rector & Joe Payer & John Apps, 2019. "Disposal of High-Level Nuclear Waste in Deep Horizontal Drillholes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-28, May.
    3. Suh, Jung Woo & Sohn, So Young & Lee, Bo Kyeong, 2020. "Patent clustering and network analyses to explore nuclear waste management technologies," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    4. Senga Kiessé, Tristan & Ventura, Anne, 2016. "Discrete non-parametric kernel estimation for global sensitivity analysis," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 47-54.

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