| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Geologic_and_Hydrologic_Characterization_Part_111.pdf (2.51 MB) | 2.51 MB |
This report describes the first phase in evaluating the<br/>geology and hydrology of the Basin and Range Province for<br/>potential suitability of geohydrologic environments for isolation<br/>of high-level radioactive waste. The evaluation of the<br/>Province applies the guidelines, discussed in Part I (Bedinger,<br/>Sargent, and Reed, 1983) of this report to the geologic and<br/>hydrologic information compiled for the Province in Part II<br/>(Sargent and Bedinger, 1983).<br/>The geologic and hydrologic factors considered in the<br/>Province evaluation include distribution of potential host rocks,<br/>tectonic conditions and data on ground-water hydrology. Potential<br/>host media considered include argillaceous rocks, tuff,<br/>basaltic rocks, granitic rocks, evaporates, and the unsaturated<br/>zone. The tectonic factors considered are Quaternary faults,<br/>late Cenozoic volcanics, seismic activity, heat flow, and late<br/>Cenozoic rates of vertical uplift. Hydrologic conditions considered<br/>include length of flow path from potential host rocks to<br/>thick unsaturated sections as potential host media.<br/>The Basin and Range Province was divided into 12<br/>subprovinces; each subprovince is evaluated separately and<br/>prospective areas for further study are identified. About one-half<br/>of the Province appears to have combinations of potential<br/>that merit consideration for further study.<br/>The prospective areas for further study in each subprovince<br/>are summarized in a brief list of the potentially favorable<br/>factors and the issues of concern. Data compiled for the entire<br/>Province do not permit a complete evaluation of the favorability<br/>for high-level waste isolation. The evaluations here are intended<br/>to identify broad regions that contain potential geohydrologic<br/>environments containing multiple natural barriers to radionuclide<br/>migration
