Site suitability studies at LLL to date have considered repositories in bedded salt and shale.

This report presents a management plan and a technical program plan for the National Waste Terminal Storage (NWTS) program. It was prepared by the Office of Waste Isolation (OWI) which is part of Union Carbide Corporation-Nuclear Division (UCC-ND). These plans are based on guidance provided by the Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA). The technical plan is an extension of over 15 years of studies of waste storage in geologic formations.

Salt deposits are considered to be most attractive for this purpose because of their wide distribution and great abundance; they are easily mined, have good thermal properties, and are free of circulating groundwater.