19th Annual Symposium-Geological Disposal of Nuclear Waste

A program leading to the establishment in FY I983 of a pilot plant for storing radioactive wastes in bedded salt is described. The program consists of laboratory and field investigations of factors affecting the suitability of a specific site in southeastern New Mexico; of more generally applicable problems associated with geohydrology and rock mechanics; and of considerations bearing on the operational safety of a pilot plant repository. Tasks concerned with the engineering development and design of the facility are also included.

As nuclear power assumes an increasingly important role in meeting the nation&#39;s requirements for electrical energy, the quantity of radioactive wastes will also increase. The wastes of primary concern -<br/>designated &quot;high-level&quot; and &quot;alpha&quot; wastes - contain radioactive nuclides that decay so slowly as to require that they be isolated from the biosphere for thousands of years.

This report reviews the work that has been done to establish the suitability of bedded salt formations for the containment of radioactive solid wastes and describes the nature of the additional investigations that are either under way or are scheduled to be carried out. It is believed that this work constitutes a valid technical justification for proceeding with the present plans to establish a demonstration repository at Lyons, Kansas.