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

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

Reliability Engineering and System Safety, 2014, vol. 122, issue C, 32-52

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.

Keywords: Site characterization; High-level radioactive waste; Spent nuclear fuel; Radioactive waste repository; Performance assessment; Yucca Mountain (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:reensy:v:122:y:2014:i:c:p:32-52

DOI: 10.1016/j.ress.2013.06.020

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