Expected dose for the igneous scenario classes in the 2008 performance assessment for the proposed high-level radioactive waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada

Abstract

Extensive work has been carried out by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in the development of a proposed geologic repository at Yucca Mountain (YM), Nevada, for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste. In support of this development and an associated license application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the DOE completed an extensive performance assessment (PA) for the proposed YM repository in 2008. This presentation describes the determination of expected dose to the reasonably maximally exposed individual (RMEI) specified in the NRC regulations for the YM repository for the igneous intrusive scenario class and the igneous eruptive scenario class in the 2008 YM PA. The following topics are addressed: (i) properties of the igneous scenario classes and the determination of dose and expected dose to the RMEI, (ii) expected dose and uncertainty in expected dose to the RMEI from the igneous intrusive scenario class, (iii) expected dose and uncertainty in expected dose to the RMEI from the igneous eruptive scenario class, (iv) expected dose and uncertainty in expected dose to the RMEI from the combined igneous intrusive and igneous eruptive scenario class, and (v) uncertainty in the occurrence of igneous scenario classes. The present article is part of a special issue of Reliability Engineering and System Safety devoted to the 2008 YM PA; additional articles in the issue describe other aspects of the 2008 YM PA.