Progress in permanent geologic disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste in the United States

Abstract

The mission of the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (OCRWM) of the US Department of Energy (DOE) is to manage and dispose of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste in a manner that protects health, safety and the environment, enhances national and energy security and merits public confidence. Consolidation of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste from 126 sites in 39 states and safe disposal at Yucca Mountain are vital to the US national interests. The US geologic repository programme's key objective remains to begin receiving spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste at the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensed Yucca Mountain repository in 2010. To achieve this objective, the DOE must, in less than 7 years, seek and secure authorization to construct the repository from the NRC, begin constructing the repository and receive a license amendment allowing receipt of radioactive materials and operation of the repository. DOE must also develop a transportation system to ship spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste from civilian and defence storage sites to the repository. This paper describes near-term efforts in developing the license application and transportation system. Successfully licensing, constructing and operating a repository will rely on information gained from more than two decades of scientific investigations at the Yucca Mountain site, all of which contribute to the technical basis for understanding the repository system. This paper also summarizes ongoing and completed in situ testing in the exploratory studies facility (ESF) and cross-drift. The ESF, a U-shaped tunnel approximately 7.9 km long and about 300 m below the crest of Yucca Mountain, has been used extensively to conduct tests in 13 alcoves and niches and to access a smaller cross-drift, 5 m in diameter and 2.7 km long.