High Level Nuclear High Level Nuclear Waste DisposalWaste Disposal

Yucca Mountain, USAYucca Mountain, USA

IntroductionIntroduction

Nuclear power, when properly Nuclear power, when properly managed, is a clean source of managed, is a clean source of energy.energy.

One drawback is the radioactive One drawback is the radioactive waste generated from spent nuclear waste generated from spent nuclear fuel.fuel.

This material must be isolated form This material must be isolated form humans for hundreds of thousands of humans for hundreds of thousands of years.years.

Nuclear wasteNuclear waste- What is it?- What is it?

LOW-LEVEL WASTE – operations LOW-LEVEL WASTE – operations related equipment.related equipment.– MopsMops– Protective clothingProtective clothing– Beard netsBeard nets

HIGH-LEVEL WASTE – spent nuclear HIGH-LEVEL WASTE – spent nuclear fuel.fuel.– Highly radioactiveHighly radioactive

Both levels of waste are currently Both levels of waste are currently stored above ground.stored above ground.

Better solutions are required for the Better solutions are required for the high-level waste.high-level waste.

Facilities above ground are Facilities above ground are numerous.numerous.

The Nuclear ProblemThe Nuclear Problem

U.S Nuclear Storage U.S Nuclear Storage FacilitiesFacilities

Disposal OptionsDisposal Options

Numerous Numerous potential solutions:potential solutions:– Outer SpaceOuter Space– Burial in rockBurial in rock– Subduction zonesSubduction zones

Best long-term Best long-term solution:solution:– Deep-seated Deep-seated

geological disposal.geological disposal.

Geological DisposalGeological Disposal

Only option considered worldwide.Only option considered worldwide. Possible media:Possible media:

– Salt domesSalt domes– GraniteGranite– BasaltsBasalts– ClayClay

Yucca Mountain, Yucca Mountain, NevadaNevada 11stst approved underground, high- approved underground, high-

level nuclear waste repository in level nuclear waste repository in the USA.the USA.

Why Yucca Mountain?Why Yucca Mountain?

Economic reasons:Economic reasons:– Federally ownedFederally owned– $6 billion spent on $6 billion spent on

site investigationssite investigations Sociology:Sociology:

– IsolatedIsolated– 160km NW Las Vegas160km NW Las Vegas– 14,000km14,000km22 of of

unpopulated desertunpopulated desert– Devastated by Devastated by

military nuclear military nuclear testingtesting

Most ImportantlyMost Importantly

Geology:Geology:– Dormant tectonicsDormant tectonics– Zeolite minerals Zeolite minerals

absorb cationic absorb cationic radionucliesradionuclies

Hydrology:Hydrology:– 190mm precipitation/yr190mm precipitation/yr– Only escape is evapo-Only escape is evapo-

transpirationtranspiration– Low hydraulic conductivityLow hydraulic conductivity

ConclusionsConclusions

Yucca Mountain exhibits all of the Yucca Mountain exhibits all of the necessary natural barriers.necessary natural barriers.

Deep-seated geological repositories Deep-seated geological repositories are regarded as the safest method.are regarded as the safest method.

However;However;– USA produces 3000 tonnes of nuclear USA produces 3000 tonnes of nuclear

waste a year!waste a year!– Yucca Mountain will be full in 24 years – Yucca Mountain will be full in 24 years –

then what??then what??

Questions?Questions?