Policy: Reassess New Mexico's nuclear-waste repository

Tracy, Cameron L.; Dustin, Megan K.; Ewing, Rodney C.

doi:10.1038/529149a

Cited by 14 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Our observations of leaks out of an underground chamber, intended to be intact and sealed "forever" for inand out-flux, bring the current quests of constructing a suitable underground permanent deposit of nuclear waste to mind [26][27][28][29] . A US facility for weapon-related waste, WIPP (Waste Isolation Pilot Plant) is operating, but not without problems 30 . Sweden and Finland have facilities in construction (in Östhammar and Posiva, respectively), and further countries are in different project stages.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury as a Geophysical Tracer Gas - Emissions from the Emperor Qin Tomb in Xi´an Studied by Laser Radar

Zhao

Zhang

Duan

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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Mercury is, because of its high vapor pressure and its prevalence in the atmosphere as atoms, an interesting geophysical tracer gas, also with potential archaeological applications. According to historical records dating back 2200 years, the mausoleum chamber of the "Terracotta Army Emperor" Qin in Xi´an, China, contains large amounts of liquid mercury, considered as an elixir of life at the time. We here report on measurements of the atmospheric contents of atomic mercury above the tomb mound performed with a mobile differential absorption lidar (light detection and ranging) system. Our measurements, which were performed from three different locations around the mound, indeed indicate elevated atmospheric mercury levels, with localizations, which correlate with previous in situ soil sampling results. Concentrations up to 27 ng/m 3 were observed, significantly higher than the typical general pollutant level in the area which was found to be around 5-10 ng/m 3. An out-flux of about 5×10 −8 kg/s was estimated. Highly volatile mercury may be escaping through cracks, which developed in the structure over time, and our investigation supports ancient chronicle records on the tomb, which is believed never to have been opened/looted. Our findings also have bearings on the proposed use of mercury as a tracer gas for valuable ores and geothermal resource exploration, and also bring problematics around reliable nuclear waste long-term underground storage to mind.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury as a Geophysical Tracer Gas - Emissions from the Emperor Qin Tomb in Xi´an Studied by Laser Radar

Zhao

Zhang

Duan

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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“…But this setting is also characterized by the presence of pressurized brine pockets underlying the repository. Were these punctured, release of the pressurized brine could carry radionuclides to nearby groundwater flows (Tracy, Dustin, and Ewing 2016). In addition, these salt deposits can be collocated with valuable geologic resources, including natural gas and potash, increasing the likelihood of inadvertent intrusion into the repository by future mining activities (US Department of Energy 1993).…”

Section: The Us Repositories: Yucca Mountain and The Waste Isolation Pilot Plantmentioning

confidence: 99%

Opportunities for US-Russian collaboration on the safe disposal of nuclear waste

Tracy¹,

Park²,

Plevaka

et al. 2021

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

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The United States and Russia both possess large quantities of nuclear waste, generated during the production of nuclear energy and nuclear weapons. To ensure that this radioactive material remains safely sequestered for tens of thousands of years or more, both countries plan to bury it in deep geologic repositories. However, US and Russian repository design strategies are highly distinct. For example, Russia plans to dilute waste in aluminophosphate glass, package waste in stainless steel containers, and bury waste in hard, crystalline granite gneiss rock. The US approach includes the use of borosilicate glass, multi-component superalloy containers, and porous volcanic tuff or highly-plastic bedded salt. The relative efficacies of these design choices remain uncertain. This represents a unique opportunity for applied, comparative study of various natural and engineered barriers to the release of radioactive materials. US-Russian collaboration and sharing of data on repository performance could provide a better technical basis for the long-term immobilization of nuclear waste.

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“…The accident in turn is evidence of serious failures. Writing about this accident, three academics from Stanford University pointed out that the “failures were wide‐ranging: in safety assessments, control of drum contents, installation and maintenance of equipment, and preparation for an accident” (Tracy, Dustin, & Ewing, , p. 150). Even the official Department of Energy analysis of the WIPP accident concluded that organizations that were involved in managing the facility had allowed safety culture “to deteriorate within pockets of the organization” (DoE, , p. ES‐17).…”

Section: Geological Disposalmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Even the official Department of Energy analysis of the WIPP accident concluded that organizations that were involved in managing the facility had allowed safety culture “to deteriorate within pockets of the organization” (DoE, , p. ES‐17). The more important lesson for the purposes of evaluating the safety case for proposed repositories is “how difficult it is to predict potential failures of such a disposal system over millennia” (Tracy et al, , p. 150).…”

Section: Geological Disposalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Technical and social problems of nuclear waste

Ramana

2018

WIREs Energy & Environment

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Despite decades of effort, the nuclear industry does not yet have a working solution for managing spent fuel and high level waste, the most radioactive products generated by nuclear power plants. Although many scientific and technical bodies have endorsed geological disposal as the preferred solution to this problem, there remain significant uncertainties about the long-term performance of repositories and behavior of the nuclear wastes to be stored in these facilities. Apart from a minority of countries, most countries have not chosen any sites for a repository. Further concerns about the long-term safety of repositories arise from the experiences of failures and accidents at pilot facilities. One reason for the absence of operating repositories decades after they were first proposed is widespread public opposition to such facilities. Polls have revealed that substantial majorities of people consider nuclear waste with dread and do not approve plans to dispose of radioactive wastes near them, or, often, far away either. Nuclear power advocates have typically dismissed public concerns as resulting from a lack of understanding of scientific facts but this explanation does not withstand scrutiny. Technical approaches to dealing with nuclear waste, such as reprocessing of spent fuel, mischaracterize the social concerns and therefore do not help gain public acceptance. Concern about radioactive waste has contributed to the failure of the propaganda effort by the nuclear industry to market nuclear power as a solution to climate change. The absence of a solution to waste negatively affects the future expansion of nuclear energy.

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Policy: Reassess New Mexico's nuclear-waste repository

Cited by 14 publications

References 2 publications

Mercury as a Geophysical Tracer Gas - Emissions from the Emperor Qin Tomb in Xi´an Studied by Laser Radar

Mercury as a Geophysical Tracer Gas - Emissions from the Emperor Qin Tomb in Xi´an Studied by Laser Radar

Opportunities for US-Russian collaboration on the safe disposal of nuclear waste

Technical and social problems of nuclear waste

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