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Managing radioactive wastes

AUG 01, 1973
Alternative storage areas considered have included the arctic ice cap, deep ocean trenches, and solar orbit, with underground salt deposits still the most favored.

DOI: 10.1063/1.3128182

John O. Blomeke
Jere P. Nichols
William C. McClain

Nuclear fission can provide a major share of our energy needs over the next several decades. But to fulfill this promise, we must learn to manage the radioactive wastes that arise in a multiplicity of chemical and physical forms at every stage of the nuclear fuel cycle, and to manage them by technically, politically and socially acceptable means. The problem of containing the so‐called “high‐level” wastes from fuel reprocessing is particularly difficult, for they remain biologically hazardous for thousands of centuries.

References

  1. 1. “Siting of Fuel Reprocessing Plants and Related Waste Management Facilities,” Federal Register 35, no. 222, 17530 (14 November 1970).https://doi.org/FEREAC

  2. 2. “Rules and Regulations, Title 10—Atomic Energy, Part 20, Standards for Protection Against Radiation, Appendix B, Table II,” 10 December 1969. US Atomic Energy Commission, Washington, D.C. 20545.

  3. 3. “The Disposal of Radioactive Wastes on Land,” Publ. 519, National Academy of Sciences–National Research Council, Washington, D.C. (April 1957).

  4. 4. J. A. Wielang, G. E. Lohse, M. P. Hales, “The Fourth Processing Campaign in the Waste Calcining Facility,” ICP‐1004, (December 1971).

  5. 5. J. L. McElroy, K. J. Schneider, J. N. Hartley, J. E. Mendel, G. L. Richardson, R. W. McKee, A. G. Blasewitz, “Waste Solidification Program Summary Report, Volume II. Evaluation of WSEP High‐Level Waste Solidification Process.” BNWL‐1667 (July 1972).

  6. 6. “Project Salt Vault: Demonstration of the Disposal of High Activity Solidified Wastes in Underground Salt Mines” (R. L. Bradshaw, W. C. McClain, eds.), ORNL‐4555, (March 1971).

  7. 7. F. L. Culler, “Technical Status of the Radioactive Waste Repository—A Demonstration Project for Solid Radioactive Waste Disposal,” ORNL‐4680 (April 1971).

  8. 8. A. F. Rupp, “A Radioisotope‐Oriented View of Nuclear Waste Management,” ORNL‐4776 (May 1972).

  9. 9. W. B. Lewis, “Radioactive Waste Management in the Long Term,” AECL‐4268, DM‐123 (October 1972).

  10. 10. H. C. Claiborne, “Neutron‐Induced Transmutation of High‐Level Radioactive Waste,” ORNL‐TM‐3964 (December 1972).

  11. 11. R. C. Bostrum, M. A. Sherif, Nature 228, 154 (1970).https://doi.org/NATUAS

  12. 12. E. A. Silver, Nature 239, 330 (1972).https://doi.org/NATUAS

  13. 13. E. J. Zeller, D. F. Saunders, E. E. Angino, Science and Public Affairs 29, no. 1, 4 (1973).

More about the Authors

John O. Blomeke. Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Jere P. Nichols. Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

William C. McClain. Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

This Content Appeared In
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Volume 26, Number 8

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