LBNL-38915 5 UC-814 Geological Problems in Radioactive Waste Isolation Earth Sciences Division Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory University of California Berkeley California 94720 USA Prepared for the U.S. Departmer of Energy under contract edited by DE-AC03-76SF00098 P. A. Witherspoon DISCLAIMER This document was prepared as an account of work sponsored by the United States Government. While this document is believed to contain correct information, neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor The Regents of the University of California, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. 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GEOLOGICAL PROBLEMS IN RADIOACTIVE WASTE ISOLATION SECOND WORLD WIDE REVIEW P. A. WITHERSPOON, EDITOR Earth Sciences Division Emest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory University of California, Berkeley, California 94720 US IS j a DISTRIBUTION OF THIS DOCUMENT IS UNLIMITED^ 0 DISCLAIMER This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or use- fulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. 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TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ix LIST OF TABLES xv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS xvii Introduction to Second World Wide Review of Geological Problems in Radioactive Waste Isolation 1 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Some Highlights from the Second Review 1 Belarus Disposal of Radioactive Waste in Belarus and Complications from the Chernobyl Disaster ... .5 2.1 Introduction 5 2.2 Decontamination Waste and Burial Methods 6 2.3 Programme for Deep Disposal of Radioactive Waste 6 Belgium Geological Radwaste Disposal in Belgium: Research Programme, Review and Objectives ... .9 3.1 Introduction 10 3.2 The HADES Programme at SCK-CEN 11 3.3 Objectives and Basic Assumptions of HADES Programme 13 3.4 Progress of Current Research and Studies 15 Bulgaria The Problem of Site Selection for a Radioactive Waste Repository in Bulgaria 27 4.1 Introduction 27 4.2 Preliminary Screening of the Territory of the Country 27 4.3 Method for Selecting Suitable Sites 29 4.4 Characteristics of Sites 30 Canada Canada's Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Program: The Environmental Assessment of the Disposal Concept 39 5.1 Introduction 39 5.2 The Disposal Concept 39 5.3 Environmental Review 42 5.4 The Environmental Impact Statement and Primary References 43 in 5.5 Reasons for Confidence in the Disposal Concept 44 5.6 The Multibarrier System 45 5.7 The Observational Method 45 5.8 Ongoing Review and Decision-making 47 5.9 Public Involvement 47 5.10 Conclusions and Recommendations 48 China Deep Geological Disposal of High Level Radioactive Waste in China 51 6.1 Introduction 51 6.2 Organization 52 6.3 Deep Geological Disposal Program 53 6.4 Progress in Site Selection 53 6.5 Beishan Area, Gansu Province, Northwest China 54 6.6 Other Studies 58 Croatia Site Selection of Low and Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste Repository in the Republic of Croatia 63 7.1 Introduction: Sources of Radioactive Waste 63 7.2 Essential Strategic Issues in Radwaste Management in Croatia 64 7.3 Legislation and Regulatory Framework 64 7.4 Site Selection Methodology: Structure of Site Selection Program 65 7.5 Site Selection as a Multiple Criteria Analysis 67 7.6 Description of Completed Activities 73 7.7 Conclusions 74 Czech Republic Geological Disposal of Radioactive Waste in the Czech Republic 77 8.1 Introduction 77 8.2 Organizational Structure of Waste Management 77 8.3 Waste Production and Management Strategy 77 8.4 Near Surface Repositories 78 8.5 Spent Fuel Management 79 8.6 Deep Geological Disposal Program 79 8.7 Geological Aspects of Deep Geological Repository 81 8.8 Conclusions 85 9. Finland Disposal of High Level Radioactive Waste in Finland 87 9.1 Introduction 87 9.2 Programme status 88 9.3 Future Investigations 92 10. France Status of Research On Geological Disposal for High Level Radioactive Waste in France 95 10.1 Introduction 95 10.2 What is a Deep Geologic Repository? 96 10.3 Characterization of Geologic Media 99 IV 10.4 Repository Design 101 10.5 Underground Research Laboratories 103 10.6 Andra Research Programs 103 11. Germany Geoscientiflc and Rock Mechanical Activities for the Radioactive Waste Repositories in Germany: Key Issues, Status and Future Plans 105 11.1 Introduction 105 11.2 Geotechnical Safety 105 11.3 Gorleben Repository Project 107 11.4 Konrad Repository Project 109 11.5 Morsleben Repository 110 11.6 Future Research Work Ill 12. Hungary Hungarian Approach For Final Disposal Of High Level Radioactive Waste 113 12.1 Introduction 113 12.2 Spent Fuel Characteristics 114 12.3 Options for Spent Fuel Management 114 12.4 Geological Formations to be Evaluated 114 12.5 Geological Structure of the Area 115 12.6 Characterization Program Outline 118 12.7 Short-term Characterization Program 120 12.8 Conclusions and Prospects 121 13. India Status of Siting and Host Rock Characterization Programme for a Geological Repository in India 125 13.1 Introduction 125 13.2 Repository Site Selection Programme 125 13.3 Repository Site Characterization Programme 127 13.4 Captive Site Evaluation Programme 130 13.5 Conclusion 131 14. Indonesia Critical Data Required to Potentially Investigate Genting Island as High-Level Radioactive Waste Repository Site Facility in Indonesia 133 14.1 Introduction 133 14.2 General Description of the Island 134 14.3 Design of the Repository Site 135 14.4 Pathway Parameters 135 14.5 Summary and Conclusions : 135 15. Japan Geological Disposal Deep Underground: A Study of the Japanese Geological Environment and its Stability 137 15.1 Introduction 137 15.2 Purpose and Procedures of Research and Development Programs 137 15.3 Characteristics of Geological Environment and Current State of Knowledge 138 15.4 Present Research and Development 138 15.5 Conclusions 144 16. Korea Generic Performance and Environmental Assessment of a Radioactive Waste Repository in Korea 147 16.1 Introduction 147 16.2 Preparation of Assessment Data 148 16.3 Groundwater Pathway 152 16.4 Summary of Probabilistic Safety Assessment 160 17. Netherlands Research on Radioactive Waste Disposal in the Netherlands with Special Reference to Earth Scientific Studies 161 17.1 Introduction 161 17.2 Content and Structure of the Supplementary Research Programme 162 17.3 Safety analysis 162 17.4 Technical Feasibility 165 17.5 Earth Scientific Background Studies 166 17.6 Interaction Between Waste and Host Rock 174 17.7 Alternative Disposal Concepts 176 17.8 Conclusions 177 18. Poland Radioactive Waste Management In Poland: Current Status of Investigations for Radioactive Waste Repository Areas 183 18.1 Introduction 183 18.2 Legislation for Radioactive Waste Management 183 18.3 Sources of Radioactive Waste in Poland 183 18.4 Organizations Responsible for Waste Management and Scope of Their Duties 184 18.5 Treatment and Conditioning of LLW/ILW 184 18.6 Storage of Radioactive Waste 185 18.7 New Repository Site Investigations 185 18.8 Summary 187 19. Slovak Republic Program Of Geological Disposal Of Spent Fuel And Radioactive Wastes In Slovak Republic 189 19.1 Introduction 189 19.2 History of Project Development 189 19.3 Purpose of Project 190 ' 19.4 Results of Project Revision 190 19.5 Conclusion 195 20. Slovenia Geological Aspects of Site Selection for Low and Intermediate Level Radwaste Repository In Slovenia 197 20.1 Introduction 197 20.2 Site Selection Process For LILW 197 20.3 Did Application of Geological Criteria Influence an Unsuccessful Surface Repository Site Selection? 200 20.4 New Approaches 202 21. Spain Radioactive Waste Management in Spain: Main Activities up to the Year 2000 205 21.1 Introduction 205 21.2 Low and intermediate level wastes 205 21.3 High level wastes 209 21.4 Decommissioning of Installations 210 22. Sweden Progess Towards a Swedish Repository for Spent Fuel 213 22.1 Introduction 213 22.2 Stepwise development 213 22.3 Stepwise construction 214 22.4 Safety approach for a deep repository 214 22.5 Deep repository 215 22.6 Encapsulation of spent nuclear fuel 216 22.7 Repository siting 217 22.8 Aspo Hard Rock Laboratory 219 22.9 Concluding remarks 220 23.